Good idea, and it got me thinking. I had some extra planks from my floor. The planks already had some rubber material on the back, so I just connected a few planks and laid it underneath my chair. I think it'll work well. If it gets damaged, I can easily replace it.
Thank you so much for this video. I have wasted so much money on those plastic mats that fall apart fast. Never again! I made a chair mat with 8 slats of flooring I found at a local thrift store; glued them to the rough side of an 1/8" thickness hard tempered brown panel (big-box home improvement store); cut it size, rounded the edges and sanded. Spent less than $25 for a customized chair mat that I love and it will last for years. Tip for sizing - I sat in my chair at my desk and rolled around the floor. I put small pieces of tape where my wheels stopped - front, back, left, right, then measured the area. I discovered I rolled more to the left side to reach a second filing cabinet. My mat is longer on the left to accommodate this. I also made a note of where my feet usually rest under my desk and made the length to match.
Great video! I was planning to try and make one of these, but I've never worked with flooring before. This made me realize there was a lot more to it than I initially realized, and you just stopped me from going off half-cocked and getting needlessly frustrated.
Excellent video. Thank you. By the way, I love the wall art in your office. It's what every good person should have, if they care about their personal security. The cars a cool too. Back to the relevant subject, your floor mat came out great.
@@ourfamilyoutdoors7331 Thank you, I just started having issues, but now I see they were my mistakes. I'm going to make another one with the lessons I learned. I need a firmer backing and LVP without a backing for a better glue down and less flex
The thicker plywood has two problems: it's heavy and can be awkward to move and more importantly it raises you up quite a bit. If you can't adjust the desk to be higher it might be high enough to be uncomfortable to work at that height. I made one using 3/4 b/c that is what I had and had to re-do it with something thinner b/c it raised me up so high I couldn't type without wrist pain.
Hey, Jay. You and I look to be about the same size and I was wondering how this is holding up after 11 months. I am going to make the same thing for my wife and I, but was thinking of making mine with 1/2" ply or OSB. Thanks for the video.
Update: it's starting to crack ☹️ a small hairline crack formed, and now several other pieces have started cracking. I think it could be the backer I used is very flexible, and the lvp has rubber backing on it. I think that allowed enough flex that eventually started cracks. I'm going to make version 2 and use stiffer base and lvp without backing.
@@craftedbykvg4649 not yet. I'll probably go with 1/4" plywood and an lvp without a backing. Trying to make it so it doesn't flex the LVP when the chair rolls around.
@@JayJenkins That's what I was thinking. 1/4" ply or to save some money, OSB. I don't think it will matter. I think some of the less expensive LVP could be best because it doesn't have the flexible backing. I'm going to build one for myself with a custom shape and am thinking about going into production with them locally...offer some standard sizes as well as custom shapes and sizes.
Great video! For a mat of that size, besides aesthetics, is there a benefit of cutting the boards? It would save me quite a bit of time not having to cut them 😁!
Not really, if your boards are longer than the mat. If your boards are not longer than your mat you would want to cut them to avoid having all the short seams line up. That would make a weak point because lvt flexes.
Nice work. Looks nice. The bottom board layer you used seemed fairly thin. Are you satisfied it won't flex and begin breaking down over time as the chair rolls around? Just curious if you hypothetically were purchasing wood/supplies and building new again, would recommend a thicker base for more durability/strength?
For this one no, the lvp I used had enough thickness to it that it would be difficult to crack even by itself. Because of that I used the thinnest subfloor I could because I did not want the chair mat to be too thick. If you are using very thin lvp, you may want to use a thicker base but so far I have had no issues with this chair mat cracking. It does flex a very small amount but the edges, usually the first place of the cheap chair mats to crack, has been fine.
It's holding up well. 2 things I added, a metal transition strip on the back to make it easier to roll my chair up from the carpet. I also sprayed the bottom with rubber spray to keep it from sliding. If I did it again I would put the rough side of the sheet down against the carpet to keep it in place.
