TEarlywine
Member
Clear coat of some sort over flat black water based paint is pretty much a given unless no one will ever be touching it, or you don't mind immediate scuffing (even a dustmop will scuff it!). Our scenic artists often mix some satin waterbased polycrylic into our Off-Broadway Black. We almost always go back to black after load out as we usually have a chorus concert, lectures, or bare bones performances between our main shows. Occasionally we've just based with dark leftovers if nothing soon but rehearsals. Our old beat up deck is covered in masonite, making repeated painting not a big issue, and repairs relatively easy.
Few outside groups at current job, but in my former houses we always included back-to-standard charges in rental agreement covering deck, masking, cyc, etc (or they could just skin the deck to avoid the charge). I've used lauan on platforms: it takes extra labor to make really nice (doesn't install as flat as easily), but will save a few bucks in supplies over masonite - YMMV.
Few outside groups at current job, but in my former houses we always included back-to-standard charges in rental agreement covering deck, masking, cyc, etc (or they could just skin the deck to avoid the charge). I've used lauan on platforms: it takes extra labor to make really nice (doesn't install as flat as easily), but will save a few bucks in supplies over masonite - YMMV.
