How to build your own dance floor
How to Build a Dance Floor
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By: Leigh Anne Wilkes
This tutorial will show you how to build a dance floor using 2 x 2’s and sheets of plywood. So easy and less expensive than renting one.
I shared with you in a previous Wedding Carnival post the story of our dance floor. When we decided to book a live band for the Wedding Carnival I thought we needed a dance floor. My husband did not. We have a large backyard and plenty of grass and he thought dancing on the grass would be just fine.
I am not easily dissuaded or discouraged.
I got on line and immediately started pricing dance floors from rental companies. They are not cheap, between $700-800 for the size we needed. It wasn’t in the budget so I decided I needed to get creative.
To make a somewhat long, 5 month long story short, I had a dance floor and then I didn’t have a dance floor, I had a dance floor and then I didn’t. In fact I thought I had a dance floor until the Sunday before the Wedding Carnival. It fell through – five days before the event.
Remember I am not easily discouraged so I decided we were going to build a dance floor. Or rather my daughter Cali and her friend Hannah were going to build me a dance floor (with some help from dad of course.)
By this time I had totally broken Jim down and he agreed so we headed to Home Depot on Monday night (the Wedding Carnival was Friday).
Dance Floor Supplies
- 6 sheets of 1/2″ plywood
- 30 eight foot long 2 x 3’s – cut 18 of them into two 45″ pieces (you will have pieces leftover) This will leave 12 of the boards 8 ‘ long. They cut them for free for you at Home Depot.
- Nails and hammer
- Floor Paint and supplies for painting
- Painters Tape
- 6 Mending plates to join the pieces together
How Big is the Dance Floor?
The dance floor measured 12 x 16 and was created out of 6 sections that were 4 x 8 which is the size of a sheet of plywood.
How to Build A Dance Floor
The whole neighborhood got involved or enjoyed watching the process taking place out in front of our house.
The above photo is about how involved Tessa got – she held a hammer for a photo but she was working full time so we need to cut her some slack.
- Create 6 frames from the 2 x 3’s that measure 4′ x 8′.
- Add four support pieces to each frame
- Nail a sheet of plywood to the top of each frame. Nail it down along the edges and across the support pieces.
- The moms got involved in this step of the process. Had to bring in the big muscles!
How to Paint a Dance Floor
The next step was the painting process. I decided that I wanted the floor to be checker board to go along with the carnival theme so I purchased black and white floor paint. We primed the boards first and then added a coat of white paint to each section.
Yes, I sat in a chair and watched it dry! I like watching paint dry.
After it was dry, the girls used blue painters tape to tape off the squares. The squares measured 24″ x 24″ so each 4 x 8 section had 2 x 4 squares.
Using small foam rollers the girls rolled the black paint into the taped off squares.
We waited for the paint to dry, removed the tape and we had a dance floor!
Finally, we numbered the pieces so that we knew how to put it back together once we moved it into the backyard.
The mending pieces were hammered into to hold the pieces together.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Dance Floor
Total Cost of Dance Floor (including paint but not including labor) Approx. $300.00.
It was perfect and it was a wonderful addition to our carnival and YES, we needed a dance floor. Even my husband admits that now. It added such a fun element to the carnival and really got people dancing.
Who wouldn’t want to dance on a black and white checkerboard dance floor!!!
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Build Outdoor Dance Floor on Ground
If you're wondering how to build a dance floor on uneven ground, then consider this DIY dance floor option, the quick answer is you should check into portable dance floors from Greatmats.
One of the great advantages of portable DIY dance floors is that they can be used in many different locations, so you can literally take the dance floor with you. Whether you're setting up a dance floor for a special performance or need a dance floor for a wedding or other event, you may find yourself in search of flooring for dance that can be used outdoors.
DIY Dance floors are versatile, but they aren't all versatile enough to be used on grass. Grass poses a number of different challenges. First of all, you'll need an outdoor dance floor on uneven ground that can withstand moisture without being damaged. Secondly, outdoor use means that you'll need a floor that can withstand UV rays. This article can inform how to build a outdoor dance floor on uneven ground.
Don't worry, though - at Greatmats, we understand the importance of being able to install a DIY dance floor over grass. That's why we stock a number of suitable temporary dance floor products that can give you the versatility that you're looking for.
This article can inform how to build a portable outdoor dance floor on uneven ground.
