what kind of flooring? cork?

[pcklmac]

I am converting a 6x6m double garage into my project studio. I've simply clad the shed in 9mm plywood as a noise/dust sheild, which i intend to reclad again. Now what do I cover the concrete slab with? I thought cork tiles, but that is going to cost aus$1500!
Is there anything wrong with using carpet? or what are some other ideas. please help newbie from bundaberg Qld Australia.

[frederic]

Originally posted by pcklmac
I am converting a 6x6m double garage into my project studio. I've simply clad the shed in 9mm plywood as a noise/dust sheild, which i intend to reclad again. Now what do I cover the concrete slab with? I thought cork tiles, but that is going to cost aus$1500!
Is there anything wrong with using carpet? or what are some other ideas. please help newbie from bundaberg Qld Australia.

If you don't intend to put vehicles in there any longer, raise the floor. Obtain rubber pucks of some sort (rubber blocks, sheet rubber cut down and layered, etc), then build a 2x4 grid, and screw plywood on top of that. Then on top of that, I'd recommend a pergo or other engineered flooring product because wood is very nice, looks good, and wears well. If you want a less lively room, foam the hell out of the walls and ceiling on top of the plywood you arlready placed on the walls.

This is what I'm going to be doing for my garage, with the exception my grid will be smaller, so I can put cars in there on the hardwood floor. And yes, there will be a slight ramp where the flooring rolls down to the garage door.

[pcklmac]

thanks for your reply. no, cars are definately out of this garage. I do want the room to be fairly lively, as I play guitar, and wish to record live instruments in the room. so I'll skip the foam. I've got pink batts between the plywood and the outer cladding-zincalume, yech. I hope to keep the 6x6m as one big recording and performing space simply for a more spacious feel and for air. I thought plywood on the floor might be overdoing with the same material as walls, ceiling. any more ideas please!!!

[ola]

Keep in mind that you may run in to problems with standing waves in a square room. Is adding walls in that space completly out of the question?

[ausrock]

Is there any particular reason for plywood? Why not just use "yellow-tongue", etc flooring. It is made solely for floors and I would imagine it's density is better than ply. Frankly I would be more concerned about getting the walls right.

Have a look at the "Reference Material" link on either of the following:
http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html
OR
http://www.sae.edu/home/request_ie.php4

Peace............ChrisO

[pcklmac]

the 6x6m square is the biggest problem. I'm trying to keep the room symettrical, and by using storage space on two walls, changed the room shape to around 6x4.5m. To minimise bass corner build up, I thought of cutting off the corners with 120cm panel resonators at more or less 45 degree angles? ideas?

As for the floor I simply want something else than the cement that it is at the moment. anything really. Plywood was used on the wall for economic reasons, and only as a starting place. please keep the suggestions coming. With building a studio without much knowledge or guidance is pretty much a "suck it and see" process. as in the sound sucks, and see what you can do to fix it. I'd like to make as few expensive mistakes as possible and spend my time with my guitar in my hand than a saw. thanks peter.

[ausrock]

pck,

If the existing floor is relatively smooth why not put down "commercial" carpet tiles, i.e. "Huega" (I think that's how it was spelt).

If you wish to increase wall density cheaply, contact suppliers of MDF and plywood, see if they sell the "cover-sheets". Down my way we have "Mister Ply and Wood", they sell 2400x1200 cover-sheets up to 20mm for about $10.00 Aust. each. Sure they are a bit daggy, but if you put fabric or carpet over them it's is fine.

Peace...........ChrisO