We recently purchased a barn-style 8 x 24' pre-assembled shed. When it arrived, the plywood floor was not even. The edges weren't aligned, so the floor is 1/8 inch higher in some places. I'm wondering what the best practice for evening the floor surface is?
I researched different ideas, but none of what I saw seemed to apply perfectly to my situation. The floor is OSB I think (Does it make a difference whether it is OSB vs plywood?). I'm looking for the most economical solution. Inside our house we have a "floating floor" with some foam sheets of something covered in shiny gold mylar-like material, with a laminate wood floor on top. I'm just trying to have a workshop in my shed, not a fancy floor, so I'm not sure if that gold foam layer would even be applicable.
I've seen blogs about using some kind of pourable concrete or mortar, but that solution seems to be about $100 for 4 square feet (perhaps I'm exaggerating there). For the time being I'm out of work and looking for the lowest cost longest-lasting solution.
What I'm really looking for is a way to prevent the floor from sagging or getting holes in it over time. I live down in the humid deep south and that is a real issue here. It also needs to be durable to take things being dropped on it (hand tools, wood, bricks, etc.), and it has to be flexible enough that when it gets to around freezing (yes, it freezes in Alabama) that the temp change doesn't undo the "solution".
MY PROPOSED SOLUTION
Based on everything I've read and experienced, here is a multi-faceted solution strategy I'd love for you to weigh in on, or offer a better solution without addressing mine at all is fine too:
- Paint the floor with Killz 2
- Caulk the edges where the wall meets the floor (should I use clear silicone? Will this cause problems down the road?). This should help with temperature maintenance and reducing critter/bug access.
- Nail (or should I use construction glue??) 1/8" plywood sheets on top of the OSB. This will give a smooth surface.
I'm not sure what kind of putty, paste, cream, or other material I should use under the thin plywood to make the floor level. Is this solution even practical?