Layout room flooring options

It all depends on the look you want. Some are more concerned about comfort and others about easy of clanging. Those mats are not a bad option. Carpeting has been my option.

This has been on my mind recently. I am revising my layout in a top-down manner now, so the floor will be last.  Old, worn carpet now.  I'm thinking of rubber anti-fatigue mats or the soft garage flooring.  They clean up well and are not very expensive.  Harbor-freight has a great price but I will go with something from Lowe's or Home Depot because they generally keep brands/models in stock so if I need extra later on . . . 

I personally like wood laminate flooring. Gives the room a really nice look. Also, if you plan on using a creeper under the layout for all that wiring, the wood laminate makes the creeper glide without effort. This was a big advantage for me.

I have several of the same mats from HF posted in your link. They are pretty comfortable on your feet to stand on and they work for me. They are kind of cheap looking. Home depot has some nicer ones, more cushion, more colors and heavier, but also more expensive. My trains are in an unfinished basement (that I want to keep that way) so the looks were not a big factor in my choice, just my feet.

I have to endorse Brian's idea. As a builder I see many problems in basements from anything that can hold moisture, such as carpet, fiberglass insulation, and even the fabric skirting some use.

Hard material that can be easily  replaced due to flooding or moisture damageis a very good option.

Certainly some of the rubber floors are good too. I use them in basement gyms, but you may want to consider better flooring than some low end retailers offer. 

Fred

My train room is slab on grade with a vapor barrier,then commercial carpet under the layout and in the room,seems warmer than wood,we get temps in the 30s in the winter,30 minutes of furnace and 60 degrees,the room is 900 sq ft with 10 ft ceiling.

Gentlemen,

    In my 100 year old home we have solid hard wood floors with carpeting of different kinds in different rooms, the office has inside/outside carpeting with standard backing, the game room has plush inside carpeting with soft backing, my layout covered parts of both rooms and although easy to walk on PTC is correct, trying to use a creeper under the platform was a big waste of time, however the carpet was comfortable to lay on while wiring, I decided to suffer without the use of the creeper instead of using the  anti fatigue flooring, to me it was an additional expense I really did not need. 

PCRR/Dave 

When my attic layout space was finished my wife carpeted its floor along with everything else upstairs. I hadn't planned on carpet but now I like it for my ancient knees.

Dewey,

   I do agree, the carpet may not be great for a creeper when installing wiring under the platform, but man it is a lot easier on the legs and knees as I build the over all layout.

PCRR/Dave

Mark / banjoflyer - I am looking for just that!  The manufacturer of the carpet tiles we used for our upstairs hallway went out of business. those carpet tiles are like the one you've described - very sturdy and good quality. Have searched for similar carpet tiles for the basement but most of them are junk.  Do you remember the brand and liquidator?  Thanks. Peter. 

let me relate what I WOULD put under your choice of flooring......on the bare basement slab, tape down a 4 mil vapor barrier...but do put a few nail diameter holes in here and there.

   Next use a a power hammer and glue to put down pressure treated 2 x4's about 2 foot on center, with the wide side flat on the slab. Then cut 1 1/2 inch DOW board (the blue styrofoam with plastic on each side) and fit between the treated 2x4's. 

  Top that off with 3/4 cdx or osb subfloor. You won't believe how warm that floor will stay in the coldest winter. 

I too did the carpet squares, love them.  o gauge pal spilled 1/2 gallon of paint, pulled up 4 squares, good as new.  yea still a good friend but he won't touch the paints.

I would go one step further, and put the foam sill seal doubled under the pressure treated sleepers, (check local building codes to see if pressure treated sleeper are permissible). This will allow the sleepers to float, making for a very comfortable standing experience. Normally, this is done with 3 1/2" fiberglass insulation, but this is not suitable for a basement floor application.

Don

no rail..........you don't want the "sleepers" to float.  you want them power nailed to the floor so they stay. foam sill seal is a waste of time & money for this insulated floor.

   the 3/4cdx will give enough to feel good to sit on or walk on; put furniture on;  oh yes and the train table...........

I am about to embark upon laying down my floor.  I chose Racedeck tiles (normally used for garages) with cushion inserts.  Hopefully, it will look as good as I anticipated.  I will poat pictures when complete.  It ain't cheap, but also may not be as costly as some other options.