Ceramic tile floor

[KillerV]

My studio currently consists of a variation of a one-room type setup: a large room that I use as a control room and live room and a smaller iso-booth. I have carpets in the studio at the moment and I'm pretty pleased with how everything sounds. I also really like to work like this. I have, however, considered getting something more reflective for the floor in the part of the control/live room that I use for tracking drums. Wood isn't really practical at this point, so I was thinking of ceramic tiles, but the reports on using them in a studio don't seem that great. Like I said: I'm pretty happy with how the room sounds now, especially for mixing, and I don't want anything to go haywire with the acoustics now.

Is the ceramic tiles a bad idea? Another option would be to get a large sheet of plywood to put down when I'm recording drums. It's just ugly, where the tiles will look pretty nice.

[KillerV]

Anyone?

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by KillerV

Another option would be to get a large sheet of plywood to put down when I'm recording drums. It's just ugly, where the tiles will look pretty nice.

You could buy some nicer wood paneling and make a frame around the edge. Sort of like a portable dance floor. Or do the same with wood parquet tiles glued to a plywood backing. That would probably look okay. I'd avoid tile because it might chip or crack if someone drops a guitar amp etc.

--Ethan

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

I'd avoid tile because it might chip or crack if someone drops a guitar amp etc.

--Ethan

+1

I'd steer away from tile and go with wood, or if not, parquet.

Bamboo is another option, and it is a 100% renewable resource...

[xaMdaM]

You can also try something like a 3/4" birch or oak plywood.

Stain it and apply a coat of spar urethane and you've got a reasonably cheap investment in a nice looking reflective surface.

I might be temped to cut a 4x8 sheet into halves or quarters to make it easy to move/store. Maybe applying a nice flat and flush trim to it to make the edges look nice.

Since you have carpet, I'd definitely put spar urethane on both sides to keep any splinters/pieces from sticking to the carpet.

[tINY]

I'd go the other way.

If you can't nail a bamboo floor down, look at engineered click-together flooring.

Then get some cheap area rugs that you can move in and out....



-tINY

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by PlugHead

Bamboo is another option, and it is a 100% renewable resource...

Thanks man...that's a great point that rarely gets made.

Frank

[PlugHead]

Originally Posted by Weasel9992

Thanks man...that's a great point that rarely gets made.

Frank

You know, I'm glad someone appreciates at least an effort to 'inform' people that there are choices that are 'eco-friendly' as WELL as functional, tough as nails, AND looks GREAT!!!

[xaMdaM]

Odd....

I didn't know that trees weren't renewable.... go figure.

Guess I need to tell the 15 acres next to me to stop re-growing the trees that were cut down.

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by xaMdaM

Odd....

I didn't know that trees weren't renewable.... go figure.

Guess I need to tell the 15 acres next to me to stop re-growing the trees that were cut down.

Ever see how fast bamboo grows? Compare that to a tree...

Frank

[xaMdaM]

Originally Posted by Weasel9992

Ever see how fast bamboo grows? Compare that to a tree...

Frank

Oh yeah... Bamboo is a very fast growing source of "lumber"/finish material. It's almost too fast in many environments, and can become an invasive plant if not rigorously kept in check.

Shame it doesn't lend itself to western structural components as easily as it does for finish material.

I just think it can get a bit overblown about trees not being a renewable resource... on both sides of the issue. Management of those resources has to be intelligent, just like keeping bamboo in check.

That's like the vast majority of the wood in my studio, other than the framing lumber, is from local hardwoods and softwoods that were felled due to storm damage, or came off of my property.

Rather than letting those trees rot or become needless firewood, the responsible action was to turn those trees into millwork for furniture and some of it came here to become part of the studio.

Additional responsibility was to air dry the lumber as opposed to kiln drying, which drives up the carbon footprint of a structure or piece of furniture.

The 15 acres of property next to mine, were clear cut and the wood was used before it became useless rot, due to pine blight. They left the few hardwoods and cedars that were on the property to help prevent soil erosion. That was intelligent management of the resources that several of us in the area definitely appreciated.

The acreage is already, after two years, beginning to see a good stand of a mix of new hardwoods and pine. Within 5-10 years, I suspect that those trees will once again form a great buffer barrier between my property and my neighbors.

As with all things, thoughtful and intelligent usage of natural plant/agricultural resources is harder, but with higher long term payoffs, than a rape and pillage blind effort of current generation profitability.

Either extreme serves no good... responsible moderation is the key.

[jwl]

I agree about the renewable bamboo....

That said, this is an interesting product that may work for you.

[Rick Sutton]

I think if you put in ceramic tile the drummers will just roll out their old drum carpets over it and you'll be back where you started.

[DanDan]

I am a mythical beast, half engineer, half drummer. Unfinished plywood sounds good under drums , to my ear. The spikes and toe jam gunk that comes off the underneath of pedals is not great for a varnished finish either. The unfinished gives a sort of Neil Young Harvest sound. Woody!
DD
Sound Sound - Homepage

[KillerV]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I think for now I'll go with the sheet of plywood that I can only put down when I'm tracking drums.

I just visited a small cottage a friend has finished building that has an absolutely beautiful concrete floor that has been stained to an amazing color - it almost looks like a sort of artificial rock. In the future if I'm going in the direction of a reflective floor I wouldn't mind getting that sort of thing for my whole floor, but that would probably mean re-thinking a lot of the acoustic treatment, so I'm cool for now.

[DanDan]

It's kinda ironic, but the ply will probably need a rubber drum mat also. To stop things moving about. Acid Stained or Painted Concrete are both very nice studio finishes IMHO. I personally prefer the colours available in the paint, but many favour the acid effect. Both sound good. But you will still need the drum mat!
DD