Studio floor

[Suz]

Hi,
I am planing to replace the flooring in my studio. What kind of flooring do you have in your studio, and what can you recommend?

[nam26b]

I wouldn't suggest carpet that the landlord expects to be immaculate when you move out!

Had to learn that the hard way.......had to invest in a huge dropcloth.


Nathan

[Suz]

Yea, I have learned that carpet is not suitable also.

I was thinking vinil, there is a new hard vinil that look ok. Suggestions?

[ThinkSeeDraw]

I used to have carpet in my studio until we ripped it up. It's so wonderful without it. the carpet used to absorb the fumes and the smells hung around for longer. If you get floor, make sure the cracks are insulated well, the cold is a drawback. I would say big floor tiles though, so you can spill and splatter all you want without ruining the wood.

[Phyllis Rennie]

Hi Suz, My job is a kitchen designer so we deal with flooring often. There is no surface that is absolutely perfect. You have to weigh the pros and cons of each one.

Carpeting is soft and warm underfoot but stains, spills, and odors are a problem.

Vinyl is softer than ceramic tile but less durable and more difficult to clean. If your space is small, it may be the least expensive choice as you may be able to pick up a remnant.

Ceramic is hard on the feet if you stand for long periods of time and it is noisy. Also anything breakable that is dropped will shatter.

The new laminate floors are more durable than vinyl but liquids spilled can leak into the seams and destroy the floor. Any cleaning must be done with only a damp cloth that is "well wrung out".

Hardwood is comfortable and durable but expensive and stains can be difficult to remove--depending on what caused them.

Hope that helps a bit. Phyl

[paintfool]

I took the carpeting up and have the plywood floor painted. I painted it in a sort of marble pattern. It does have plenty of dropped brush spots on it but someday i'll simply repaint it :D. You can purchase a nice cushy floor mat to stand on (3' x 4') at Home Depot for $10.00. My solution was cheap, fun and servicable. It really doesn't matter when gets dropped on it.
Cheryl

[SiennaSand]

Hi Cheryl,

What kind of paint is good for plywood?

Thanks.

Sienna

[paintfool]

Sienna, although they do sell paint made specially for floors i simply used regular latex interior semi gloss paint from Home Depot. I think it is Evermore. It's been three years and it's shown no signs of wear.

Cheryl

[SiennaSand]

Thanks Cheryl, three years that's great!

Sienna

[CarlyHardy]

When I first added on the sunroom at my house, I had no floor except the plywood flooring for a year. I loved it! I could paint and not even think about spills!

If I could build a studio, I put in wide plank flooring and drop paint all over it to make it look homey!
carly

[Helen]

I have hardwood floors. I bought a big piece of canvas -- 5' x 9', put a coat of gesso on it and then splattered paint all over it. That sits under my easel and and paint I throw just adds to the painting on the floor.

[chris 97]

i have a concrete floor in my studio...dont worry about what i spill on it (only if i drop breakables.......:rolleyes: ) i have a thick rubber mat that i got tractor supply company that i stand on to paint. it sure does make standing long times easier on the old legs. it is the same stuff they advertise to put in the horse trailers for the horses to stand on (wouldnt want to clean that one!). it does show dusty foot prints but they vacuum right off when i get in one of those rare cleaning modes.......:)

[Suz]

Some great ideas here, I like the idea of painted ply wood. I have seen concrete in the school studios and they work well, and I have a horse trailer with the rubber mats (yes I have to clean it).

My studio is on the second floor, concrete may be a little difficult.

Thanks for all the ideas!!

[Minibrush]

My studio is in a space that was once a greenhouse so it has interlocking brick flooring. Hard on the feet and back.

Recently I came across some scraps (enough to patchwork cover my floor) from a health club's new flooring. It is a very dense rubber-like material about 1/2" to 3/4" in thickness. It is not "squishy", but firm, yet so comfortable. It has a smooth surface, making clean up easy, and the pieces have little dots of colored rubber mixed in the predominant black. While it is similar to a floor cushion you'd see in a barber shop, it is far more dense and tough, and was designed to be the actual floor, not just a mat. I do not know the name of this, or how you could get it, but it has made my long hours standing so much nicer. Maybe a health club could help identify this material, or a flooring contractor would know of some remnants available. It is so worth the effort of trying to find it. Wonderful material.