Update: it's starting to crack ☹️ a small hairline crack formed, and now several other pieces have started cracking. I think it could be the backer I used is very flexible, and the lvp has rubber backing on it. I think that allowed enough flex that eventually started cracks. I'm going to make version 2 and use stiffer base and lvp without backing.
Tip for sizing - I sat in my chair at my desk and rolled around the floor. I put small pieces of tape where my wheels stopped - front, back, left, right, then measured the area. I discovered I rolled more to the left side to reach a second filing cabinet. My mat is longer on the left to accommodate this. I also made a note of where my feet usually rest under my desk and made the length to match.
I know this video is a year old now but I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on what to use on the edges to make sure there's no toe stubbing/cutting/whatever going on. Thanks in advance.
I just sanded the edges around them off a little bit but I didn't want to put anything large on the edge so that I could still roll my chair onto the mat from the carpet.
Good idea, and it got me thinking. I had some extra planks from my floor. The planks already had some rubber material on the back, so I just connected a few planks and laid it underneath my chair. I think it'll work well. If it gets damaged, I can easily replace it.
I like your t-shirt!
Thank you so much for this video. I have wasted so much money on those plastic mats that fall apart fast. Never again! I made a chair mat with 8 slats of flooring I found at a local thrift store; glued them to the rough side of an 1/8" thickness hard tempered brown panel (big-box home improvement store); cut it size, rounded the edges and sanded. Spent less than $25 for a customized chair mat that I love and it will last for years. Tip for sizing - I sat in my chair at my desk and rolled around the floor. I put small pieces of tape where my wheels stopped - front, back, left, right, then measured the area. I discovered I rolled more to the left side to reach a second filing cabinet. My mat is longer on the left to accommodate this. I also made a note of where my feet usually rest under my desk and made the length to match.
Great video! I was planning to try and make one of these, but I've never worked with flooring before. This made me realize there was a lot more to it than I initially realized, and you just stopped me from going off half-cocked and getting needlessly frustrated.
haha my adhd would have everything still in the boxes and garage
Excellent video. Thank you. By the way, I love the wall art in your office. It's what every good person should have, if they care about their personal security. The cars a cool too. Back to the relevant subject, your floor mat came out great.
Very well done!
@@ourfamilyoutdoors7331 Thank you, I just started having issues, but now I see they were my mistakes. I'm going to make another one with the lessons I learned. I need a firmer backing and LVP without a backing for a better glue down and less flex
@@JayJenkins I subscribed. I’m looking forward to version two. I’m planning on making one myself in the next couple days.
Really great work sir. Props!
Nice....Now you have me thinking about building my own. Thank you for making this video.
finally a smart solution to lousy carpet mats
Great video! Thank you.😄
This is awesome
I wonder how well this would work on a 4' x 8' sheet of 3/4" plywood. Might try it out. Nice work
The thicker plywood has two problems: it's heavy and can be awkward to move and more importantly it raises you up quite a bit. If you can't adjust the desk to be higher it might be high enough to be uncomfortable to work at that height. I made one using 3/4 b/c that is what I had and had to re-do it with something thinner b/c it raised me up so high I couldn't type without wrist pain.
Cool idea man. Thanks!
GREAT JOB !!!!!!!
This is legit bro thanks for sharing.
I can see myself jamming my toe one Monday morning as I stumble into the home office... :P But seriously, great project.
That's very nice
this is my next project. Those plastic mats suck..
Great job on your.
What a mat!
Hey, Jay. You and I look to be about the same size and I was wondering how this is holding up after 11 months. I am going to make the same thing for my wife and I, but was thinking of making mine with 1/2" ply or OSB. Thanks for the video.
It has been holding up great. I wouldn't go any thicker on the backing, it's pretty solid once you glue the lvp down.
Update: it's starting to crack ☹️ a small hairline crack formed, and now several other pieces have started cracking. I think it could be the backer I used is very flexible, and the lvp has rubber backing on it. I think that allowed enough flex that eventually started cracks. I'm going to make version 2 and use stiffer base and lvp without backing.
