Help me build my studio!

Ok folks,

I currently own the Impact Varipoles (same as Manfrotto's Autopoles) along with a 9' seamless grey background. My issue is: I have carpet throughout my home. I want to be able to roll out the background onto on the carpet. The trouble with this though, is that if you step on it, you will likely puncture/crinkle/damag​e the seamless paper backdrop. I'm trying to come up with a removable hard surface that I can put down for shoots, but then easily pack up and put away after a shoot. I don't want to purchase 4' x 8' sheets of plywood because: A) it's too big to fit in our car and B) it's going to be a pain to hide afterwards. The only thing I've managed to come up with, is this interlocking sub-floor. They come in roughly 2' x 2' squares with tongue & groove edges. They are made of a press-board / particle board type material with plastic on the underside. My only concern is that the joints may flex and move around if I walk on it. Thoughts?

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Sorry to disappoint you i dont have a studio or experience but i just had to write:

I like your signature and your images!!

davidfarina wrote in post #16678779
Sorry to disappoint you i dont have a studio or experience but i just had to write:

I like your signature!

Heh, no problem. Thanks

I've used similar product, and how stable it is would depend on the existing floor, and to a lesser extent the pile length of your carpet. If your floor is a long span and flexes a lot, then you may have issues, but as long as the carpet isn't horribly deep shag then I can't see it being much of a problem.

One really neat idea I've seen is someone that had a set of small platforms (they were 2 feet by 4 feet, about 2 inches high, made from plywood and 2x4s.) that had a set of cables that you would feed through as you laid the platforms out. The cables then get pulled tight and held with a clamp device to keep the whole platform stable so they didn't get knocked apart. When they were done with the platform for the afternoon they unclamped the cables, tossed the cable in a bag, and then stacked all the panels up in a little frame that doubled as their coffee table.

Luckless wrote in post #16678795
I've used similar product, and how stable it is would depend on the existing floor, and to a lesser extent the pile length of your carpet. If your floor is a long span and flexes a lot, then you may have issues, but as long as the carpet isn't horribly deep shag then I can't see it being much of a problem.

One really neat idea I've seen is someone that had a set of small platforms (they were 2 feet by 4 feet, about 2 inches high, made from plywood and 2x4s.) that had a set of cables that you would feed through as you laid the platforms out. The cables then get pulled tight and held with a clamp device to keep the whole platform stable so they didn't get knocked apart. When they were done with the platform for the afternoon they unclamped the cables, tossed the cable in a bag, and then stacked all the panels up in a little frame that doubled as their coffee table.

Whaaaaaaaaat!?? If you could find a link, that'd be awesome

It was a custom thing the guy made himself. I'm trying to remember who it was that had it, but I might have to resort to sketchup.

I'm going to buy these if no one else has a better solution!

I would be concerned with the longevity of the particle board joints; historically particle board is a cheap alternative because it was not intended to be reusable.

Myself I use the 4'X8' white tile board you get at Lowes and/or Home Depot; sits in the garage when not in the home/studio/dining room.

Not ideal; but at $12.00/sheet its very cost effective.

Rocky Rhode wrote in post #16679077
I would be concerned with the longevity of the particle board joints; historically particle board is a cheap alternative because it was not intended to be reusable.

Myself I use the 4'X8' white tile board you get at Lowes and/or Home Depot; sits in the garage when not in the home/studio/dining room.

Not ideal; but at $12.00/sheet its very cost effective.

They don't sell it in Canada. And again, the size is an issue.

I would not plan on the joints lasting very long, also I see flex at the joints being an issue.

You could get some thick Laminate flooring on clearance and just snap it all together when needed, and unsnap when not to keep stacked in a corner. Some work involved, but not horrible if you have to do it. If looks didn't matter I guess you coudl get plain tongue and groove board to use which might (or might not) be cheaper.

The flooring I put down in my house looked like this. It is about 6ft long, 8" wide and 14mm thick.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …isiondigital/10​261952265/

I put some of that snap together floating floor "hardwood" in my kitchen which had some uneven spots in the concrete floor, and you can for sure feel the flex in the joints. I could not imagen having joints every 8" on top of carpet. Thus the reason most people suggest full 4x8 sheets of wood, less joints and less flexing

Sounds like it's time for some hardwood floors.

Right now I have a 3/4" sheet of 4x8 oak plywood that is cut in half to make two 4x4 sheets. I use one for the top of my shooting table and put them together under my muslin for shooting full length.

Unfortunately I rent, so gutting the carpet and putting down hardwood is not an option. I work in construction myself so believe me, if it were my place, it would have been done a long time ago!

The only thing I could recommend would be to build a framework of 2x4s standing on edge with panels on top - effectively a type of stage or platform. That could even be a semipermanent feature in the room.