totaltechnique-
I just opened a studio with 3 rooms and over 7,000 square feet. I ran out of money doing the buildout and didn't have enough to spend the 10-15 grand it would have taken to purchase marley from stagestep or harlequin.
I read this post a couple months ago and went for it. I found 5 foot wide rolls of Oatay brand shower pan liner and laid over 12 full rolls of it in my studios (over a floating wood floor). I LOVE it. I use marley tape on it and marley floor cleaner and it is just a beautiful floor. It only comes in gray but I used black tape on mine and it looks really cool.
Scuffs come off easy, we have around 5 pointe classes a week, we are a contemporary studio and offer tap mostly to younger ones and I have not had ONE problem with the floors. I actually purchased marley years ago when I was at another location and spent wayyy too much and it was destroyed in 3 years by tap shoes (and it was a suggested floor for tap on the company's website).
I suggest it to anyone!!! Home Depot and Lowes carries it (although home depot was cheaper near me) Beware that they don't carry tons of this in stock and you will have to order it if you are getting more than 3 rolls probably!
I was going to spend around 10-15 grand for marley, and I ended up spending around 2,000 on the shower pan liner. Even if it dies in a few years it was worth the savings!!!
It does smell a bit when you first lay it and I waited for it to 'settle' the wrinkles out before I taped it but it only takes a couple days.

The area I am moving into has that thin, industrial carpet over a slightly spring floor. Can I put this material over the carpet, or do I need to pull it up?

In summary again, PVC liner came out as the most preferred substitute for dance floor surface. We contacted the manufacturer with safety questions. Response is below:

[--start quote--]
From: [--cut--@oatey.com]
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 5:04 PM
To: [-- cut --]
Subject: FW: product safety question

Oatey Company does not support or endorse the application of this product for a dance studio. This product is only approved for its intended use as a shower pan liner for a built-up shower stall.

[ --cut --]
Oatey Product Manager
216-267-7100
Oatey Company
4635 Industrial Pkwy.
Cleveland, OH 44135


From: [--cut--]
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 1:15 PM
To: Technical E-mail Group
Subject: product safety question

Hello,

I have a safety related question of one of your products, if applied not as specified.

Oatey PVC Shower Pan Liner (40mil) is being used, in some places, as a floor surface. Specifically, it has been used by dance studios. It appears that PVC Shower Pan Liner has very similar characteristics with "Marley" floor surfaces, but much more affordable.

The product has been tested and used for such applications for several years. There is a great feedback as to the durability and general use of it for this application. There is however one negative issue is being reported, that prompted me to double check with your department, before I make a decision to use it.

When product is spread on the floor it takes 2-3 days for it to stretch and "settle in". People who used it report a strong chemical odor for some time. This can be aired out in a few days, like with any other new material.

We use our dance space for children dance classes. We have couple questions:

1. Can the odor produced by the product be hazardous for health?
2. Can the product be safe to used as floor surface in the open space (room), after the "settle-in" and initial "airing-out" occurred?

Appreciate your advice.
[--end quote--]

I like ballroom dancing and am planning to finish the living room bamboo hardwood fllor to be a dance floor. It has form insulation under it to sound proof for downstair neighbor.

It's a brand new floor, installed out of box, no varnish but the manufacturer's original coating, to protect it from heavy traffic from my guests in the future for weekly ballroom dancing of 10-20 people, I wonder if I should pour a layer of polyurethane now to create a protection layer for the years to come?

I also wonder if the Bamboo hardwood floor is good enough for ballroom dancing. Should I put down the shower pan liner instead of adding the polyurathan layer?

I have a living floor of 22* 14.

Can anyone here advice me?

Thank you for the suggestion! The cheapest place I could find it was through Mr. Supply. I just bought 1400 sq. Ft. For $200 after shipping costs. It's being delivered today. I will keep you posted!

