colinnewton Posted June 6, 2012 Share Posted June 6, 2012 Hi, Just looking to pick your brains, I'm working on an outdoor community theatre project over the summer with 4 stages around a town, of course given the British weather we are expecting rain and need to put a non slip surface on the steal deck stages so we can still perform in light drizzle of course if it gets too much the show will be cancelled. I've found a non slip rosin but not sure if it is weather proof http://www.flints.co.uk/pdfcatalogue/non_slip.pdf Or do I go for some form of thin pile carpet or rubber matting? Any advice would be great, I'm sure there is a very simple option. Many thanks Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted June 6, 2012 Share Posted June 6, 2012 Perennial problem Colin, especially in the UK.I have yet to discover any surface that doesn't present new hazards in the rain and everything depends on what exactly the performance will consist of. Amplified bands are almost definitely out as is most forms of dance or participaton by disabled, very young or those with ambulatory problems. The covering of stages in this situation is almost a matter of course and there are many ways of getting reasonably priced marquee type covering. I sometimes chance open stages on one day events but never on one that is in situ overnight or longer and I normally use a "non-slip" stage surface which still causes problems. If you can safely give us some more detail I am sure that someone here can help but the types of performance and performers make a huge difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GridGirl Posted June 6, 2012 Share Posted June 6, 2012 Is it your decking, or hired? If you paint it and mix sand in with the paint, it acts pretty well as a non-slip surface, but if it's hired decking obviously the company may not be too keen on that! You could possibly skin it with 5mm MDF and paint that though - cheaper than putting new tops on the decks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinnewton Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 Unfortunately there isn't the budget to cover the stages, the performers are mainly adults from the community, the stages all vary in size from 10m x 7m to 4m x 3m and one hexaganal stage.The decking is hired so I will need to have a chat with the hire company anyway, I had thought about having a hardboard cover on the stages but there is a time and cost issue... something cheap (ish) and easy would be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadhippy Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 issue all the performers with non slip saftey shoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinnewton Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 We did consider buying a bulk load of sandpaper and attaching it to their costume shoes....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 On indoor decking that needed more grip we used to sprinkle sugar and then spray it from a shaken-up bottle of Coca Cola, though that needs drying out and would probably wash off in heavy rain. The difficulty is in not permanently marking or damaging hired decks and your choices are restricted so Hippy is not being flippant. Alistage has a near non-slip surface but I have had people slide on our decks and I only know of non-slip steps in Litedeck. Maybe a PM to Giles Favell the BR resident Steeldeck expert might reveal some arcane knowledge? Edit to add: If you do consider carpet type stuff I used to "borrow" those rubber backed doorway dustmats which stick like you know what with a bit of damp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the kid Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Just did a quick work out and it would be about £150 to hardboard the 10x7 so that's out. I would talk to the company, we had some stage out in the rain at the end of April, it was under a roof but we did have bits come in, however the edges were still ok, I would not want to run about and dance but for walking ect we had no problems. This was new litedeck btw, my older deck is proving "interesting" because of the weather and I think I need to reskin as all the old paint is coming up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiLL Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 short pile carpet, when absolutely sodden from rain, is surprisingly slippery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Are you perhaps over-complicating things? Do you need to do anything at all? You've already said that the stages will be open to the elements and that you are only looking to cover the 'light drizzle' situation. I would have though that any portable stage will be fine in such weather conditions unless the decking supplied is particularly slippery. If the deck-top is the usual ply painted with flat black emulsion I can't see a problem. Your risk assessment simply highlights that you know there might be a problem in heavier rain and your control measure is to call 'show stop'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Phenolic PlyLinkUsed it at a certain very wet outdoor event this weekend and was amazed at how non-slip this stuff remained but I have to confess I don't know what it costs and I bet it's not cheap. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_s Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 I would ring the nice people at Flints and ask them what they would use on yacht decks. (they do yachts as well as theatres). Combine this with suitable rubber-soled footwear, you should be OK for light rain. Also, if possible, construct your stage with a very slight rake, water will then tend to run off it and not form puddles. And have some long-handled squeegee mops on standby. PS, I realise it's hired deck, but if the suppliers know itcs for outdoor use, they should supply it with a suitable non-slip finish that's fit for purpose, orvallow you to treat it and reinstate the original finish at the end.And I agree with above posters - anything more than light rain should be a show stopper (hopefully temporary, if rain stops, squeegee stage and carry on) if there is any vigorous movement involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom w Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Phenolic PlyLinkUsed it at a certain very wet outdoor event this weekend and was amazed at how non-slip this stuff remained but I have to confess I don't know what it costs and I bet it's not cheap. TOur stage decks are made of 24mm phenolic ply, and it isn't cheap at all. But it lasts for years, so long as you treat any cut edges. It isn't magic though, you still need extra grip on ramps. Sand in paint is a very short term solution; Any traffic of flight cases etc rapidly removes the sand and paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomscott Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 Just for interest, we've just bought some phenolic ply to refloor our trailer - £65 plus vat for a 8'x4' 18mm sheet or I think was either £45 or £55 for 12mm. So possibly not cheap depending on the quantity required...Phenolic PlyLinkUsed it at a certain very wet outdoor event this weekend and was amazed at how non-slip this stuff remained but I have to confess I don't know what it costs and I bet it's not cheap. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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