Floor for longarm that will be in the garage?

[Susan E.]

My garage has a cement floor. I plan to get a cushion mat for standing, but do I need to have the machine on the cushioned mat? If the machine is on the cement, will it increase the chance for vibrations?
I have been looking on-line and a big enough industrial cushioned mat is thousands of dollars on top of what I am already spending.

[Catherine S.]

Susan, my longarm is on concrete (basement not garage). I haven't noticed it vibrating. It is a Gammill and is on a strong frame. I would guess most of the businesses have theirs on concrete too. With perhaps a layer of vinyl on top of the floor. I did not put down a cushioned mat because I use a rolling chair sometimes. I did not think the chair would roll easily on the cushioned mat. I may put one down on the back side of the machine for when I do pantos. I won't do that until after I get the basement finished. It is taking too long to get it done.

[Suzanne B.]

I recently renovated my garage to house my new long arm machine. The mat I got cost $50. gel type and great but it does not cover the entire area that I would be working in. I used a thick grade linoleum to cover the floor and that was a good move. The thing I had not planned on was the slight slant in my garage floor. My guys doing the renovation also set up the long arm for me so they were able to adjust the table a little so it did not roll to one end so quickly. Still a little problem on the higher end but basically does not roll to far since the adjustment. I hope this is helpful. Funny how I bought this machine and table without even thinking of the fact that I had not bedroom large enough to house it and the main living area is big enough but fills up when family comes for gatherings.

[Susan E.]

Hi SB, Loved your response. My husband is being a doll and helping me clean and prepare the garage. We decided on a carpet, so that with sliders under the machine, we can move it when necessary.
I am a little concerned about the floor being level, but hoping that the dealer who will set it up can adjust the frame as needed. Susan

[Susan E.]

I'm glad to have found this topic!

We bought a house with a 3rd bay in the garage intending to use it for my longarm - in the Phoenix AZ area. When we looked at the house in September, it was cool compared to the outside since the prior owner insulated the attic over the garage and the inside of the garage doors.

Now, I'm second guessing thinking that it might be too hot and dustry to be safe for my machine. I was thinking that I could remove the machine and bring it into the house during the hottest periods, but I'm afraid I underestimated the heat situation and length of it.

We don't want to do any major reconstruction as we need to keep the 3rd bay as a garage for resale purposes.

Anybody in my situation? And any suggestions on easy, inexpensive, and temporary changes that I can make to the garage for house the machine? If absolutely necessary, I can bring the machine into the house but it won't be the most comfortable approach, either spacewise or visually.

Thanks in advance.

[Susan E.]

As to dust, I am planning to keep my machine and frame covered when not in use and dusting/vacuuming walls and shelves often. Summer in Los Angles can be very hot, so if it is, my husband says there is a space air conditioner that we could get. My machine will come next week, so I am still working out the issues.
Preventing or blocking the inch gap between the garage door and wall is still a problem that I have not worked out yet.

[Susan E.]

Thanks for your reply Susan. We've given up on the garage idea and I've figured out how to get it into my sewing room (13.5 x 11) with everything else. It will be tight but I think I'll be happier that way without any worries. It will be covered regardless since our cats love to lay on the table. Good luck!

[Susan E.]

i have mine on a cement floor. Sam's has foam mats that look like puzzle squares. Sometimes when grey they call them garage matts and sometimes in bright colors call them child play mats. Same material. Make a great inexpensive floor mat for cushioning. They cost me under $30.
I wish I had coated or put down a smooth floor over the concrete though, just to keep the dust down and to make it easier to sweep up thread snippings, fabric and batting scraps and fuzz... and the concrete is hard to clean. All those pores.. well it's icky. It was an old garage too. Luckily my Innova has screw out stabilizer feet that can be adjusted really far (and a quick trip to the hardware store could easily get longer screw bolt things - all thread no ends) so one end is screwed out more than the other and the middle legs are in between. It didn't take long to get it level at all. and the sew head doesn't move by itself as we got the leveling accomplished.