Necessary Features for A DIY Dance Floor on Uneven Ground or Grass
Waterproof Flooring: Make sure that any dance floor you consider for use on top of grass is fully waterproof. Even if you plan on covering the floor with a tent, there will still be moisture in the grass which a non-waterproof floor could absorb. We offer plenty of waterproof flooring options that are suitable for outdoor use.
As an added benefit, if you're working with waterproof flooring, it's no big deal if a guest spills a drink. Cleanup is easy.
If the ground is uneven, you'll need to provide a surface to help level it out before installing a dance floor, such as a waterproof composite mat system with strong interlocks. If you are confident that the ground won't get wet, simple plywood may do the trick to create a stable subsurface.
Shop Waterproof Flooring
UV Resistant Dance Flooring on Grass
Even a temporary outdoor dance floor on grass will be exposed to UV rays, which can cause your average flooring to fade, and possibly degrade the quality of the flooring over time.
Look for a dance floor that has been treated for UV protection so that it can safely be exposed to the sun.
Portable DIY Dance Flooring
When you're working with a grass area, chances are you won't have a flat floor to wheel a flooring cart over. This means you'll need to carry the dance floor, so the portability of the floor is a major factor.
Modular dance flooring tiles are an ideal solution. These tiles are conveniently sized and easy to lift and carry, so even if you're installing the floor in a large field, getting the flooring into location won't be an issue. This will make installing the portable outdoor dance flooring on uneven ground or grass, and depending on the size of your floor, it's a task that a single individual can perform; no need for a professional installation. If you're attempting to install an outdoor dance floor over uneven ground, you may want to consider first laying down a layer of plywood, ground protection mats, or composite mats to level out the surface and prevent tiles from separating.
Easy DIY Dance Floor Installation
When you're working with tiles, you'll want a flooring product that connects together easily. Most of our tiles have a snap together or tab and loop closure design. Either of these systems is easy to use, and lets you quickly connect and disconnect tiles. This means you can quickly assemble the dance floor on grass, giving you plenty of time to finish with the rest of your event preparations.
Additional Tips for Choosing the Right Portable Dance Floor on Grass
We outlined a few specifications above about what to look for in a dance floor that will be installed on grass, but there are a few other tips you should know about choosing a dance floor for any event or venue.
- Consider the type of shoes dancers will be wearing - Footwear, particularly high heels, can damage some types of dance flooring. Make sure you select a product that-s appropriate for what people will be wearing.
- Think about the aesthetic that you want - Are you looking for a classic floor with a wood grain finish? Or is a more generic tile suitable for your needs?
- How large of a dance floor on grass will you need - How many dancers will you have, and how large does your finished floor need to be? Remember, you can always add or remove tiles to customize the size and dimensions of your floor during different events.
- Think about additional accessories you'll need, like ramped edges. Many of our products are available with ramped edges for safety, and for an overall clean finish.
Dance Floor on Grass - DIY Tile Options
Portable Dance Floor Tiles: Our Portable Dance Floor Tiles are versatile enough to be used both indoors and outdoors. These tiles are UV treated, so they'll resist fading when used outdoors. The tiles fit together tightly so you don't have to worry about them pulling apart while in use, and the commercial grade vinyl top surface is durable enough to hold up to serious dancing.
Ramped border edging is available to create a clean, finished edge that is both safe and attractive.
One major benefit of these tiles is in their construction. The tiles themselves are built on a raised base, so air and moisture can circulate freely beneath the tile's surface. This helps to prevent water from working its way up to the actual dancing surface, even when the tiles are used outdoors.
Sized at 12x12 inches, these portable dance floor tiles are easy to handle and transport. You can vary the size of the floor by setting up just some or all of the tiles, and can also customize the floor's dimensions according to your needs. The tiles fit together quickly and easily, and you can assemble a 10x20-foot dance floor on grass in just minutes. They can be installed over grass, but note that they're only intended for temporary outdoor installations and do still require a hard, flat surface. Significant bumps, spongy ground and/or mud in you grassy surface can cause the installation to become difficult and/or uneven.
With a choice of eight different finishes, including six eye-catching wood grain options, you can have a beautiful floor suitable for any event.
Shop Portable Dance Floor Tiles
Portable Outdoor Floor Tiles
For a highly durable option, consider our Portable Outdoor Floor Tiles. These tiles are extremely strong, and can even support the weight of vehicles. While they don't offer the traditional wood grain finish of a dance floor, they are highly versatile, making them a great investment for event facilities.
