[Usittne] Flooring question

[William Beautyman]

Clyde,

 

Call me off line, we have recommended stage floor construction plan.

 

William Beautyman

President

  

 

 

471 Pleasant Street

Lee, MA 01238

 

Phone:     413-243-4950

Fax:         413-243-4993

Cell:         413-531-2981

 

ETCP Certified Rigger - Theater

ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician

 

 

 

 

http://www.filmandvideolights.com 

 

http://www.limelightproductions.com
<http://www.limelightproductions.com> 

 

http://www.berkshirefilm.com <http://www.berkshirefilm.com> 

 -----Original Message-----
From: usittne-bounces at mit.edu [mailto:usittne-bounces at mit.edu] On Behalf
Of Clyde Tyndale
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 10:20 PM
To: USITT New England Section Mail List; NE Theatre
Subject: [Usittne] Flooring question

 

Hello All,

 

I'm looking for any advice any of you has to offer.

 

At Falmouth Academy, we recently had a small disaster - a sprinkler pipe
burst early one morning 

about 10 days ago and flooded the floor in our performance space.  The
floor was damaged to the 

point where is must be replaced.

 

The space is a converted multipurpose space which was once used as a gym
and still has the maple 

hardwood floor.  It is no longer used as a gym, and is now essentially a
black box theatre space, 

although still used for some other similar purposes (classes, large
meetings, etc).

 

The current floor is 2.5" maple T&G boards installed using a clip system
to steel rails 12" o.c. 

The steel rails are on concrete.  Total thickness above the concrete is
approx 1.5" and we need to 

maintain a thickness very close to this for ADA compliance at doors,
etc.

 

We see this as an opportunity to get a floor that is more appropriate
for a black box theatre.  We 

use it as a flexible space, so any part of the floor at one time or
another may be used as stage 

area or audience seating area on a flexible and movable riser system.

 

The space does not have good climate control at this time and may not
have air conditioning 

installed for several years.  Being on Cape Cod, the humidity variations
from winter to summer can 

get pretty extreme.  The old floor has proved pretty resistant to
buckling and other humidity 

related problems.

 

Having a good dance floor is not an important consideration as we don't
have a dance program.

 

We have heavy rolling loads - including grand pianos, a small pipe
organ, and carts which hold our 

riser system parts.  The loaded carts can weigh up to 1200 lbs each.

 

The riser places significant point loads - the foot pads are approx 2.5"
dia., spaced on 3' x 8' 

o.c. grid.  The unloaded system weighs 6,000 - 10,000 lbs, plus up to
240 people sitting on it.

 

Of course, we'd like a floor we can drive screws into, fasten anchor
points to, repaint as 

necessary, and that will be reasonably quiet when people with hard soled
shoes walk on it.

 

We are considering as possible flooring (all to be painted flat black):

 

Fir T&G boards, on the existing steel rail system.  These would be
approx 3/4" trhick

 

Fir T&G boards over plywood, directly on the concrete.

 

High quality plywood, double layer, directly on the concrete.  Must be
void free, at least the top 

layer.

 

Masonite or other laminate over plywood, directly on the concrete.  My
experience in another venue 

is that untempered masonite will expand & contract significantly with
humidity changes.

 

Black sheet vinyl over plywood, directly on the concrete. (might not
withstand the rolling/point loads)

 

One bidding contractor has proposed 1/4" Stagelam over a double layer of
plywood, directly on the 

concrete. This looks very promising.  Do any of you have experience with
this product?

 

Fortunately, all of these appear to cost less than the cost of
installing a replacement maple floor 

which will be covered by insurance.

 

Do any of you have any suggestions or advice to offer?

 

Thanks

 

Clyde Tyndale

Falmouth Academy

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