[Ed Shapiro]

Thick carpeted floors are only good if you are going to use them as your actual shooting floor. Placing things such as seamless paper, cloth, canvas and many other materials on think carpeting is not practical because sooner or later the material will wear badly or perforate when walked upon or when props are placed on them.

You can replace the thick carpet with indoor-outdoor carpeting which will be a better support base and can serve as part of a cyclorama background system in a dark color for low key work. I have done this and ran the carpet right up the wall. This material is also known as pool carpeting and has no nap. This carpeting mop clean of soiled.

If you do not want to take up your existing carpeting, the use of plywood or particle board is the next best alternative. These are the material used for sub flooring and can support most background materials nicely. You model cam move around freely without stumbling or have a heel go through the paper or cloth into the carpet. You do not need hinges or anything that will come through the background material. Have a look at the portable dance floors that are used at outdoor events or at venues where no dance floor is provided. The parts are held together at the very edges where the hardware is out of the way and will not cause accidents. You can acquire one of theses on the used market or construct something that works on the same principle.

There are many other flooring materials that can be used on top of you plywood or particle board base. There are temporary carpeting, rubber, and wooden floor TILES that are used to create floors at trade show booths and mobile displays. Check theses out at you local display provider or flooring dealers. There is no glues, tapes, other adhesives or fastenings needed.

I hope this helps, Ed