These tiles are both waterproof and UV resistant, so they can be safely used outdoors. Their unique hinge system makes installation a breeze, as it quickly locks into place for a secure fit that won't separate during use. Measuring 3/4 inch thick, these tiles are made of a polypropylene plastic that is strong enough to easily support large crowds.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of these tiles is the fact that they can be used over many different existing surfaces, including uneven terrain.
There's no worrying about finding a perfectly flat space, which will save you both time and stress. You can place these tiles directly on top of grass, and the tiles can even be rolled up for easy storage and a faster installation the next time. Just keep in mind that the tiles will, to a certain degree, conform to the ground it is sitting on, so you will not have a completely level dance floor on grass if the subsurface is uneven.
Shop Portable Outdoor Floor Tiles
Durable Dance Flooring Tile
Want a durable dance floor on grass with the look of real wood? Our ProCourt Gym Flooring Tiles offer you both. These tiles feature a generous 20-mil wear layer that is both scuff and stain resistant, ensuring the tiles continue to look great. Please note that these tiles aren't UV treated, and should only be used outdoors temporarily.
These tiles offer a raised flooring surface which will grip and accommodate grassy surfaces. They snap together easily for a fast installation, and are designed to withstand repeated installations.
Shop Portable Outdoor Floor Tiles
What You Need to Know About Installing a Dance Floor On Grass
While the above products are suitable for use as a portable outdoor dance flooring on uneven ground, it's important to realize that these products are only intended for temporary use. Don't leave them in place longer than necessary, and if possible, install a tent or find another way to protect the flooring from the weather, which will prolong its life.
When deciding where to install the dance floor, look for an area that is as flat and as level as possible. Installing the flooring on an uneven surface may make it difficult to get the tiles to connect correctly, and can place unnecessary stress on the tiles. It may also make the flooring itself uneven, and an uneven dance floor on grass can be dangerous for dancers.
You'll have the best results if you install the flooring over grass that has been mowed, since it will create a firmer, flatter surface than you'll have if you're working with grass that is longer.
Placing a layer of plywood under any of these tiles will definitely help create a flatter, more stable and safer dance surface as well.
When it comes time to uninstall the flooring, try to do so when the flooring is thoroughly dry. If the weather isn't cooperating, then dismantle the flooring and allow it to dry indoors before stacking it and storing it away in a closed space, like a closet.
Most of our dance flooring tiles are designed to be easy to clean, but be sure to review the specifications for the particular product that you purchase. In most cases, you can damp mop the floor with a household cleanser.
Please don't hesitate to contact our great customer service team if you have any questions as you explore our many outdoor dance floor options.
Dance Studio Owner | November 2022
Stair Draft floor "Springstep". share Tweet share Comments
Here the experts at Stagestep Flooring Solutions share their advice on building your own dance system for your studio.
Creating your own dance floor system starts with preparation, planning and asking the right questions. Do this, and as a result, you will have a successful project, saving time and money.
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The dance system system consists of three elements:
- Plate - Your foundation
- Black floor - for absorption of energy
- dance floor
There are many options that should be taught many options that should be taught. , both in what elements are needed to meet your needs, and in how these elements are combined.
Questions you should ask yourself:
- How will the space be used? Just dance? Multipurpose? Parties and other non-dance related events?
- What dance style(s) and how often will the space be used?
- Is this a temporary, semi-permanent or permanent installation?
- What is your budget?
Springstep IV Subfloor by Stagestep
In addition, you will need to decide if you will do it yourself from scratch, use a ready-made system for self-installation, hire someone on site to install it, or have the manufacturer do it all for you.
you.
Once the questions have been asked and answered, you will have a plan of action. Whether you make it yourself or give it to a farm, you need to know the following so you don't miss any important steps.
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Slab must be level and vapor barrier, especially if it is concrete. If it is uneven, you may need to apply a degreaser to it.
Floating Subfloor is available in many configurations. You will need to decide, based on features, installation instructions, budget, and performance in terms of resilience and cushioning, which type of subfloor is right for you. Make sure you have a floating subfloor and not a raised subfloor. Floating means air under all points on the surface. Foam has air.
Dance floor surface can be vinyl (gauze) or wood. Within each category, there are a variety of options based again on budget, appearance, usage, required maintenance schedule, and whether the flooring needs to be moved (e.
g. to a concert stage).
Take your time and make decisions without first exploring all options, knowing your needs, talking to "experts" and other owners who have similar needs or have gone through the process.
