Whether you need to practice your dance routine for a stage performance, are planning to throw a party, or simply love tapping your feet on a cool tune, it doesn’t get better than stepping on your self-made, a.k.a. DIY dance floor.
Having a lively dance floor of your own is a fun way to keep up an active lifestyle and make your house parties even more vibrant.
Not everyone has access to a club or a wealthy friend’s backyard to indulge their groovy genes. Nor do most people have a budget kept aside for getting an expensive dance floor installed.
No need to sweat it, though. As it turns out, DIY dance floors are an incredible option and can save you a lot of your hard-earned money. Yes, it involves time and effort, but the rewards in terms of money saved and the absolute joy of working on something amazing are worth it.
Here is a complete beginner’s guide to building your own personalized DIY dance floor:
Types of DIY Dance Floors
Before jumping into details of how to build a DIY dance floor, it is important to decide what type of dance floor you would like to install.
Depending on your requirement, the estimated frequency of usage, and the type of surface you will install it on, make an informed decision on the choice of flooring you need.
There are three basic kinds of dance floors:
1. Sprung Floor
This type of dance floor absorbs shocks and is generally the favorite choice for getting the groove on. Keep in mind, a rigid surface can result in hairline fractures, wrist injuries, and sprained ankles.
Sprung floors, or floating floors as they are also known, are supported by a layer of foam or rubber to provide cushioning as well as to dampen the bounce.
They offer assurance of protection against injuries through impact, slipping, or falling. On top of that, they require little to no extra hardware installation.
2. Performance Surface
Performance surfaces, also known as Marley-type floors or simply Marley floors, are suitable for sports and dance activities. These are usually laid on top of a sprung floor.
A performance surface is made of sheet vinyl. This gives it a proper grip and protects against slipping.
3. Illuminated Dance Floor
Dance floors with tiles that light up with different colors are known as illuminated dance floors or LED dance floors.
You will find these in most discotheques and clubs. They are differently designed from sprung floors and do not meet usual dance floor standards. It is highly unlikely that you will want this kind of flooring as they cost a lot, and are not comfortable to dance on for long periods of time. But if you aiming for occasional usage and do have a good budget, then this definitely adds plenty of fun to your dancing moments.
Choosing Which DIY Dance Floor To Install
Now that we have seen all the major types of dance floors, it is time to decide which one suits your needs. For most purposes, a sprung floor is an ideal choice. It is safe, easy to install, easy to maintain, and will not stretch your budget too thin.
However, if you are a ballet dancer or want a professional studio-like appearance, you should go for a Marley floor.
Additionally, why not add one of these beautifully crafted garden benches to give those exhausted dancers a break?
What You Will Need
You can put together a DIY dance floor on a shoestring of a budget. One trip to the hardware store will get you all you need.
For a basic dance floor, these items are required:
- Plywood
- Eight-foot long and 2’ by 3’ planks
- Nails and screws
- Tape or adhesive to attach your flooring to the sub-floor
- Screwdriver
- Electric drill
- Dance mats or paint
Steps Involved in Building a DIY Dance Floor
Step 1: Choose the Location
Make sure that the surface on which you are going to build your dance floor is leveled. Otherwise, the floor will give in where there is more depth, while being extremely rigid in other places. This can be dangerous for amateur dancers.
A backyard can be the perfect place to set up a dance floor. After all, who doesn’t love to dance under the stars?
If you have a patio or a deck in the backyard, you can choose to set up your dance floor there. Else, you can simply level your yard and you are ready to begin.
Step 2: Measure the Size of the Floor You Require
Once you figure out where you want to install your dance floor, measure the size of the space. Accordingly, calculate the size and number of the plywood boards that you might need.
The size of the floor will also decide what sized vinyl sheets to buy, in case you want to get a Marley-type floor installed.
Step 3: Buy the Materials
Gather all of the supplies from a local hardware store.
You should get the plywood pieces cut to size if needed. Usually, the pieces come in a pre-determined size (4’ by 8’), so depending on the size of your space, some may need adjusting.
