Dance Floor Tiles – An Alternative Made For Convenience

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Dancing can be a ton of fun. However, installing an actual dance floor is extremely expensive and is simply not an option for most people or locations. A much more convenient alternative for fitting your space and needs are dance floor tiles.

There are a few different types out there so we’ve come up with a guide to help you quickly and easily decide which one will work best for you. Be sure to keep in mind how you will be using them, your space, budget, and even what type of dancing you’ll be doing for the best results.

Interlocking Dance Floor Tiles

These are without a doubt the most common type of tiles used to create dance floors since they have so many helpful features. They’re easy to install, simple to maintain, light yet durable, and can even mimic the look of other materials. Interlocking dance floor tiles usually have a base made from plastic such as Polypropylene and a top made from a material like vinyl.

This makes them waterproof so that they have no problem with moisture, water, and other liquids like spilled drinks. Their plastic bases are usually shaped so that they have channels underneath them for drainage. These channels also allow for air movement which prevents mold and mildew. Some dance floor tiles are even specifically designed to have spaces for wires to be run underneath them.

Popular Uses: Interlocking dance floor tiles are a favorite budget-friendly choice for creating temporary or even more permanent dance floors for all styles of dance from tap to ballroom, or just letting loose and having some fun. There really are endless ways and places you can use them. Backyard events such as weddings and parties are popular uses but they also work very well in bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels.

Since they are portable dance floor tiles professional entertainment acts and dance teams like to bring them along on the road since having them will ensure they always have the right surface. They’re also used as flooring in dance schools or anywhere that dance classes are taught or dance competitions are held where you need the appropriate flooring, but that’s also temporary.

For practicing dance at home parents often prefer tiles rather than having their child dance on actual wood flooring which can be scratched or damaged. And of course, they allow kids to practice in areas like basements and garages without a problem. Interlocking tiles are also a popular choice for trade show flooring and store displays. They also can be used simply as faux tile flooring when renting or when you want the look of natural materials but not the hassle.

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Designed For Easy Installation: These tiles are designed so that they can be installed or disassembled within a few minutes and without any tools or skills. Interlocking dance floor tiles will generally either snap together or have a hook and loop system.

This makes them a much less expensive option than installing a permanent dance floor since you won’t have to pay a professional to do the job for you and you can bring your tiles with you if you decide to move or if you need them when traveling. They can be placed over any flat surface or existing flooring whether indoors or out such as carpeting, wood flooring, concrete, or asphalt.

They are light in weight yet stable enough to be used on surfaces that uneven or soft. And while they can be used outside they aren’t designed to be left there permanently. Because you can add or take away tiles to make your dance floor bigger or smaller depending on your needs, and also use them to create customized spaces they are sometimes advertised as modular dance floor tiles.

Don’t Forget: When installing them you will want to make sure not to forget the sloped edges and corner pieces for any exposed edges or corners (which are also interlocking) so that people don’t trip when getting on the dance floor and also to give the surface a more cohesive look.

Care Made Simple: Luckily most tiles will require little or no maintenance to keep them clean, just a sweeping or vacuuming when dust or debris builds up. For more thorough cleaning, a damp mop with hot water and a household floor cleaner or non-wax vinyl cleaner will usually do the trick. But of course, you will want to check the recommended cleaning instructions for your tiles.

Different Looks For Different Tastes: Interlocking dance floor tiles can be made to look like a range of different material types such as wood and stone. You’ll often see wood tile options that look very similar to authentic teak, oak, and maple among many others. Or you may prefer the look of reclaimed wood for a more vintage or rustic feel.

Natural stone options such as marble may come complete with details like veins running through them. Faux slate tiles are another way to go and these often have added texture just like real slate to help prevent slips and falls. However, slip resistance is not always suitable for all styles of dancing.

Solid color tiles are a choice as well and many people like to alternate between black and white to create the classic checkerboard tile pattern for their dance floor. However, if you do want something that looks even more like a permanent there are real wood dance floor tiles too. Although these will typically have a real wood face that is set in a plastic body. These are of course more expensive.

Shopping: When shopping for tiles you will see that they are usually sold as individual tiles but also as mats. Mats may be made up of a group of pre-assembled tiles or just one large one it depends.

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Liquid Dance Floor Tiles

For a totally unique dancing experience, liquid dance floor tiles are another option. With these, each tile has a special brightly colored liquid that is encased inside of it. Every time they are stepped on they change their color and appearance. These tiles are large and made from leak-proof plastic while the actual liquid is environmentally safe and non-toxic.

They are also designed so that they can handle heavy weights and a lot of abuse without any problem. Most are actually fire-resistant as well. Liquid tiles don’t need any skill to install whatsoever. They are simply just placed down wherever you would like to use them. You can put them on top of whatever your existing flooring surface is regardless of whether it’s concrete or carpeting.

They aren’t interlocking but instead have a special non-slip backing to prevent them from moving. Of course, this means they are portable, easy to rearrange, and can be moved to wherever you’d like to use them or even put them away when they’re not in use.

Popular Uses: These are very popular with kids for all types of dancing and they do function very well as tap dance floor tiles in particular since they change color every time you tap. They are also used as a play surface for children and their colors can encourage very young kids to crawl.

Liquid tiles can also be a big help in sensory rooms for children with disabilities and impairments since they are so visually stimulating.  Alternatively, in nightclubs and bars, they will provide a striking display, especially when used with a black light. Modern-style spaces are also areas where people like to use them because of their large size and sleek appearance.

Purchasing: Liquid dance floor tiles are large so when shopping they are often purchased individually. But they are also sold in packs or as mats made up of multiple tiles.

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LED Dance Floor Tiles

Another colorful choice that doesn’t just change colors but lights up on their own are LED dance floor tiles. These tiles are usually made from different types of plastics such as Polyethylene and Acrylic which are designed to handle extremely heavy weights and are translucent allowing light to pass through them. Usually, each individual tile will have a solid-sided square cell beneath it.

This cell contains built-in LED lights that are capable of producing a wide range of colors. Both the bottom and sides of the interior of the cell are reflective to diffuse the lights and allow them to produce an even color on the face of the tile. Of course, these light-up dance floor tiles need a power source. Typically they can be plugged into an electrical outlet or are powered by a rechargeable lithium battery.

The range of colors, their brightness, and speed, along with special effects such as flashing and strobe lights usually can be controlled first hand by a computer or a hand-held remote. Some tiles can also be controlled by using a smartphone as a remote. LED dance floor tiles may also have various modes that allow them to change colors on their own without the help of a remote such as “automatic,” or modes that are activated by sound.

A particularly popular mode is one that uses pressure sensors in the tile so that they change color when they are stepped or danced on. Tiles will usually have their internal components sealed making the dance floor completely waterproof. This will protect against flooding, spills, rain, etc.

Best Uses: LED dance floor tiles are much more expensive than other options so they usually aren’t used by the average person to practice dancing at home. Although if you are looking to install an extremely high-end dance floor in your home for events they are a first-class choice.

Normally they are used in nightclubs and for stage performances. They are also sometimes used as an eye-catching runway in fashion shows that draws serious attention from the crowd. For party and DJ businesses they are an investment that allows customers to enjoy a special dancing experience at events.

Purchasing: These tiles can be much harder to find locally than other options. Therefore shopping online is usually the best way to go. They can be purchased individually or as mats that are made up of a bunch of tiles.

You don’t need an actual dance floor to have the fun you’d like. Dance floor tiles can give you the surface you need and exactly where you want it!