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Stage flooring
Most stage floors (or decks) in theatres are hardwood, which is a good general purpose surface. If the stage is used for a variety of different purposes additional flooring material is brought in to cover the existing floor. The use the stage will be put to affects the choice of flooring (imagine tap dancing on carpet). A variety of products are used to cover the floor, from non-slip textured floors to painted floor boards. When the floor is covered, the original floor is known as the ‘subfloor’.
The specific purpose for the flooring affects the material, its construction technique and the material it’s made from. Large outdoor concert stages are generally made in sections, with wooden or metal decks and metal framework, as they are designed to be modular and relatively easy to assemble. Large theatre productions prefer to manufacture their stage floors to suit the set design of the play. They often remove the existing stage and put in an entire new, purpose-built stage.
General principles for designing stage floors include:
- It must be certified by an engineer as suitable for weight bearing.
- It should be easily transportable, as the stage may be made at a workshop and then assembled in the theatre.
- It should have an appropriate surface for the activity being undertaken.
Floor cloths, cladding, carpet, masonite
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