While I completely understand being pinched money-wise, if you read a little about vinyl off-gassing, along with the manufacturer not endorsing nor recommending this as a dance studio floor, you are leaving yourself open to some major lawsuits down the line. One headache and it's not difficult to smell the vinyl smell. Not difficult for your parents to as well and when you read about off-gassing, it can cause neurological problems later. No way do I want to face a law suit if Susie can't get a high enough SAT and blames the floor they danced on. I understand not having the capital at first but also think there are some thing you can't afford not to do and proper flooring is one of them. Just my opinion though.

DanceStarsAcadem wrote:

In summary again, PVC liner came out as the most preferred substitute for dance floor surface. We contacted the manufacturer with safety questions. Response is below:

[--start quote--]
From: [--cut--@oatey.com]
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 5:04 PM
To: [-- cut --]
Subject: FW: product safety question

Oatey Company does not support or endorse the application of this product for a dance studio. This product is only approved for its intended use as a shower pan liner for a built-up shower stall.

[ --cut --]
Oatey Product Manager
216-267-7100
Oatey Company
4635 Industrial Pkwy.
Cleveland, OH 44135


From: [--cut--]
Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 1:15 PM
To: Technical E-mail Group
Subject: product safety question

Hello,

I have a safety related question of one of your products, if applied not as specified.

Oatey PVC Shower Pan Liner (40mil) is being used, in some places, as a floor surface. Specifically, it has been used by dance studios. It appears that PVC Shower Pan Liner has very similar characteristics with "Marley" floor surfaces, but much more affordable.

The product has been tested and used for such applications for several years. There is a great feedback as to the durability and general use of it for this application. There is however one negative issue is being reported, that prompted me to double check with your department, before I make a decision to use it.

When product is spread on the floor it takes 2-3 days for it to stretch and "settle in". People who used it report a strong chemical odor for some time. This can be aired out in a few days, like with any other new material.

We use our dance space for children dance classes. We have couple questions:

1. Can the odor produced by the product be hazardous for health?
2. Can the product be safe to used as floor surface in the open space (room), after the "settle-in" and initial "airing-out" occurred?

Appreciate your advice.
[--end quote--]

I have Bamboo hard wood flooring in my home office I loved the look of it and the store we purchased it from said it's a hard wood and would last for years, he was wrong! The top layer of my beautiful floor has so many divet's and scratches in it and that's from my dog and family just walking on it!!! It marks very easily - I would never buy for a dance floor.

Correction to my previous post. DO NOT buy from Mr.Supply!!! They had quoted me the wrong price. Sent me the wrong color. It was a nightmare!!!! I ended up getting it cheaper (if u factor in shipping costs) just driving to my local Home Depot and picking up everything they had. Got it down and I love it. I've got a concrete floor. I'm pretty sure I'm more likely to get a lawsuit over a concrete floor than I would over this floor. Go Home Depot! 200 sq ft for $180.

Just joined here and I see your comment is very old, but had to respond anyway. I couldn't agree with you more re the concrete, I LOVE it, but also have renters who think it will hurt their legs and feet, so I covered two of my 3 dance rooms with Marley and wood for them, and the main room is just beautiful wood-grained lineoleum over concrete (my favorite). Having performed for over 25 years on filthy parking lots, parade routes, grassy knolls (and their accompanying sprinkler heads), sand, and splintered stages BAREFOOT, I know your feet can get used to anything. I like concrete best perhaps because it somehow stablizes the dance movements and, given so many of the alternatives, it's clean, level, and you can clearly see any dangers that may be laying on the floor. Hundreds of other professional dancers also agree with you, so don't feel alone!! LOL!

i have the oatey shower pan liner from lowes and it has no smell at all to it...have been using it for 2 seasons now and no issues...love it! i got it for 100 per 20 ft. for my preschool room.

All, I've read every post on this thread. I'm looking at building a small space for my daughter to practice Scottish Highland Dance which is extremely high impact and also has elements of tap/irish (jig shoe) and ballet (ghillies are similar to ballet shoes). We are tight on space, but I have built a workout space in my garage. Out of concern for dropping heavy barbells and damaging the concrete, I put down horse stall matting that I found at our local tractor supply: www.tractorsupply.com . . .