Minibrush

[terrygar]

Check this out, http://www.lonseal.com/
I use it around my work table, its perfect. Resists everything, yet keeps you centered.

[hairballsdotcom]

I may be renting a carpeted (the short industrial style) room that I plan to use for both a gallery and a studio. This room is part of a larger space and a network of other rooms that will be occupied by an artists group. Unfortunately the entire space -- everywhere, is carpeted like this. I will be working mostly with acrylic and watercolor...and a computer of course, but it (thank goodness) doesn't make a mess.

Are all dropcloths the same? or is there something better I can use? I prefer something that can be 'put away' for when people come through for exhibits and shows so it looks nice and they don't trip on anything.

[blkros]

No hairball, all dropcloths aren't the same. They range from the very cheap to the more expensive. House painters use everythig from tarps to canvas dropcloths. I like tarps, but if you're going to be walking around on them, you might not like the feel of it. Plus, they are kinda noisy. I don't like the cheap plastic cloths at all. They tear easily and do't stay in place very well. If you don't like the idea of a tarp, I would recommend a good canvas dropcloth. They come in different sizes, so you can fit them to most any area. Drips and splatters will be kept out of the carpet very well.

[hairballsdotcom]

Thanks for the comments blkros.

Originally posted by blkros
House painters use everythig from tarps to canvas dropcloths.

I don't think I like the idea of the tarp. Will a canvas dropcloth lay good and flat? I've never had one before and I'm prone to stumbling over my own feet not to mention a crumpled drop cloth. What about a large canvas cloth rug, like the ones that are so popular to paint on -- maybe it could just be 'rolled up' when I'm not using it? I'm assuming a dropcloth isn't that heavy -- it would need to be folded to put it away?

Looks like I'm going to have to go shopping at Home Depot and check these things out.

[blkros]

Originally posted by hairballsdotcom
Thanks for the comments blkros.



I don't think I like the idea of the tarp. Will a canvas dropcloth lay good and flat? I've never had one before and I'm prone to stumbling over my own feet not to mention a crumpled drop cloth. What about a large canvas cloth rug, like the ones that are so popular to paint on -- maybe it could just be 'rolled up' when I'm not using it? I'm assuming a dropcloth isn't that heavy -- it would need to be folded to put it away?

Looks like I'm going to have to go shopping at Home Depot and check these things out.
Yes, it will lay flat. The canvas cloth rug might work, too. I think those are sized, but I'm not sure. It might be the way to go if you're looking for something a little more decorative.

[jinn]

I have hardwood floors. I bought a big piece of canvas -- 5' x 9', put a coat of gesso on it and then splattered paint all over it. That sits under my easel and and paint I throw just adds to the painting on the floor.

I did this too....

AND SOMEONE BOUGHT IT! :D

[Beau]

Ive thought a lot and since Ive just completed my studio....12 by 20 feet Ive decided to go with a natural stone floor....sort of a sandstone color and invest in the thick rubber mat to stand on. Its fairly easy to get paint off of with a small wire brush.....Will be an expensive floor but the sight is beautiful and inspiring to say the least.


Beau

[Maria Gusta]

My carpet is covered by over-lapping carpet runners, cut to room length. They are clear so you see the carpet beneath, have "teeth" (prongs) on the underside to ensure they hold onto the carpet, and are slightly textured on the top. I think I needed 3 or 4 $8 runners to cover the whole room. Cleanup is easy when I bother. If I work in very wet media, I would seal the over-lapping edges with duct tape. Footing is very comfortable and secure.

[jinn]

Maria, that's a really good idea. That way you get both the comfort and ambience of carpeting without all the worry. I think I'll use this idea when we move to Texas. :)

[Maria Gusta]

My carpet is covered by over-lapping carpet runners, cut to room length. They are clear so you see the carpet beneath, have "teeth" (prongs) on the underside to ensure they hold onto the carpet, and are slightly textured on the top. I think I needed 3 or 4 $8 runners to cover the whole room. Cleanup is easy when I bother. If I work in very wet media, I would seal the over-lapping edges with duct tape. Footing is very comfortable and secure.

Well it's almost a 1.5 years since I started using carept runners rather than drop clothes; I recently took them all up and reoriented them. Zero leakage, still easy on the feet. I also added one of those hard under desk clear plastic mats for my drafting table chair. It can be removed if I am painting big on easel and want the foot comfort. :D