@@JayJenkins Have you made the new one, yet? What are you plans for the backing? 1/4 or 1/2" ply?
@@craftedbykvg4649 not yet. I'll probably go with 1/4" plywood and an lvp without a backing. Trying to make it so it doesn't flex the LVP when the chair rolls around.
@@JayJenkins That's what I was thinking. 1/4" ply or to save some money, OSB. I don't think it will matter. I think some of the less expensive LVP could be best because it doesn't have the flexible backing. I'm going to build one for myself with a custom shape and am thinking about going into production with them locally...offer some standard sizes as well as custom shapes and sizes.
Great video! For a mat of that size, besides aesthetics, is there a benefit of cutting the boards? It would save me quite a bit of time not having to cut them 😁!
Not really, if your boards are longer than the mat. If your boards are not longer than your mat you would want to cut them to avoid having all the short seams line up. That would make a weak point because lvt flexes.
Nice work. Looks nice. The bottom board layer you used seemed fairly thin. Are you satisfied it won't flex and begin breaking down over time as the chair rolls around? Just curious if you hypothetically were purchasing wood/supplies and building new again, would recommend a thicker base for more durability/strength?
For this one no, the lvp I used had enough thickness to it that it would be difficult to crack even by itself. Because of that I used the thinnest subfloor I could because I did not want the chair mat to be too thick. If you are using very thin lvp, you may want to use a thicker base but so far I have had no issues with this chair mat cracking. It does flex a very small amount but the edges, usually the first place of the cheap chair mats to crack, has been fine.
@@JayJenkins would you happen to know the approx thickness of your mat? Base and LVP together?
@@Jlpeaks maybe 1/2 inch or a little more.
Dope
Great idea! I’m definitely going to be building one. How is it holding up? Anything you would have done different?
It's holding up well. 2 things I added, a metal transition strip on the back to make it easier to roll my chair up from the carpet. I also sprayed the bottom with rubber spray to keep it from sliding. If I did it again I would put the rough side of the sheet down against the carpet to keep it in place.
Update: it's starting to crack ☹️ a small hairline crack formed, and now several other pieces have started cracking. I think it could be the backer I used is very flexible, and the lvp has rubber backing on it. I think that allowed enough flex that eventually started cracks. I'm going to make version 2 and use stiffer base and lvp without backing.
Hi Jay, Thanks for the great video ... which office chair casters would you recommend to use on a luxury vinyl floor ?
I just used the ones that came with it.
What glue did you use? I have rubber bottom flooring and plywood
I used the universal vinyl flooring adhesive, Home Depot. 👍
@@JayJenkins thank you
Without the extension piece that goes under the desk what is the measurement of the other part if that makes sense?
Tip for sizing - I sat in my chair at my desk and rolled around the floor. I put small pieces of tape where my wheels stopped - front, back, left, right, then measured the area. I discovered I rolled more to the left side to reach a second filing cabinet. My mat is longer on the left to accommodate this. I also made a note of where my feet usually rest under my desk and made the length to match.
How do you cut the vinyl pieces without that special cutter that I see you have?
You can cut with utility knife, you have to score it several times and then snap it. You can also cut it with a jigsaw or circular saw.
I know this video is a year old now but I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on what to use on the edges to make sure there's no toe stubbing/cutting/whatever going on. Thanks in advance.
I just sanded the edges around them off a little bit but I didn't want to put anything large on the edge so that I could still roll my chair onto the mat from the carpet.
@@JayJenkins I ended up getting some outside corner trim for it and it ended up great. Thanks for the DIY, it was very helpful.
how did this hold up? I have vinyl flooring, and my office chair has DESTROYED my flooring. Need a solution!
It's holding up fantastic. I don't know if very low end LVP would wear out, but I wouldn't think so.
What adhesive did you use to secure the LVP to the "subfloor"?
I used a universal floor adhesive. Similar to what you would use for putting down vinyl flooring.
Sent me details url for Amazon please
amzn.to/47XHtdx
do u want review for chair mat for carpet
Men need shoes..damn it...