A black smoothing layer
A black smoothing layer
The floor following the removal of the paint with a clear seal
The matt black finished floor
The matt black finished floor
The matt black finished floor
Introduction
The Hospital Club in Covent Garden, London, has relied on an Elgood Universal Television Studio Floor for 18 years, using a matt finish refreshed every 12 to 18 months to maintain its appearance. After years of intensive use and multiple coats of studio paint, the popular studio required a more comprehensive refurbishment. Elgood Industrial Flooring was appointed to strip back the built up coatings and install a new 4 mm Universal Television Studio Floor operating surface in matt black, restoring the 250 m² studio floor within a seven day programme.
Background
The Hospital Club is a well known creative and media venue in central London, hosting a busy schedule of studio bookings, events and productions. The original Elgood studio floor had provided nearly two decades of service, with its matt finish regularly refreshed to keep the space looking professional and camera ready.
Over time, repeated repainting and heavy use had left the floor with multiple layers of coating and signs of wear. Although the underlying system had proved robust, the build up of paint meant that simple re coating would no longer deliver the flatness, appearance and long term performance required for a modern studio environment. A deeper refurbishment was needed to return the floor to its original standard.
The Challenge
The refurbishment project needed to address several key requirements:
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Remove accumulated layers of studio paint without damaging the underlying studio floor structure
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Restore a super smooth, matt black operating surface suitable for multi purpose studio use
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Maintain the flatness and integrity of the Universal Television Studio Floor so that it would continue to support camera movement and set work
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Carry out the works in a short window at the beginning of the year, minimising disruption to studio bookings
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Work cleanly and efficiently in a central London venue, controlling dust and managing noise and access carefully
The Solution
Elgood Industrial Flooring designed a refurbishment programme that combined controlled mechanical preparation with the installation of a new Universal Television Studio Floor operating surface.
Key elements of the solution included:
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Vacuum contained diamond grinding
Multiple layers of paint were stripped away using vacuum contained diamond grinding machines fitted with appropriate blades. This process removed the built up coatings while controlling dust and protecting the underlying structure of the floor. -
Surface preparation and inspection
Once the paint had been removed, the exposed floor was inspected and any localised issues addressed to ensure it provided a sound, well keyed base for the new operating surface. -
4 mm Universal Television Studio Floor Operating Surface
Elgood installed a new Elgood Universal Television Studio Floor Operating Surface at an approximate thickness of 4 mm. The system was laid to deliver a smooth, even studio grade finish across the full 250 m² area. -
Matt black finish
The refurbished floor was specified in matt black, maintaining the established visual character of The Hospital Club studio while helping to control reflections under studio lighting and provide a neutral background for a wide range of productions.
The entire refurbishment was completed within a seven day programme by Elgood’s own small, full time in house studio flooring team, ensuring consistent workmanship and a single point of responsibility from preparation through to handover.
Outcome
The refurbished studio floor at The Hospital Club has restored the space to a high standard of performance and appearance:
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A fresh 4 mm Universal Television Studio Floor operating surface providing a smooth, matt black finish across 250 m²
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Removal of accumulated paint layers, returning the floor to a flat, studio ready condition suitable for camera work and set building
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A durable, easy to maintain surface that can once again be refreshed periodically without the issues associated with historic build up
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A refurbishment completed in just seven days, minimising downtime in a busy central London venue
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Continued value from a British manufactured and installed studio floor system that has already proved its long term durability over 18 years of use
By stripping back the old coatings and installing a new Universal Television Studio Floor operating surface, Elgood Industrial Flooring has extended the life of The Hospital Club studio floor and ensured it remains fit for demanding broadcast and creative use in Covent Garden.