For the purposes of this lesson, let's say we're in a studio for a few dances with a long-term arena (or we're the owner) and we have the ability to do it ourselves.
Woodstep dance floor installation by Stagestep.
First we check the stove. If it is uneven, broken in places or uneven, it must be repaired. If it is a new construction, a moisture test (a so-called "calcium chloride test" available at a hardware store) should be performed to check the moisture percentage and moisture pressure in the slab. A concrete slab needs a vapor barrier with a liquid or viscous vinyl coating. It is easy to install or apply.
The basic versatile floating subfloor for multi-purpose dance classes is called the Springstep II. .
Items required:
- High Density Foam Blocks or Styrofoam Cubes (52-100 per bottom plywood)
- 2 plywood with ½" backing - top ply to be A/C (finished on one side), bottom ply B / C (unfinished on both sides)
- 50-75 top plywood screws
- 1" decking screws threaded to head
- wood filler
- sander
- electric screwdriver
- circular saw
- tape or glue to attach the floor to the subfloor
vertical position, curled up on a cardboard or plastic base.
The first step is to roll out the subfloor on the floor for 24-48 hours so that it can acclimate. Always use an industrial cutting tool (not a box cutter) to cut the floor.
There are four ways to install: temporary (top tape), semi-permanent (up to two years with 2" or 4" double-sided tape), permanent semi-permanent (ReUseIt 2.0), and permanent (adhesive). Professional installation is required for permanent installation.
The rest of the options you can do yourself.
Routes are available online at www.stagestep.com. They are simple and do not require special skills. This will take time, but you can save up to $2.00 per square foot. Other options include Springstep IV, a prefabricated floating subfloor that eliminates the use of screws, sanding and wood filler, and plywood. This will save you up to 80 percent assembly time.
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Remember that preparation, planning, and asking the right questions will ensure that the studio floor is right for your students, your schedule, and your budget.
“I would like to create my own hotel” – The New Bohemian
Text by Igor Shein, photo by Steve Herud
The New Bohemian about the most unusual project of Design Hotels
Where to live in Ibiza? A question from the category of reasonable and ridiculous at the same time. Well, of course, closer to all these clubs! Or, on the contrary, further away - fie on them - but so that right on the sea, fall asleep to the sound of the waves .
.. In this case, why then go to Ibiza? However, everyone has their own reasons, right?
A few years ago we lived in a small group in Ibiza on the territory of a former olive oil farm. It could accommodate a maximum of 6-8 people and was a complex of small buildings rebuilt into nice "numbers". In the center there was a swimming pool and a terrace with a bar. All this farm was located on the top of the mountain, surrounded by dense flowering vegetation, making its way through which, one could admire the breathtaking panorama of the island.
Birds sang deafeningly in the morning. I remember it distinctly, because just at dawn we were returning from Fuck Me I'm Famous or somewhere else, and each had an agonizing choice: either splash into the pool screaming - there was no one to wake up - or silently fall into a huge bed with snow-white linen.
Just half an hour ago, a sweaty, dense crowd was bouncing in sync, shaking the dance floor, and suddenly silence, the purest morning coolness, dew, birdsong, scents of flowers - this is the most incredible mix in terms of strength, from which we enjoyed a lot.
Who would have thought that a simple owner of an oil press converted into a retreat, without knowing it, anticipated the trend - whatever you call it - by creating nothing more than an ecological boutique hotel that fits perfectly into the Made by Originals concept invented by the founder of the Design Hotels group Klaus Sendlinger for a special category of travelers.
However, I anticipated that, of course. All great ideas float in the air, sometimes for years, until they land on the right head. Because what travelers are we talking about? Yes, even about those whom the American journalist Julia Chaplin once aptly called gypset (gypsy + jet set). They do not like five-star anthills, as well as generally well-known places to the general public. They leave their lofts in conditional New York or London, forget about money and go wandering. They stick together, adore everything local - food, craft, rituals. The lifestyle is generally healthy, many practice yoga, meditation, but this does not mean that they cannot spend the whole night at the fool moon party.
Often travel with children. They rent houses through airbnb for a month or two and are absolutely happy.
