What flooring or mat options for under the house?

Our house has quite a large area underneath that will be a great storage area, but I want to put some flooring or matting down to protect my belongings from being in direct contact with the earth/dirt.

I was thinking of using those interlock foam mats.

I see there are solid mats and also ones with holes.

Are either of these good options?

And, do these different mats interlock with each other?

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @JM2501. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about flooring.

The interlocking foam mats would certainly provide a buffer between the soil and your belongings, which will protect them from direct contact with dirt. However, it's important to note that the mats from different brands might not interlock properly, so it’s best to stick to mats from the same brand for a secure fit.

That said, you should also be very cautious about moisture under the house, especially during rain events. Water can easily seep into crawl spaces, and if there's any chance of water entering, it could result in your belongings becoming wet. In such cases, it might be a better idea to build an elevated platform to store your items off the ground. This way, you can protect them not just from dirt, but also from moisture-related damage.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Nailbag

Hi @JM2501

@MitchellMc makes a great point in taking in to consideration on moisture/water directly damaging or long term damage through rising damp. If the area is dry after heavy rain events, you could lay builders plastic down first, just to add that extra layer of protection and extend the life of the mats, which often aren't intended for external use.

If the space is damp or suffers water ingress after rains, then the elevated platform @MitchellMc suggests would be a good idea. It only needs be 40-50mm off the ground and a very basic build. Using something like yellow-tongue floor boards with 70mm x 45mm treated pine feet would work at a minimal cost. The top side of the boards are sealed, so make that the underside. Another solution would be to look around the industrial estates to see if anyone is giving away free unbranded pallets.

Nailbag

JM2501

Thanks, MitchellMc.

And, Yes, I agree I should look at a buffer from potential moisture issues.

JM2501

Thanks Nailbag.

Using old pallets is a great idea.

I'll look into that 🙂

hakeae

I am looking at second hand plastic pallets to avoid any white ant issues. You can get used ones pretty cheap but unfortunately not close to home. I'll have to make a day trip to pick some up to try out. Huh, just noticed that Amazon have a whole heap too. https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=plastic+pallets&crid=2F7BIIIGEOSQE&sprefix=plastic+pallets%2Caps%2C237&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_ci_vs-vc-pi-left_1_15

How did you go with your project?

EricL

Hello @hakeae

Let me tag @JM2501 to make them aware of your query. My best advice is to level out the bottom of the house so that you get full use of the area, rather than trying to adjust your pallets to the unsteady terrain.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

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