Introduction
Bath Spa University asked Elgood Industrial Flooring to refurbish the super flat television studio floor in Studio A at its Newton St Loe campus near Bath, Somerset. Installed originally in 2014, the Universal Television Studio Floor had performed well for both professional production companies and students, but a build up of semi permanent Mylands studio floor paint had exceeded the capability of standard removal products. Elgood was appointed to mechanically remove the accumulated paint and restore the 210 m² studio floor to its original operating standard within a tight six day window at the end of the Summer Semester.
Background
The Universal Television Studio Floor at Bath Spa University was installed in 2014 to provide a super flat, durable platform for teaching and professional level production. Over time, multiple layers of Mylands studio floor paint had been applied and removed as different productions and teaching projects required new looks and layouts.
While the floor itself remained in good condition, the accumulated layers of paint had become too thick for conventional removal using Mylands Scrub Wash. This affected the appearance of the floor and risked undermining the precision surface profile required for smooth camera movement and consistent studio performance.
Working closely with the Studio Technical team, Elgood Industrial Flooring was asked to propose a refurbishment method that would safely remove the paint build up and re expose the Universal Television Studio Floor operating surface without compromising its super flat characteristics.
The Challenge
The refurbishment needed to address several key challenges:
• Removing heavy build up of semi permanent Mylands studio floor paint that could no longer be managed with standard removal fluids
• Preserving the underlying Universal Television Studio Floor, which was still structurally sound and fundamentally in good condition
• Restoring the super flat operating surface required for television studio work, without introducing ridges, gouges or unevenness
• Completing the works within a six day programme at the end of the Summer Semester, ready for the next cycle of teaching and production
• Working in a university environment with appropriate control of dust, noise and disruption
The Solution
Elgood Industrial Flooring developed and trialled a refurbishment methodology in partnership with the Studio Technical team before carrying out the full works.
Key elements of the solution included:
• A trial patch on the existing floor using the proposed mechanical removal method, allowing the university to verify that the paint could be stripped effectively while protecting the underlying studio floor surface
• Full mechanical removal of the paint build up using vacuum contained diamond grinding machines fitted with appropriate blades for the task, chosen to remove paint layers efficiently while avoiding damage to the Universal Television Studio Floor beneath
• Careful, systematic working across the 210 m² studio area to ensure consistent removal of paint and a uniform finish, maintaining the super flat character of the operating surface
• Light refinement of the exposed Universal Television Studio Floor where required to restore its original appearance and performance, ready for future applications of studio paints in manageable single layers
The vacuum contained grinding approach controlled dust and helped maintain a clean working environment within the university studio.
Outcome
The refurbishment has restored Bath Spa University’s Studio A floor to its intended performance and appearance. The university now benefits from:
• A refreshed 210 m² Universal Television Studio Floor with the super flat 4 mm operating surface reinstated
• Removal of excessive paint build up, allowing future Mylands studio paint applications to be managed as designed
• A studio floor that once again provides a reliable, high quality platform for both professional production companies and student projects
• A refurbishment completed in just six days at the end of the Summer Semester, minimising downtime and disruption to teaching
• Continued value from the original 2014 installation, demonstrating the long term durability of the Universal Television Studio Floor when correctly maintained and refurbished
By mechanically stripping the accumulated paint and restoring the operating surface, Elgood Industrial Flooring has extended the working life of the Bath Spa University studio floor and ensured it remains fit for purpose for years of ongoing broadcast and educational use.
