I think the tempering is the basic problem. Paint on non-tempered tends to soften and separate the hardboard in my experience. When you get the tempered stuff, let it sit in your theater for several days to adjust to your humidity
level before you fasten it down (also my experience).
The last time I received and laid approximately 24 sheets of 4' x 8' x 1/4" double tempered Meso' ( Tempered on both sides ), I was shocked to find they were of differing lengths, differing widths and, WORST OF ALL, they were rhomboid [Not cut with 90 degree corners]
All ordered at the same time, from the same supplier and delivered on the same truck.
Sides were parallel to sides and ends parallel to ends on MOST, but not all, of the sheets.
Some sheets had non parallel sides thus they were narrower at one end than the other.
Finished lengths and widths were inconsistent by between 1/16th to" to 1/8th" over the length and / or width of the sheets.
Discovering MOST of the corners were lesser or greater than 90 degrees by enough to matter was the worst part of laying the Meso'. "They" taped the differing widths of seams and applied two coats of a high-pigment (designed to be thinned with water) black "egg-shell" paint and the Meso' was only down for five weeks in total: The last 2.5 weeks of rehearsal plus 3 weekends of performances. I won't speak to painting and sealing as neither are my expertise.
How to
lay / secure in place: Double sided tape, vs. ring nails vs. counter-sunk
flat head screws has been beaten to death here in lengthy posts and I won't delve into it. All I'll mention is "they" (Those in charge and calling the shots) intended to slit or remove the
masking tape, then lift the floor and store for future use.
Short version: What remained post
strike was trash. Most of the tape was pretty much destroyed over the five weeks. Most of the tape brought the surface with it if "they" attempted to remove it NO MATTER HOW CAREFULLY. Less than 6 sheets were worth saving. The remainder came up in so many broken chunks with SERIOUS surface wear in heavily blocked locations that they weren't worth saving to cut down for any appreciable future use.
Bottom Line: Five weeks and less than 6 sheets were worth saving.
To quote a previous poster: "That was my experience"
As to allowing time for moisture content to acclimatize: I've seen this work to great success with
luan mahogany sheets in another
venue. The Meso' I've mentioned above was laid
flat on the unused
auditorium floor and periodically flipped over to expose alternate sides over the course of 4 to 5 days where it was free from
foot traffic prior to being transferred to the
stage deck for laying. [And then the fun began as we tried to make a respectable deck from a delivery of strangely mis-matched sheets]
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard.