Floor Coverings for Obs - suggestions?

[Visionoz]

Hi

My raised 2.4m x 3.6m obs is completed now - need to decide what is best for the floor coverings - I've good thick lush carpet with underlay on hand (ripped it out of the master bedroom recently when I converted to laminated wood flooring as ordered by SWMBO!) OR should I use the pva rubber mats that Bunnings sell (jig-saw type) with/without holes?

Any pros & cons comments would be appreciated as that's about all before I get to use the obs for the purpose it was built for!:)

Hope to get some inputs - TIA :thumbsup:

Cheers
Bill

[astro_nutt]

Hi Bill.
The pva rubber mats from bunnings sounds like a good idea. The ones without holes would be the go just in case you drop something expensive. Rubber is softer than wood or concrete and it does have a certain insulation factor from heat/cold and some vibrations. Whatever you choose, I hope it works out well.
Cheers!

[leon]

By all means rubber or even vinyl, never use carpet the dust from carpet and lint flying around will cover you equipment in no time.

Something you can run a mop over from time to time.

Leon

[Lester]

Hi Bill, I have the foam squares with holes, and it saved my camera when the T mount let go. The camera (Astro 40D) isn't light, fell 2-3 feet. That was over a year ago and there has not been any ill effects from the camera, just my stomach when it happened.

[sheeny]

I have the rubber mats in my obs. I have the ones with holes in them because that's what I had:P. They have good insulation properties and shock absorbing properties if you drop something. If you have the choice though, get the ones without holes - you'll find they're easier to keep clean;).

Al.

[Alchemy]

Boat carpet, it's not like house carpet, it's a poly something or other, can hose it down, got it in mine and I like it.

[GrampianStars]

Mine is still bare hardwood decking allowing air movement from beneath.
It's served me well for 10 Years now :eyepop:
without a single drop :scared: of equipment.

[desler]

I used the bunnings stuff without holes. Although mine is on concrete, I also put a layer of sarking under that, just to help with the insulation. Works a treat, A bit of mucking around to trim and replace all the little jigsaw holes, but at this point, couldn't be happier.

Darren

[Visionoz]

Thanks everyone - for all the kind suggestions

Looks like the Bunnings PVA mats without the holes get the vote here - BUT (there's always a but in life ain't it:P?) - what's the wear&tear/durability like? as in with a castored chair rolling over it etc? I suppose I can place a carpet protector mat over that area in the corner where the desk/PC is

BTW my raised floorboard (unfotunately) is chipboard - supposed to be plywood - but it works OK - might put up some pixs when it's all set up - the pier is already at work - however the continuous bad weather, clouds/rain has been ongoing the last 5 weeks or so and is delaying me slightly

Ooops! Sorry, I just noticed that I should have posted this is the "DIY Observatories" section in the first place!! :(

Once again thanks heaps

Cheers
Bill

[mikesim]

I used the boat carpet Clarke rubber sells for $50/m. The lengths are 2M wide. Seems to be working well so far and doesnt mind a bit of moisture and is very hard wearing. Comes in dark blue or black.
Cheers
Mike

[Visionoz]

Thanks Mike

Has seen those in Bunnings too - had a thought about it but being 2m wide means I have to have two strips and there'll be a joint with a width of 400mm along one strip - maybe that's workable - I'll think about it to see overall cost - in no hurry since it's been raining again

Cheers
Bill