Flooring for train room

Are you going to run the trains on the floor?

Flooring can be Hardwood, Concrete, whatever, Use heavy cloth skirt along the layout to close off the area underneath and it will cut the sound a lot.

Carpeting also damps sound but the skirting is better.

Also put something between track and wood surface of the layout.

Oddly, stuffing foam in boxcars and such also helps, the walls vibrate and "speak" the rail noise.

Also, carpet with padding can slightly cushion anything that falls from the layout, It could save a costly repair.

Any and all the above can add to making the rail noise less and the engine sounds clearer.

Not on the floor, they will be running on table 4 feet off the floor

 

One thing to think about is fatigue and foot pain, hard floors like concrete and wood can get tiring standing on for long periods. If this is a basement space, think about possibly building off the floor, using plywood and stringers to give yourself an air space, it can get cold from being right on the slab like that. 

 

I am finishing off  my basement, and on the floor I am planning on using the rubber tiles that lock together, both to make the floor less harsh and also to isolate from the concrete a bit (I don't want to put down a wood floor, in case I get water down there, like a broken pipe or something). 

The room is the attic space above the garage  It 16 feet by 32 feet.  I know carpet will be the least expensive route but I think a hard wood floor will give it the feeling of a old train station. 

I vote carpet- unless you get vintage wood, the flooring will look too "good" for a train station imo

If your set on wood flooring and desire a less formal appearance than oak or similar hardwoods will yield, then perhaps yellow pine tongue & grove would best suit your needs. Pine will eventually wear and ding suggesting age. Added features are easy instillation, nice underfoot, stainable to desired color, and cost effective. Then there's always an opportunity for area rugs without the commitment of stretched carpeting.

 

 

 

Hello,

If you put a hardwood floor down .

It will be easy to clean and not hold dust and dirt.

Than put throw rugs as needed ,which can be removed as needed for cleaning.

Rubber work bench floor pads can also be used .

my choice would be a high grade laminate. you can get many choices and the one with the foam back is fairly quiet. you have the look of real wood and you save a few bucks as well. installation is fairly straight forward its prefinished, resist scratches and cleans easily.

My choice was laminate as well. Carpet is most certainly quieter, but the laminate is infinitely easier to clean. While building, I do tend to be messy. Saw dust and other debris is a cinch to get up. One of those robot floor sweeper doodle dads is on my shopping list. Just haven't gotten one, yet.

 

 

 

Gilly

Here are pictures of the room.  They just finished the drywall.  Now the fun begins.   Thanks for your pictures. I do like the openess under the table. I am plainging on shelves on the back wall and by the dormers I have space for display cases.

Nice sized room!  Your layout should look great!

 

-Pete

My basement floor is carpeted, two dehumidifiers running.  The train table is 34" off the floor.  Used 1x3 abd 1x4 's for legs.  Installed 5" square pads on each leg to prevent dents in the carpet.

 

Your choice(flooring) will also depend on if you have shelves to display trains on the wall.  One of my cats climbed and knocked a prewar loco of the shelf and onto the floor (carpet).  No damage.

 

Clean up is fairly straight.  Only other thing, make sure sump pump pits and water heaters have alarms on them.

 

enjoy

gilly  love your layout support structure. fantastic is an understatement. 

I am lucky that I am above the garage so no sump pump to worry about.  No cat, but two dogs that will be banded.  I have cherry floors in the house and they have done a number.  Oak is looking like the choice. Gully has made it tuff to beat. The wife was his pictures and said "you can do that".  Only

I did a quality thick carpet pad under Berber carpeting before doing the benchwork.  It's been great on the feet and saved a couple of pieces of equipment from heavy damage when they took a dive.

I'm with Kerrigan.  Mine is carpeted.  It feels so nice and looks so luxurious.  It has saved engines from serious damage twice.  I've had layouts in rooms with wood, concrete floors and carpeting, and wouldn't want hard flooring again.  Just my .02.

That's a great Question. We decided on 12" by 12" Floor tile, professionally Waxed and Buffed to a Showroom Shine. This is easy clean, and we put a lot of throw rugs around the layout. By the way, my layout is in a finished basement with a concrete floor. We also installed a drop Ceiling at 8'1 inch height. Lots of track lighting and a separate Electrical box just for the layout. My layout is a walk around, and also a nod under....If I were building in an upstairs room or attic, I would recommend Wood Laminate....

I do not like building on carpet as it catches a lot of dust and dirt. 

Now,you have a lot of free advice, Get Started and a Happy Railroading....

One of my cats climbed and knocked a prewar loco of the shelf and onto the floor (carpet).

When you punted the cat afterwards, did it fly with a nice tight spiral, or did it go end over end?  

 

Hardwood floor is it.  I want the feeling of a train depot or the inside of a pullman car. The ceiling is about 10 feet, and now I need ideas for light fixtures keeping with the theme. Any suggestions?

 

 

Try this place. They specialize in period style (reproduction) fixtures. You may at least get a few ideas of what to look for elsewhere.

 

http://www.rejuvenation.com/ca...lighting/living-room

PERFECT SOLUTION FOR BASEMENT FLOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

While wood, tile, and vinyl look great!  And carpet would be much more comfortable and look great!  The greatest choice by far is rubberized square floor tiles.  They look fantastic!  They give you COMFORT which is what you need to operate the layout and your visitors will stay longer because they are comfortable.  

 

And WHEN, I didn't say "if" and WHEN your basement floods via water because of a non-working sump pump, broken water line, and or busted pipe, you simply remove the squares, dry them, and return them!  Any of the other suggestions will be destroyed and you will be out thousands!  I have learned the hard way.

 

I will never, never, never, ever have anything on my basement floor except rubberized floor tiles!

Gilly that setup looks amazing!  Furniture grade tables on a beautiful floor.  Having young children i was glad I continued to read as the thought of Locomotives pulling a Thelma and Louise off of the table is a real possibility.  Reckon once my ceiling is in I'll price hunt on the foam interlocking tiles.  I know Harbor Freight has them on sale from time to time.