Dance Studio Flooring
Choosing the right dance studio flooring is the most important decision to be made by any dance studio or performing arts venue. The precise type of flooring needed will depend greatly on the typical usage. For some types of dance studio, specialist dance studio flooring is designed to provide the right level of spring to enhance performance as well as minimise injury. It also needs to be highly durable and very evenly laid, and the surface of the flooring is also important, to provide a degree of grip. For some installations, especially if the dance floor is on the 1st floor or higher, a degree of sound reduction is also required, to minimise noise to the rooms underneath. All these considerations make the installation of dance studio flooring a highly specialist activity requiring the highest quality materials combined with the latest construction techniques.
Naturally Wood are experts in dance studio flooring, creating and installing beautiful, durable floors for a wide range of establishments including dance studios, gyms, village halls, school halls, play centres, community centres and more. Based in Essex, we supply superior wooden floor installation throughout London and the Home Counties including Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Kent.
Dance Studio Flooring – contact us now for a free quote or click here to view our range of flooring products
Typical Dance Studio Flooring Materials
Traditionally dance floors have been installed using 57mm and 83mm wide strips of American White Oak and Canadian Maple secret nailed to a semi sprung sub floor. Oak and maple are chosen for their hardness and because they have good stability in narrow widths.
Now we also offer a range of special engineered floors designed for sports and dance floors. Engineered floors are multi-layer strips consisting of 2 or 3 different layers of wood which have been glued and pressed together. The result is a very stable product which is stronger than solid wood as well as being less prone to natural shrinkage and expansion. For dance studio flooring, where it is especially important for the surface to be very even and consistent, engineered floors are the preferred choice.
The best type of material for a particular dance floor or sports hall will also depend on the type of surface the floor is to be laid over. For instance, some materials are compatible with under floor heating, some are not. Some require a plywood floor base, while others can be successfully used over a concrete sub floor. We will take all these factors into account to advise you of the best options for your floor.
Typical Dance Studio Flooring Patterns
Most dance or sports floors will have minimal decorative pattern in them, as they are usually intended to be functional and not provide distractions for dancers or players. This is especially true for multi-functional spaces such as school halls or community centres. Dance floors are, therefore, usually laid in narrow random length strips.
But any parquet floor design could be used if desired, especially if the floor is to be a feature of the space. For instance, the famous Blackpool tower ballroom has a bespoke parquet floor design made from large oak panels with an ornate feature border.
Typical Dance Studio Flooring Finishes
Polish and wax has been the traditional finish for all wood floors, including dance floors. But lacquers are frequently used now, as they offer a more durable finish and easier maintenance. And for dance floors, a lacquer finish offers dancers a safer, less slippery surface compared to polish and wax.
Dance Floor Maintenance
As well as floor installation, Naturally Wood also offer a full range of dance floor repair, restoration and sanding services.
A real wood floor can last in excess of 100 years if cared for properly, so many establishments find that they are able to use an existing wood floor as a dance floor, once it has been restored.
If the floor surface is maintained reasonably well (i.e. it is protected from excess moisture and has no significant surface damage) then simply re-sanding every 10 years will be sufficient to remove any scratches from the surface.
At Naturally Wood we are as passionate about restoring older wooden floors as we are about creating new ones. As well as sanding, we carry out floor repairs such as filling gaps, and finishing, such as staining, oiling or lacquering, either to match existing woodwork or to provide a durable surface. Restoration can be carried out for all types of floors including dance floors, other commercial floors and domestic floors.
Working with Naturally Wood Floors
The first step in creating your new floor is to contact us for an initial consultation.
We can provide an initial free estimate over the phone, or we can arrange a visit for a more detailed consultation where we can discuss your requirements, present options available to you and show different wood samples.
Dance Studio Flooring – contact us now for a free quote or click here to view our range of flooring products
