Jeez. I wish I saw this last week. I just relocated my studio, and purchased the Time Step T- $1900 with shipping and 3 rolls of tape for a 900 sq ft room. I am still happy with the purchase, but my husband would be happier if it were cheaper. I have a lower level and will definitely use the rubber roofing after we build a raised floor. I am so excited about this, and the person who posted the pics, thanks. What a great help.

Heather

I opened a new dance studio in August. During the summer I read this post. I want to thank you for the rubber roof suggestion. I would not have been able to open my studio if I had the larger bill of Marley floor. I do like it. It works well for ballet, jazz, hiphop, tap everything! Its not perfect, but it works. When you get used to it you dont notice it being any different than a normal dance floor. It moves a little bit kind of stretches around the foot but goes back when the little kids stop and try to shuffle with all their might! It takes a whild for turns, its a little grippy but its made all my dancers better turners. From what I can tell I think its going to hold up quite wel. Make sure not to fold it when you first get it before you put it down. It takes a little while for the wrinkles to come out. I panicked when I first layed it down because it wasn't laying flat, but after a weekend of laying there it worked itself out. No one has noticed it being different from a Marley floor except one of my older dancers who complains no matter what! I would definitley recommend this to the budget minded studio.

I'm with you. I've been dancing for 32 years. I've had my own studio for 10 plus years. We are planning on relocating soon. I am so overwhelmed with this floor business. It is CRAZY..... I'm moving from a 1800 sq foot building to a 5800 sq building. (I have parents bringing chairs and sitting outside....lol....)I found some flooring on ebay. Don't know if it is a good deal or not..$1500.00 for 441 sf. They said that they paid $10,000 for it? Heck---- We are attempting to create 3 dance rooms over time. We just have been offered a great building with so much potential at about .40 cents a sf. I'm going to start doing some reasearch on all of this stuff. Marley? What is that? Call me stupid if you want, I won't get me feelings hurt none!

I think Marley is just a much-used brand name. Like saying "I want a Coke" when all you're wanting is a caffineated beverage. I think Marley was one of the first brand-name dance floors. I don't know if you can actually even GET a Marley floor anymore. The original Marley floors were made of lineoleum in the 1970s. Their predecessors are made of vinyl or PVC. I did some research when I was looking for a floor and I LOVE to research stuff. Anyway. I didn't find any indication that the actual Marely company exists.

Too much information. Sorry.

All that aside, I'm going to contact my brother in law who is a builder about the roofing material.

We opened our studio 1 year ago and used this material to save costs. So far nothing can destroy it (except something sharp) We clean with lacquer thinner to remove scuffs! In one year, we see no signs of wear and would consider purchasing more for our new larger studio this next year. We spent $400 on a 40 x 30 space. Not bad, eh?

Caution: It is very slick to start with, water, soap, won't remove it. I'll be the laquer thinner would tho'. We did use liquid rosen, but dirt collects and makes a mess of shoes and the floor. We hold pointe classes, character, haven't tried tap yet. Tap shoes may cut, but given the durability of this stuff probably not. We're going to try a sample section with tap shoes as a test.

So far we've had good success with the roofing material - and it comes in a nice light grey.

Has anyone else tried this flooring?

I am interested in using the "rubber roof flooring" on my floors, but what can you lay it over? Concrete, wood floors, carpet?

awesome...I am going to find some to use for travel dance flooring. Great idea!!!

This is a great business saver! I'm about to open a studio and I just can't afford to put any other floor down. I will heading out soon for the roofing matieral for my floor! GREAT information!

I am looking for the Rubber roofing material now, but every place I call says no. Any advice? I live in Houston, TX.

I went to Home Depot and they had it by the plumbing. It was a 4' long roll and sold for $5 something a foot or you could buy the whole roll at a lower rate. I wish we could use it, but our shoes would destroy it pretty, fast.

I have the 'rubber roof' floor, lay it over plywood.
Carpet doesn't work, right gottadance 71!!!! hahaha

Im looking into this to add onto my floors for next season, esp if I cant get a new place. Do they leave black marks on little rear ends? I have so many babies that wear white and pink to class and I dont want them to have black ends from changing shoes.

It leaves a little black on the little ones rear ends but it does wash off or brush off.

For those asking, we tap on our rubber roofing floor and it does not tear up. We built a floating floor underneath with 2 by 4s and plywood.

For the person who has the grey roofing, where did you find they grey?

Its cheaper to buy the rubber roofing from a company who sells roofing materials to builders than to buy at Home Depot or Lowes.

I have Timestep in my one room and love it. I had maple parquet in the 2nd room which was great for tap sounds...however...the maintenance on it was impossible. I just had Woodstep put over top of it yesterday.

Thaks for this tip. I got 1000sf online for $700 including shipping. It is working great!

I have 1000 sf in a new studio. It is 40mil thickness, so it is nearly indestructible.

Take a look at the sprung floor system from the Denver Dojo. It worked really well for us.

Hi- I'm new to the site and just opened my studio last June. I am having our spring show in a theater that has wood floors but not very smooth. I am concerned about the pointe dance... I was just about to start to investigate "Marley" floors, and then saw your comments. Would the pan liner and/or roof liner work for a stage application? how would I put it down? would it be able to be rolled? I wouldn't have a "week" to let it rest flat- comments? any help or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks for the tip! I'm remodeling the stduio this summer and will need another new floor.

Definately sprung flooring over concrete. I had to teach on concrete for one year and my back was always killing me. If you still prefer a wood floor over marley I may have an inexpensive suggestion. 3 of my rooms are sprung flooring covered with masonite, brand name is Duron. It comes in 4x8 sheets and u can find them at home depot or lowes. These floors are 13 years old and still look great! Tap sounds really good and the flooring isn't slippery. Maintenance is a dust mop for daily cleaning, damp mop for once a month cleaning and every couple of years I sand and re poly them.

The roof liner would definately work for a stage cover on pointe!!!!

If anyone wants to see mine, go to :

myspace.com . . . and look at my videos. I did a little demo for you all.

enjoy!

The choreography with the two pairs was lovely! I don't have any male dancers at my studio...

As for the flooring- how did you transport it? lay it down? tape? PLEASE, any advice would be SO helpful... my show is just around the corner....

I rolled it up and could bring it anywhere I wanted. I don't ever use tape, or adhesives.
Warning!!!!!! It is heavy as sin!!!!! Get a man to help you.

Where did you get your rubber roofing? What website? Thanks!

Judy- I watched your video, thanks for posting, the flooring does look pretty good. BTW, your pictures is beautiful on MySpace, you are so buff!! So jealous!

So is the rubber roofing a no-no over carpet?
I have an industrial-syle very flat carpet. Not poof or frill at all. I am thinking it may give the floor a little softeness, instad of putting the roofing just over concrete.
Any thoughts?