Now, it has grooves in it on one side and one side is smooth. It is designed for horses to stand on in concrete floored barns so they don't develop shin splints. That said, it comes in 1/2" thick 4'x6' rubber panels which don't fit perfectly together. But make great gym floor padding...in fact, I got the idea from a gym where they couldn't afford expensive padded gym flooring. It's been great!

I'm thinking this won't do as a standalone solution because of the lack of perfect fit and my concerns about it causing slips and trips etc.

However, I think these mats could work as a "spring" underneath something like the shower pan liner (which I agree is most probably the same material as the matley...PVC is PVC poly vinyl chloride and all types off gas) to give a smooth even surface that is more conducive to dance.

So, concrete floor lined with 1/2" thick stall liners and then pvc on top.....safe enough for the joints and to avoid shin splints? Thoughts? Opinions?

I suppose one other option would be to put floor padding underneath the stall mats?

Regardless, this would be a very affordable solution if many agree and a heck of a lot easier than constructing a true spring floor. I cut the mats to fit with a circular saw and then just lay them down, you can only move them if you lift them and you better be strong.

jawalldo wrote:

All, I've read every post on this thread. I'm looking at building a small space for my daughter to practice Scottish Highland Dance which is extremely high impact and also has elements of tap/irish (jig shoe) and ballet (ghillies are similar to ballet shoes). We are tight on space, but I have built a workout space in my garage. Out of concern for dropping heavy barbells and damaging the concrete, I put down horse stall matting that I found at our local tractor supply: www.tractorsupply.com . . .

Now, it has grooves in it on one side and one side is smooth. It is designed for horses to stand on in concrete floored barns so they don't develop shin splints. That said, it comes in 1/2" thick 4'x6' rubber panels which don't fit perfectly together. But make great gym floor padding...in fact, I got the idea from a gym where they couldn't afford expensive padded gym flooring. It's been great!

I'm thinking this won't do as a standalone solution because of the lack of perfect fit and my concerns about it causing slips and trips etc.

However, I think these mats could work as a "spring" underneath something like the shower pan liner (which I agree is most probably the same material as the matley...PVC is PVC poly vinyl chloride and all types off gas) to give a smooth even surface that is more conducive to dance.

So, concrete floor lined with 1/2" thick stall liners and then pvc on top.....safe enough for the joints and to avoid shin splints? Thoughts? Opinions?

I suppose one other option would be to put floor padding underneath the stall mats?

Regardless, this would be a very affordable solution if many agree and a heck of a lot easier than constructing a true spring floor. I cut the mats to fit with a circular saw and then just lay them down, you can only move them if you lift them and you better be strong.

As I teach Irish, what I would recommend you do is go to a home improvement store and buy a remnant of vinyl flooring. It is thicker and won't fold in or buckle into any grooves or spaces in your underfloor. The Shower pan liner is very flexible and if there are gaps in the floor wouldn't be a good fit whereas the vinyl remnat might fit your needs perfectly.

Now that it has been a year are you still happy?
Did you do foam or rubber under your sub floor?
Let me know if you can.
That is a lot of space and that is what we are looking to do. We have been looking into Dura Dance Flooring but our bid is $30k. It is killing me. Once our buildout is done I will be sad to have done the wood when I could do something equally as nice?
Let me know your thoughts.....and where are you located? Maybe I should take a vacation....
Thanks!

I know this thread is on the older side, but can anyone tell me where I can find info on if the flooring really is toxic or not? I just bought a kit of the Oatey flooring today to make an at-home dance floor for myself. I do not want to expose my family to toxic fumes, though. So where can I find some facts about this? Thanks.

My husband was outside the Walmart where they were renovating and came across the EPDM Roofing and thought the same thing..."that's a cheap Marley".

Did you end up getting a Dura Dance floor? If so, how do you like it?

Hello,
I saw your post from 2004 about affordable flooring. I'm excited to hear that Oaty shower pan liner can be substituted for Marly floor. I have 5,000square feet to cover. Do you know if these studios had any problem with the liner buckling? That is my only worry. Hope to hear from you!
Anne

Has anyone built their subfloor themselves? If so can you give me directions?

I haven't. But I am also interested in any advice on Subflooring anyone may have.