Step 4: Install the Plywood Floor Base
Before laying down the plywood pieces to create your DIY dance floor, you need to have the base ready. This is where the eight-foot planks we bought will come in handy.
Create a base using the planks, by laying them horizontally, and screwing them together. Ensure that the screws fit in nicely and the top of the base is smooth.
Alternate Step: Stick Pieces of Pool Noodles on the Floor
If you are building a sprung dance floor indoors or on surfaces such as cement or carpet, you should skip step number 4.
Instead, you can use pool noodles cut into small pieces and stuck on the ground to form a sort of cushion. A pool noodle is a cylindrical piece of foam, most often hollow.
Buy at least 50” long pool noodles and cut them into 2” pieces. Use hot-glue to stick the cut pieces on the floor.
Step 5: Place and Secure the Plywood on Top of the Base
Place the plywood pieces on top of the 2’ by 3’ plank base. Use screws and nails to secure a sheet of plywood to each of the frames.
In the case of a pool noodle sub-flooring, use glue to stick the pieces of plywood over it.
Bonus tip: Ever thought of using a preformed pond to enhance your backyard aesthetics? Check this out.
Step 6: Apply a Finish to the Plywood
Your dance floor is ready to use as it is. but, if you want to spice up the look of the floor, you should consider adding a layer of finishing to the top of it.
There is a multitude of ways in which you can finish the top of your dance floor.
• Wooden Finish: You can apply a waterproof coating if you want to keep the wooden look. This is a great idea if the dance floor is to stay outdoors.
• Paint: With the use of paint, you can get as creative as you want. Let the dance floor be your canvas. You can go for a checkerboard pattern or a colored tile look or just about any look you want.
• Vinyl Sheet: If you buy vinyl sheets, keep them stored in an upright position and not lying down. When the time arrives, roll out a sheet of vinyl on top of the plywood, and voila! You have a Marley floor ready in no time. Make sure to use Marley tape to securely seal it.
• Dance Mat: Dance mats can be a little expensive and are not a great choice if you are on a budget. However, if you do buy one, simply roll it out on the plywood and you are good to go.
It has excellent control against slip and is great for all types of dances. You can easily remove them when you want to. Even better, simply roll them back again and store them until the next time!
Step 7: Final Touches
Before you decide to don your dancing attire and invite your friends over, do consider setting up party lights, string lights, or disco lights near the dance floor. They can change the entire scene and make your room, or backyard, look like a proper nightclub.
You can even get the entire green space at the back of your house decorated and ready in no time with a host of options, like adding beautiful lights to illuminate the setting. Take a look at these brilliant ideas to transform your backyard into something straight out of a fairytale.
If you are going to have a lot of people over, you might want to install some seats as well. After all, we want an audience to sit back and watch us throw our killer moves, don’t we?
Step 8: Get Dancing!
Pat yourselves on the back. Your DIY dance floor is ready to use. All that’s left to do now is to call the guests (or not, if you want the floor all to yourself), play some music, and start swaying to the tunes.
Buying or Renting a Dance Floor
In case DIY seems like a lot of hard work, you can always buy laminate tiles or sprung floor tiles and put them together to get a dance floor of your own. This will save almost 90% of your time.
You can also look at rental options if you do not want a permanently set up dance floor in your house.
Supposing that you have a party to throw tomorrow, going through all of the steps mentioned in the DIY guide and beginning to work on them is not an option. Just splash the cash and watch the magic unfold.
Conclusion
Dance is an excellent form of exercise that not only works up your muscles but also stimulates your brain. It can be a solo or a group activity, but whichever it is, the act of dancing itself will get the endorphins flowing and bust all of your stress.
With the help of this guide, anyone can build a DIY dance floor of their own, without worrying about burning a hole in their pockets. Yes, it might seem tedious, but rest assured that the result will leave you grinning from ear to ear aside from impressing your guests.
So, build a dance floor, and put your dancing shoes on. You are ready to live it up!
Also, if you are a gardening enthusiast then do not miss out on these efficiently created garden tool bags.