Brent St Ground floor Studio

“The heart and soul of a dance studio is the floor”

STM Sprung floors

We have devised a system that reduces your financial outlay whilst still providing your dancers and teachers an appropriate and safe dance surface.

  • Our floating floor has minimal screws or nails that can work their way up and into your vinyl.
  • If the vinyl has been loose or semi-permanently laid it can be lifted, rolled up on a core and stored vertically or on a hanger.
  • Can ultimately be salvaged and taken with you when you move.
  • Minimises freight costs on materials.
  • Maximises your time and labour.
Portable Barres & Mirrors

Concrete floors vs sprung floors

Concrete floors and other solid surfaces are the mortal enemies of the dancer and dance teacher. Which is why we push for all studios to have a sprung floor.

  • No resilience or shock absorption; meaning they are an invitation to ankle, knee and hip injury and can permanently damage growing bodies.

Correct shock absorption reduces fatigue and significantly reduces the potential for shin splints and other common injuries. It reduces the strain that comes with turning and pivoting movements, and, with the correct top layer, increases foot stability & reduces rolling.

STM Studio Supplies has been developing, testing and gathering feedback from all sources to be able to provide your and your dancers one of the safest sprung flooring systems in Australia.

Why we don't lay vinyl on concrete
Black Everydance from MSJ Productions, WA
STM Worker on sprung floor

HOW WE DO IT

  • We start with a layer of builders plastic as a moisture barrier

  • Followed by a skirting of perimeter battens

  • EVA pads fixed to 15mm flooring grade ply

  • Lay 15mm flooring grade ply on the floor

  • We then lay 4.75mm MDF/HDF/Masonite

  • Followed by a dance floor vinyl or a layer of performance clear top coat

Our floors are recommended if you are renting your studio and might need to move premises in the future as majority of the floor ex the MDF is salvageable. We also have vinyl suitable for performing Tap, Flamenco, Irish or other hard shoe styles.

Test results & info

Shock Absorption / Force Reductions tested to EN14808

STM Sprung Floor Shock Absorbtion & Force Reduction Results

Fire Hazard Properties tested to EN14808 Aus Standard #AS ISO 9239.1-2003

STM Sprung Floor Fire Hazzard Properties
STM Sprung Floor Diagram - Sprung Floor Quote

STM DIY Home Sprung floor

The heart and soul of any dance space is the floor, even when that “studio” is your spare room, garage or corner of the living room. Concrete and other hard surfaces offer no shock absorption, increasing the risk of ankle, knee and hip injuries and putting unnecessary strain on growing bodies. A properly sprung floor dramatically reduces fatigue, impact and the potential for shin splints and other common dance injuries.

Our DIY Home Sprung Floor kit gives you a professional, resilient surface underfoot without a full renovation or custom build. You get all the specialised components and clear instructions, and source the sheet materials from your preferred local timber or hardware supplier.

DIY Home Sprung Floor – what is in the kit?

We supply all the clever bits and a list of the items you will need to buy from your local hardware store. Some outlets will also offer a cutting service and delivery.

Some outlets will offer a cutting services and delivery.

You receive:

You will need to source locally:

  • 15 mm tongue and groove CD grade ply sheets, 2400mm x 1200mm

  • 50 mm x 15 mm edge batten timber (cut from ply)

  • 5mm MDF or HDF boards

  • Ramped edging (optional)

  • Bunnings is always an easy option but we do recommend sourcing products from small businesses.

If you prefer a low-profile transition (especially useful if your floor sits in a multipurpose room or you are worried about trip hazards), you can upgrade to ramped edging as an alternative to the batten edge for an additional $44.00 inc GST per linear metre.

STM Plug & play Sprung floor *discountinued*

Painted – JuJU performance clear

​You can also use Juju® Stage & Studio Performance Floor Paint which is an industrial coating that we have adapted to resemble that of dance floor vinyl by adjusting the slip factor.

If you are renting your studio and might need to move premises in the future and if you are not performing Tap, Flamenco, Irish or other hard shoe styles it is advisable to limit the fixing of the secondary layer by using pressure sensitive adhesives such as used on carpet tiles and less fixings combined with a semi-permanent vinyl installation.

For a permanently laid dance floor it is advisable to screw fix 9.5mm Weathertex Brown Board when painting, or Engineered Hardboard HDF or Masonite underlay in place of the MDF. These should be adhered and fixed with 22mm staples or ring shanked nails according to, and then sanded and feather finished prior to vinyl being laid.

In Northern Queensland and similar tropical regions it is desirable to use a less moisture affected secondary layer such as Luan ply. Similar preparation to the above can then be applied.

Applying JuJu Clear finish
Applying Juju at Next Step dance school

Sprung Floors FAQ’s

Concrete and other solid surfaces offer no resilience or shock absorption, which can lead to ankle, knee and hip injury and puts strain on growing bodies. Correct shock absorption from a sprung floor reduces fatigue and the potential for shin splints and other common dance injuries.

Our system starts with a builders plastic moisture barrier, followed by a skirting of perimeter battens, EVA pads fixed to 15mm flooring grade ply, then 4.75mm MDF/HDF/Masonite, finished with dance floor vinyl or a performance clear top coat.

Yes. Because it’s a floating floor with minimal screws or nails, the vinyl can be lifted and rolled for storage, and the majority of the floor (excluding the MDF layer) is salvageable if you relocate your studio.

Yes. Our DIY Home Sprung Floor kit supplies the specialised components (floor pads, layout template, slot cutter set and joining tape) with installation instructions, while you source the ply, MDF/HDF sheets and edge battens locally.

Shock absorption and force reduction have been tested to EN14808, and fire hazard properties have been tested to EN14808 and Australian Standard AS ISO 9239.1-2003. Ask STM for the relevant test documentation for your project if this is required by your certifier or building authority.

Sprung Floors