Interlocking foam mats for attic play space?

[jvirginia]

We have a decent-sized unfinished attic, which I'm slowly converting into a play space. There's no play room/family room in our house, so the kids' junk is always spread around the grown-up living areas. Also, they are getting older and less interested in being with us or near us when they play, especially with friends around and their bedrooms are tiny. Proper finishing by a contractor is not in the budget right now, so, instead, I'm doing it bit by bit.

Here it is with recently added spray foam insulation:




Next step is to put something on the floors. Right now it is just plywood. A friend of mine recommended karate mats or other interlocking mats. There's an amazing array of high-quality interlocking mats out there (not the thin things you get at a toystore). We can also get interlocking foam mats with carpet on top, or just use big exercise mats. We also need to wrap that chimney with something soft. My kids rough house A LOT.

What do you guys think of these options:







http://www.softnsafefloors.com/dojoinfo.html

Any other ideas?

Also, at some point we'll cut off the excess spray foam and put up wallboard and paint - any idea how much work that would be?

This is all my project ... DH doesn't see it as a priority ... so I'm trying to do something cheap and easy.

[Laura H1]

we used interlocking playmats from Step 2... lined our hardwood floors with them in our Livingroom, Dining room, and an area in our family room when my trio were babies/toddlers... we also had certain areas of the playmats covered with oriental rugs so that we could maintain some sort of "style" (lol) and have softer areas for certain activities (reading, cuddling, etc)...

if you go that route, I would ban food and drink... not too hard to clean up, but still not fun....

Laura

[jknyc]

I think gym mats are easier to clean. Those interlocking ones get dust and crumbs in between the locking parts.

[lala22]

WOW...look what you did with that space...

i'm sorry i dont' have suggestions, our playroom is the basement and we have indoor/outdoor carpet down there ontop of cement and it is NOT my recommendation.

BUT, WOW, look at that space...are you going to put up short side walls? Did you blow that attic stuff yourself? I have never seen that...we only have the pink insulation...do you have stairs up there? We just have a pull down ladder, but i'd love to have something similar.

[justLaura]

We've used the interlocking primary color squares before, and have gotten great deals at Lowe's on them (sold in 4-packs). We actually used them outdoors under a quick-set pool, and they held up beautifully.

Now, regular wear and tear might have a different impact, but I would think that would be an awesome option. The nice thing is, you can take them outside a few at a time, hose them off once a year and you're done.

Laura

[SaraV]

We've used the interlocking primary color squares before, and have gotten great deals at Lowe's on them (sold in 4-packs). We actually used them outdoors under a quick-set pool, and they held up beautifully.

Now, regular wear and tear might have a different impact, but I would think that would be an awesome option. The nice thing is, you can take them outside a few at a time, hose them off once a year and you're done.

Laura

Yep, we use our basement like you're proposing using your attic, JV, and DH found the interlocking ones on sale at Lowes too. So far, so good...

[jvirginia]

i'm sorry i dont' have suggestions, our playroom is the basement and we have indoor/outdoor carpet down there ontop of cement and it is NOT my recommendation.

BUT, WOW, look at that space...are you going to put up short side walls? Did you blow that attic stuff yourself? I have never seen that...we only have the pink insulation...do you have stairs up there? We just have a pull down ladder, but i'd love to have something similar.

Thanks! Before he had it insulated it was FREEZING up there ... since, it stays warm and our oil bills are way down. It was so worth it. We hired a firm to come do it - it is a big, messy, smelly deal but it has made a world of difference. We would eventually put up some walls where it gets below stand-up height (actually doors to some storage) and sheetrock the roof but that is going to take a while. The thing about a 150 year old house is that the projects are ENDLESS. Anyway, at least you have a playroom!