Open Forum

My school has a blonde oak wood floor for our stage. I have asked for years to paint it black and have been turned down. I have finally received permission to stain it black. We are sanding down and staining ebony and will put a poly coat on top. My question is...does anyone have recommendations for the type of poly I use. I’m concerned about durability. Thank you for any suggestions!

---------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
Hutchinson KS
---------------------------------

I don't have a recommendation for a particular brand, but you need to use a satin finish.  If you use high gloss, your lights will reflect off the floor.

------------------------------
C. J. Breland
Asheville High School
Asheville NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2019 13:04
From: Karin Neal
Subject: Stage Floor

My school has a blonde oak wood floor for our stage. I have asked for years to paint it black and have been turned down. I have finally received permission to stain it black. We are sanding down and staining ebony and will put a poly coat on top. My question is...does anyone have recommendations for the type of poly I use. I'm concerned about durability. Thank you for any suggestions!

---------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
Hutchinson KS
---------------------------------

Available in a Satin finish (non glossy):

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/property-facility-managers/products/minwax-super-fastdrying-polyurethane-for-floors

Also consider:

Products - UCoat It Floor Coating Systems

In the big picture, the audience won't be able to see the difference between a clear-coated stained floor and a painted floor.  Look at the Sherwin Williams 2-part epoxy floor paint system:

ARMORSEAL® 8100 WATER BASED EPOXY FLOOR COATING  Part A B70-8160 Series Satin Finish, & PART B B70V8100 Hardener.  Get the SW 2936 Black Emerald Satin color.  Very durable!

https://www.paintdocs.com/docs/webPDF.jsp?SITEID=SWPROTECT&doctype=PDS&lang=E&prodno=B70A08100

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/architects-specifiers-designers/products/armorseal-8100-epoxy-floorcoatings?
colorPartNumber=SW2936#product-details

Whatever you do, establish a firm policy of "NO PAINTIING on the or above the stage floor".  Have the school put it in rental contracts (even if they are 'free' rentals!) right next to the "NO GLITTER" policy.  Have the users post a $500-1000 refundable floor damage deposit.  They have nothing to worry about if they don't damage the floor.  It is much easier to get the money up-front than it is to try to extract it from them later.

If you need the floor a different color / texture / design for a show, then put down a leak-proof plastic drop, then overlay it with heavy canvas / muslin and paint that (remove the plastic sheeting after the paint dries so the covering doesn't slide around). If you do this and damp mop your floor regularly, you can get many years out of it before it will need repainting.

You should damp mop your floor on a regular basis with a little bit of disinfectant in it to keep the surface that performers are rolling around and dancing upon sanitary!  Sweat transmits skin diseases, fungus, and bacteria !  During a dance show you should damp mop if before, during, and after the show.

Also, a NO Tap dancing / Folklórico dancing without laying down a protective layer.  That activity will tear-up your floor in nothing flat.  Have them bring their own approved floor covering, or if you do a lot of rentals for these shows, get a stock of super-hard (ANSI Class 5) MDF / tempered hardboard sheets to lay-down (this is NOT your big-box store generic 'masonite' - this is a special order material.  The big box store junk will disintegrate under vigorous dance use).  1/8" thickness is good for this as it can be purchased and stored easier than 1/4" thickness.  Boldly mark your special dance floor sheets so they don't get cut-up into scenery.

Also - a strict 'Clean-up your spike tape' policy, too.  Use a citrus based cleaner to lift the tape residue.  No goo left behind!

Oh, yeah, also train people to put dollies / carts with rolling casters under anything that is to be moved.  Dragging stuff across the floor is a sure way to mar it!

DEFEND YOUR FLOOR!  Why waste time and money maintaining it ?  You have better things to do with your time and money !

------------------------------
Erich Friend
Theatre Consultant
Teqniqal Systems
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2019 08:50
From: C. J. Breland
Subject: Stage Floor

I don't have a recommendation for a particular brand, but you need to use a satin finish.  If you use high gloss, your lights will reflect off the floor.

------------------------------
C. J. Breland
Asheville High School
Asheville NC

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2019 13:04
From: Karin Neal
Subject: Stage Floor

My school has a blonde oak wood floor for our stage. I have asked for years to paint it black and have been turned down. I have finally received permission to stain it black. We are sanding down and staining ebony and will put a poly coat on top. My question is...does anyone have recommendations for the type of poly I use. I'm concerned about durability. Thank you for any suggestions!

---------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
Hutchinson KS
---------------------------------

Thank you all for responding! I appreciate the info!!

---------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
Hutchinson KS
---------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 07-14-2019
From: Erich Friend
Subject: RE: Stage Floor

Available in a Satin finish (non glossy):

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/property-facility-managers/products/minwax-super-fastdrying-polyurethane-for-floors

Also consider:

Products - UCoat It Floor Coating Systems

In the big picture, the audience won't be able to see the difference between a clear-coated stained floor and a painted floor.  Look at the Sherwin Williams 2-part epoxy floor paint system:

ARMORSEAL® 8100 WATER BASED EPOXY FLOOR COATING  Part A B70-8160 Series Satin Finish, & PART B B70V8100 Hardener.  Get the SW 2936 Black Emerald Satin color.  Very durable!

https://www.paintdocs.com/docs/webPDF.jsp?SITEID=SWPROTECT&doctype=PDS&lang=E&prodno=B70A08100

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/architects-specifiers-designers/products/armorseal-8100-epoxy-floorcoatings?
colorPartNumber=SW2936#product-details

Whatever you do, establish a firm policy of "NO PAINTIING on the or above the stage floor".  Have the school put it in rental contracts (even if they are 'free' rentals!) right next to the "NO GLITTER" policy.  Have the users post a $500-1000 refundable floor damage deposit.  They have nothing to worry about if they don't damage the floor.  It is much easier to get the money up-front than it is to try to extract it from them later.