Klaus Sendlinger used to spend the winter on the island of Tao, the same island where Alex Garland placed his characters in The Beach. "Don't bother yourself with Koh Phangan, Rich <...> Tao! That's where you should go." Koh Tao was still an unknown island and Klaus liked to recover there after the hard techno parties he held in different places. He had already registered Design Hotels, but the company was still weak, although it provided marketing services to a dozen cool hotels in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London. The period of uncertainty did not last long: today the Design Hotels group is an impressive conglomerate of almost three hundred completely different extraordinary hotels around the world, and the list of those wishing to receive the coveted “club membership” is even longer.
Obviously dreaming of returning to those blessed times when nature was as pure as it was a million years ago, prosperous businessman Klaus Sendlinger opens the Papaya Playa project in Tulum in 2015.
Right on the beach, in the middle of the jungle. He brought the aesthetics of Tao Island to Mexico: DJ sets under the moon, hippie chic (meaning that you are barefoot all the time, but the linen is clean, the food is excellent, and the bill for everything is rather big). Unlike the heroes of Garland, who built their village from what God sent, Papaya Playa was created sort of by analogy - the building material grew or lay around - but by the hands of a professional architect. And most importantly - the latest systems for water purification, waste recycling, saving and using solar energy are used here - Klaus was very pleased.
During the Brazilian Olympics (Sendlinger arranged another hippie chic in the bohemian Santa Teresa quarter in Rio), a man approached Klaus, introduced himself as the owner of a la granja (farm) in Ibiza and offered to take a look at it.
Klaus Sendlinger liked the farm.
As if our nameless - I don’t remember the name for good reasons (Ibiza after all!) - the owner of the oil press, on a whim, converted her property into a cozy boutique resort, the most experienced Klaus Sendlinger decided to do the same on the farm, investing however, significant funds are spent on what enlightened intellectuals around the world love so much today: caring for the environment, saving energy and living in the style of nature calls - without TVs, air conditioners, bad (what a nightmare!) Internet and many other things that it’s time to to get used to or vice versa to get used to.
There is no menu in the restaurant - just tell the chef what you are planning for dinner and he will fulfill your desire in the best possible way. Regardless of whether it will be meat, fish or vegetative - all products of local origin, and underwater animals, as a rule, still swam in the sea the day before.
Speaking of air conditioners. Klaus, of course, did not refuse them for the sake of saving electricity. It’s just that the house in which you will live is called a finca here - that is, literally “a house with thick walls”, sometimes up to one meter - the windows are small, they close tightly and thanks to the twilight, an acceptable coolness reigns inside. Of course, if you feel unbearably hot, they will bring something, don't worry.
Armin Fischer from design studio Dreimeta designed the interiors of La Granja. She decided to sing the charm of imperfect beauty, so inherent in the dwellings of the peasants of the past. With might and main I used a tree beaten by time, often charred, a lot of stone.
It turned out to be a complete antithesis to the traditional white walls adopted everywhere in the south. From modern conveniences - each room has a shower, a large bed - and what else do you need? And yes, there is a beautiful swimming pool on the territory - the farmers never dreamed of such a thing. And this is perhaps the only significant compromise that Klaus made.
Not every taxi driver will find the way to La Granja, few people on the island know about it at all - so renters receive a detailed route via whatsapp. How you spend time on the farm is up to you. For starters, you can simply do nothing. You can also take a car and have a party in clubs, and during the day you can sleep in the twilight of your finca (we did something like this on a former olive farm). But something tells you that you are in the wrong place then. Most of the companies that come to La Granja - and you can settle on a farm only with a friendly company, renting it entirely - seek to gain some kind of experience that is available only here and nowhere else.
From yoga, rare spiritual practices to biodynamic farming.
The last one is serious. Thanks to the efforts of California farmer Andy Shimanovich, more than 30 varieties of seasonal vegetables and fruits grow on the entire ten-hectare plot. Biodynamics plays an important role in Andy's work. It harvests according to the lunar cycles and uses a probiotic aerosol or lacto fermentation process that activates plants to fight disease and fungus. All this he will gladly teach you. We add that La Granja cooperates with the Ibiza Conservation Foundation (IPF) and, together with other farmers, participates in the breeding program of local breeds of chickens and black sheep.
In one of his interviews, Klaus Sendlinger said that he mainly consults all the time and has long dreamed of creating his own hotel. It seems that La Granja is what it is. If so, let's hope that the great visionary did not lose. In any case, this is the first such project in his portfolio. From the outside, the truth looks like an expensive rehab (They tried to make me go to rehab but I said ‘no, no, no’) - people live in a commune, engage in various practices .
