We are redoing the floor
in one of our spaces (toung and
groove maple over 2 layers of plywood with sleepers), and this came recommended by our paint supplyer. ~Dave
Two thoughts Davey,
1. I don't care what you paint the floor with, it will always have to be touched up and completely repainted periodically. It only takes a couple of hours to completely recoat a floor with a
roller, and it will be dry enough to walk on in two hours. If you've only got an hour before curtain, crank up the lights and the stuff will dry in 30 minutes, and the fumes won't kill the people in your first three rows. I suggest you use a
stock flat black latex that is readily available from your local paint store (We use Sherwin Williams best
flat black for everything) so that there are no problems matching the color.
My old man, who was a tech director at the college
level for 32 years, told me, "there are two kinds of technical directors. Those who have bought paint at a paint sale, and those who will." Meaning, "black" on the can don't mean the "black" that you painted three other things with and ran out of.
Find a good black and keep five gallons on
hand. Use the same paint for everything. Someone is going to
spill something, drag a
platform with a screw sticking out of it across center
stage, or
drop a
stage weight down left, or a
fixture from a ladder, and you might as well accept it and just be ready for it when it happens.
2. Using hard maple for your floor will only cause you pain. Screws will have to be pre-drilled or they will break off or split the boards. And don't even try to put a
stage screw in it...
Most people don't understand how important the
stage floor is for securing scenery. They think that the beautiful floor in the gym is just what the doctor ordered. Wrong. The best
stage floor is tongue and
groove fir. Its resilient, tough, quiet and accepts screws without splitting or pre-drilling. Sure it gouges, but it also accepts bondo extremely well, and it won't give your dancers shin splints. It's typically cheaper than maple and can be sanded smooth with a belt sander if you get a cup.
Think of your floor as a living thing, that will have to be maintained and cared for. It is not a shrine, but an ally in the process. And just expect to patch and repaint regularly. And pull your
gaff tape up at a 45 degree angle.
I realize they probably didn't ask your opinion on what material should be used, but you might suggest consulting a theatrical architect on the finished surface. Whomever made the decision to use maple may be surprised by the response.
Good luck.