If you need the floor a different color / texture / design for a show, then put down a leak-proof plastic drop, then overlay it with heavy canvas / muslin and paint that (remove the plastic sheeting after the paint dries so the covering doesn't slide around). If you do this and damp mop your floor regularly, you can get many years out of it before it will need repainting.

You should damp mop your floor on a regular basis with a little bit of disinfectant in it to keep the surface that performers are rolling around and dancing upon sanitary!  Sweat transmits skin diseases, fungus, and bacteria !  During a dance show you should damp mop if before, during, and after the show.

Also, a NO Tap dancing / Folklórico dancing without laying down a protective layer.  That activity will tear-up your floor in nothing flat.  Have them bring their own approved floor covering, or if you do a lot of rentals for these shows, get a stock of super-hard (ANSI Class 5) MDF / tempered hardboard sheets to lay-down (this is NOT your big-box store generic 'masonite' - this is a special order material.  The big box store junk will disintegrate under vigorous dance use).  1/8" thickness is good for this as it can be purchased and stored easier than 1/4" thickness.  Boldly mark your special dance floor sheets so they don't get cut-up into scenery.

Also - a strict 'Clean-up your spike tape' policy, too.  Use a citrus based cleaner to lift the tape residue.  No goo left behind!

Oh, yeah, also train people to put dollies / carts with rolling casters under anything that is to be moved.  Dragging stuff across the floor is a sure way to mar it!

DEFEND YOUR FLOOR!  Why waste time and money maintaining it ?  You have better things to do with your time and money !

------------------------------
Erich Friend
Theatre Consultant
Teqniqal Systems
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-13-2019 08:50
From: C. J. Breland
Subject: Stage Floor

I don't have a recommendation for a particular brand, but you need to use a satin finish.  If you use high gloss, your lights will reflect off the floor.

------------------------------
C. J. Breland
Asheville High School
Asheville NC

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2019 13:04
From: Karin Neal
Subject: Stage Floor

My school has a blonde oak wood floor for our stage. I have asked for years to paint it black and have been turned down. I have finally received permission to stain it black. We are sanding down and staining ebony and will put a poly coat on top. My question is...does anyone have recommendations for the type of poly I use. I'm concerned about durability. Thank you for any suggestions!

---------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
Hutchinson KS
---------------------------------

My first choice would be to use paint.  But if you're going to stain and put a protective coat on top I would look at Streetshoe NXT Floor Finish.  There are many options out there.  But this one is a good starting point while you're looking. 

------------------------------
Chuck Yarmey
Advisor/Technical Director
Wyoming Area Drama Club
Thespian Troupe 4795
Exeter PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2019 13:04
From: Karin Neal
Subject: Stage Floor

My school has a blonde oak wood floor for our stage. I have asked for years to paint it black and have been turned down. I have finally received permission to stain it black. We are sanding down and staining ebony and will put a poly coat on top. My question is...does anyone have recommendations for the type of poly I use. I'm concerned about durability. Thank you for any suggestions!

---------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
Hutchinson KS
---------------------------------

There was a similar post on 04-27-2017 that has some good info.  Title of the post: "stage floor" - no caps.

I think this is the link:

https://www.schooltheatre.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?MessageKey=976bc7c8-785c-4d84-a062-2d6fd7ea8b38&CommunityKey=35d3756e-031c-447e-a020-14aeb57718f1&tab=digestviewer#bm976bc7c8-785c-4d84-a062-2d6fd7ea8b38

------------------------------
Beth Rand, EBMS
Educational Lighting Designer
School Theatre Operations Coach
www.PRESETT.org

- WANT TO PAY YOUR GUEST TECHNICIANS/ARTISTS MORE?! CHECK OUT THE NEW SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM (http:www.presett.org/theSTAGEGuild.html)

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- ION, ELEMENT, EXPRESS & COLOR THEORY - ONLINE MINI COURSES
(http://www.presett.org/litt.html)
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- THE ECLECTECH SHOPPE (http://www.presett.org/eclectech.html)

beth@PRESETT.org
Westminster, CO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-14-2019 09:16
From: Charles Yarmey
Subject: Stage Floor

My first choice would be to use paint.  But if you're going to stain and put a protective coat on top I would look at Streetshoe NXT Floor Finish.  There are many options out there.  But this one is a good starting point while you're looking.

------------------------------
Chuck Yarmey
Advisor/Technical Director
Wyoming Area Drama Club
Thespian Troupe 4795
Exeter PA

Original Message:
Sent: 07-12-2019 13:04
From: Karin Neal
Subject: Stage Floor

My school has a blonde oak wood floor for our stage. I have asked for years to paint it black and have been turned down. I have finally received permission to stain it black. We are sanding down and staining ebony and will put a poly coat on top. My question is...does anyone have recommendations for the type of poly I use. I'm concerned about durability. Thank you for any suggestions!

---------------------------------
Karin Neal
Theatre Director
Trinity Catholic Jr. Sr. High School
Hutchinson KS
---------------------------------