Garage home studio concrete floor

[chainz]

This is where I will be doing my home studio from. It's not much as it will just be in our shed and even though it isn't alot of room, I have to use what I have. These are just some shots of what it looks like, And I was wondering what I could put down that is cheap and easily available for when I want to use my black and white seamless paper backdrops as I'm thinking the paper got get wrecked by the ground?

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2204/garage1z.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1710/garage2y.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6395/garage3v.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/8955/garage4.jpg

[The Moose]

The only thing I can think of is another roll of carpet. Not sure how much it would cost but you'd want a clean piece that you could roll up and put away when you're not using it. The only thing with using carpet is it might be noticeable if the paper's not thick enough but I'm guessing it would have to be pretty thin for that to happen.

By the way, I knew your name and after seeing your myspace, I remembered going through it a few weeks ago after going through GVG's myspace :p I shot them earlier in the year, you've got a lot of good shots up from them and other bands.

[chainz]

Oh thanks Glenn. The thing with carpet is it makes all the paper crinkle up. Tried it in the lounge room. And thanks heaps. I'm the Guitar tech / photographer for GvG. Where did you shoot them at ?

[The Moose]

Oh thanks Glenn. The thing with carpet is it makes all the paper crinkle up. Tried it in the lounge room. And thanks heaps. I'm the Guitar tech / photographer for GvG. Where did you shoot them at ?

Yeah that's what I meant, I just couldn't explain it :lol: Maybe it's worth just having a look down at Bunnings or Mitre 10 and see what they've got? It's probably not convenient but you know on the back of cupboards (the ones you put together) how they come with the back pieces that are really thin pieces of wood? Something like that might work but I have no idea if you could buy that. Massively cheap option... lots of cardboard! :p

I'll PM you about GVG, don't want to mess up your thread.

[chainz]

Thanks mate.

Yeah that could be an option...just seeing what they have etc. My housemates have their motorbikes in the shed, and we have drinks in the shed on weekends etc so I cant permanently setup anything.

[Jim M]

Why change the concrete you have? If is smooth, it is the perfect surface for seamless. If the concrete is too rough and you are concerned about damage to the paper, then any hard smooth surface will do. Carpet is an extreme no-no. I think cardboard would allow the paper to pucker and perforate as well. Hard and inflexible is what you want. Plywood would work. You may want to consider putting a shiny surface on top of your paper, like Plexiglas or some of the coated pressed wood products. Check the links to similar threads at the bottom of this page.

[chainz]

Yeah the concrete isn't exactly smooth. It's a little rough thats what I'm worried about.

[hawk911]

either try some concrete patch material, or put a few sheets of plywood down. You can just lean those against the wall when not in use.

[tbigs]

You should be able to find something in a Home Improvement store. There is some stuff called tile board.

Check out this link for more info. http://www.zarias.com/?p=71

I hope this helps.

TBigs

[shooterman]

You should be able to find something in a Home Improvement store. There is some stuff called tile board.

Check out this link for more info. http://www.zarias.com/?p=71

I hope this helps.

TBigsThat's exactly what I use to lay between the concrete floor of my garage and the seamless paper.

[TMR Design]

I like and use tileboard but find that it doesn't have that long a lifespan. It chips easily, can get gouged easily and you have to be very careful with the types of cleaners you use. Anything that is much stronger than soapy water will begin to eat away the top surface and show the brown masonite underneath.

[hawk911]

second that too, Robert. I need a few new sheets, next time I buy some white seamless. Using a lot of grey right now.

[TMR Design]

second that too, Robert. I need a few new sheets, next time I buy some white seamless. Using a lot of grey right now.

If it were more affordable to try, I'd love to check out the Savage white vinyl.

[hawk911]

yeah, among a bazillion other things off my wish list.

[TMR Design]

yeah, among a bazillion other things off my wish list.

Tell me about it Geoff :D

Back to the OP's dilemma... I think I'd opt for plywood sanded nice and smooth so that seamless could be used, at least as a starting point. When not in use the seamless can be cut or rolled up and the plywood can be picked up to lean against a wall.

[shooterman]

I use my tileboard to lay between the concrete floor and the seamless, so it doesn't matter what it looks like. :)

The fact that it chips and scratches if you look at it wrong, is why I don't use it for a reflective surface, like most do. :) Hell, I ruined mine trying to stuff it in the back of my Suburban in the Home Depot parking lot, lol.

[TMR Design]

Hell, I ruined mine trying to stuff it in the back of my Suburban in the Home Depot parking lot, lol.

Ouch!. Yes, it's not convenient to keep in new and shiny condition.

[hawk911]

The OP should be able to find a host of materials to use to smooth the floor, including vinyl flooring, tile, wood products, etc. Some are permanent, but offer a quick clean, others are removable but offer a good smooth surface to use. Plywood is somewhat cheap, depending on the grade of wood, and if it's smooth on 1 side or both. You can always chop it up for heat in the cold months ;)