What floor material

[Ten Hammers]

In any new shop that I might be involved in, I would absolutely use concrete. I would also use in-slab heat ( tubing in the concrete that has hot fluid pumped through it ). This is a common way to heat shops and I think it would be for me. Several folks in the area use it. Firebox is outside ( sometimes in a shed, sometimes in a pit). Frees up floor space inside as well.

[rthibeau]

In my latest shop, I had a concrete slab poured with one course of block all around to raise the height of the walls and not have wood contacting the floor in case something hot got dropped. I don't normally work in it for more than a few hours at a time so the fatigue issue doesn't come up for me. Being able to wheel stuff around, sweep the floor, and find stuff on the floor, plus having a flat solid floor for tool stands, etc, were the points I found most important. If I could do it again, I'd have at least 3 courses of block around to have the trusses up higher. It's wood framing with plywood siding which I built myself to offset the cost of the foundation work. Grinding, sanding, forging all make a mess so I don't think my shop is any cleaner than one with a maintained dirt floor, but I like the concrete.

[Dodge]

Just in case it was missed, one must be careful when working on concrete with molten metal. Extreme sudden heat and concrete don't mix. A violent reaction can result. We're not talking Hiroshima or even Forth of July type explosions but little pieces of hot concrete that stick to your neck just below your face shield because you spilled a little moltem bronze during a pour or you just had to get that anvil cut form 4" plate done now come xxxx or high water are really annoying. Whats that?? You weren't wearing a face shield???

[Pat Roy]

I turned my shed into my shop. It's a wood frame structure with a wood floor. Since I also use a torch and a couple welders in the shop, I protected the floor with 1/2" concrete board I got at Home Depot. After about a year it is holding up pretty well.

[Strine]

Whack me into the dirt camp. Mix a bit of cow dung into it to keep the flies away from your noggin.