[Annyllop21]

Are there any flooring experts around?

It looks like I will be installing a floor suitable for general budo use - and need some advice. I've been reading tons of stuff on the interwebz and found a cracking article by Taro Ariga, but could do with a chat with someone who has installed such floors.

Anyone?

[MeeveStesia]

Can you please hook me up with the Ariga article?

[Khcyhshq]

Ditto, and any info you get on building sprung floors, they best I have come up with is the photoblog of someone else building a floor similar to the one at the noma dojo.

http://sites.google.com/site/poridojo/rakennusvaihe2
http://sites.google.com/site/poridojo/rakennusvaihe
http://aky.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Kendo/Dai+...rakennusvaihe/
http://aky.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Kendo/Dai%...usvaihe/Other/

[xochex]

Can you please hook me up with the Ariga article?

http://www.kendomagazine.com/2010/05...utokuden-dojo/

[oB8LI2kP]

Our dojo had considered building one a few years back, I had advocated using used tyres or foam blocks, but we went with cork instead. We don't really have a sprung floor at all. There is a video of it on youtube that shows the construction, but I don't really recomend this type of construction if you are going to do judo/aikido etc.

ScottUK, the one you linked too doesnt look like the sprung ones I have seen or practiced on:

somethign like:
http://judoinfo.com/tatami.htm
http://columbiajudo.com/front/content/view/185/49/

[averkif]

No, that is more of a floating floor than a sprung floor.

How does cork behave? Much 'give' in it?

[Virosponna]

could do with a chat with someone who has installed such floors. I can ask if I can mail you the email address of our building engineer that planned our dojo floor.
He did the calculations for the spring loads and floor inclinations and such himself. His english is
not the best in the world but I'm sure he could answer your questions.
http://sites.google.com/site/poridojo/

[P9CCd35R]

There is some give, but a single sheet is not optimal. Our floor is concrete with a single layer of cork on top followed by bamboo laminate with a tongue and groove system. If we had a few more layers it would have a bit more give. Its fine for iaido use and for kendo people quickly learn not to slam their feet into the ground. I have spend two days standing on it for a seminar and it does tire your legs out more than a sprung floor would but its good enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V289B2PazKE

I think the floor you posted is a much better design, but obviously requires more work and a higher cost.

[emorbimefed]

How does cork behave? Much 'give' in it?

I've trained on that floor - it's not super-springy but it is workable. The biggest problem I found was they used a textured laminate flooring as the surface. I would prefer a smooth surface.

[shieclulaweew]

cork will have a little give but it will depend on the thickness and what it sits on, if you are going for on top of concrete something like the maple XL here(http://www.snapsports.com/residential_inSurfacing.html) I tested some out and it seemed ok for kendo (did a couple fumikomi), no idea if you can get it in the uk.

[Pynctyncroast]

I've trained on that floor - it's not super-springy but it is workable. The biggest problem I found was they used a textured laminate flooring as the surface. I would prefer a smooth surface.

I agree, the friction is highly variable depending on if you are going with or against the grain. I think our floor is somewhere around 4,000sqft in area, so there are cost considerations and there had to be compromises of some kind.

[leareliovag]

Just thought I'd give this a bump and see if anyone else wishes to contribute...

[RayFairhurst]

I haven’t installed a floor like this, but I am a carpenter, and studying to be a building project manager.
Building all depends on.
How much money do you have?
How much room de you have for the construction? (I’m thinking not a lot sins you want to go with a floating floor. !?!)
What are you building on top of?
Maintenance and running cost?

If you are building on concrete and you what a flooding floor construction, I would go for as thick a cork as possible (min. 2+ cm.) and a good quality hardwood floor. An alternative to cork would be some sort of rubber ore polystyrene. Rubber probably a god choice but expensive and polystyrene (depending on type) can burn and were quickly in this environment.

I wouldn’t recommend pine or other softwood like this, unless you give it many layers of varnish.
The floor is going to be worn a lot. Pine is not good for this and makes nasty splinters and the upkeep of the pine will more than pay for a more expensive type of hardwood.
Solid oak floorboards with as smooth a joining as possible would be my choice (in Denmark they are not too expensive compared to others). When the flooring is done, run it over with a sander and maybe a couple of layers of varnish.

This construction will give a little, but not a lot, however I don’t think you will find a system that will give you a sprung floor (like ender84567 is talking about) with a build high of under 40-60 cm.
I practice kendo in an old gym hall, the floor is bad and it don’t give a lot but it don’t hurt the knees and heels either.

The important thing this is looking at running costs, cheep materials is not necessarily the cheapest in the long run. Flooring hast to last a long time and be able to take the wear and tear of many feet. Your standard residential home solution is not good enough.