3351  tango surfaces redux

Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 15:16:18 -0700
From: Margaret Davis <margaretdavis@PORTLANDTRIBUNE.COM>
Subject: tango surfaces redux

Hi everyone,

I'm Margaret, a tanguera in Portland, Oregon, and list members might
remember my query from a couple years ago, inquiring about all-weather tango
surfaces.

As you can read, I'm still at it. This time I'm building new construction,
and for the indoor tango space I'm thinking bamboo. I would love to hear
from list members whether bamboo worked well for them, and if so what type
(there's vertical, horizontal, and various finish permutations). Also, my
builder says it would lay over a foam bed ...

Complicating all this (maybe) is the fact that there will be a radiant heat
system installed in a cement slab underneath the dance surface.

Again, anyone's experience with the ideal dance floor surface is welcome
input. I'm also willing to consider other woods/materials besides bamboo.

I'll post the results of my inquiry to the list.

TIA and many sweet dances to you all, Margarita

Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 10:30:18 -0700
From: Carlos Rojas <Crojas@HACIENDACDC.ORG>
Subject: Re: tango surfaces redux

Hola Margarita,
I just got back from BA, bamboo works well, my neighbord just did an entire
floor on bamboo, but for the price, and if it is above grade (not in a
basement), then you may consider oak.

I think for dance floors, any hardwood works, what may make a difference is
what the underfloor. Dan Timmins (from Vancouver) did a dance floor in his
basement, he bought 1/2"-3/4" rubber matts for horse stables, he cut 4"
strips and then placed the dance floor on top, it has been the best dance
floor I have ever danced on, and it was very easy on the feet and joints.

We can talk more at the milonga.

Abrazos


Carlos Rojas
El Morocho


-----Original Message-----

Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 2:16 PM
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [TANGO-L] tango surfaces redux

Hi everyone,

I'm Margaret, a tanguera in Portland, Oregon, and list members might
remember my query from a couple years ago, inquiring about all-weather tango
surfaces.

As you can read, I'm still at it. This time I'm building new construction,
and for the indoor tango space I'm thinking bamboo. I would love to hear
from list members whether bamboo worked well for them, and if so what type
(there's vertical, horizontal, and various finish permutations). Also, my
builder says it would lay over a foam bed ...

Complicating all this (maybe) is the fact that there will be a radiant heat
system installed in a cement slab underneath the dance surface.

Again, anyone's experience with the ideal dance floor surface is welcome
input. I'm also willing to consider other woods/materials besides bamboo.

I'll post the results of my inquiry to the list.

TIA and many sweet dances to you all, Margarita

LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU.

Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 19:47:13 +0200
From: Christian Lüthen <christian.luethen@GMX.NET>
Subject: Re: tango surfaces redux

Che Carlos, che Margarita,

the best tango-dancefloor ever I encoutered in southern germany, at
the studio of "Tango Werkstatt Regensburg" (one of the very oldest
german / european tango dancing schools). Their website is
https://www.tango-werkstatt.com/ , their e-mail is: TANGO-
Werkstatt_Regensburg@t-online.de Horst and Christiane, the owners,
might give you some advice.

Also you might consider contacting a jazz-dance-studio where they
might have a professional dancing floor. Like the one of Horst and
Christiane in Regensburg and as Carlos already pointed out: a
professional floor is better because of it's underfloor! This
underfloor is what makes the difference., this underfloor is want is
responsible that at the end of an all night milonga you do not feel
your knews the bad way. Also Carlos is right that the traditional
best dancing floors are made from oak.

Please keep us updated what you found out!
Christian
El rubio aporteado


On 25 Apr 2005 at 10:30, Carlos Rojas wrote:

> bamboo works well, my neighbord just did an
> entire floor on bamboo, but for the price, and if it is above grade
> (not in a basement), then you may consider oak.
>
> I think for dance floors, any hardwood works, what may make a
> difference is what the underfloor. Dan Timmins (from Vancouver) did a
> dance floor in his basement, he bought 1/2"-3/4" rubber matts for
> horse stables, he cut 4" strips and then placed the dance floor on
> top, it has been the best dance floor I have ever danced on, and it
> was very easy on the feet and joints.
>
> Carlos Rojas
> El Morocho
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion of Any Aspect of the Argentine Tango
> [mailto:TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Margaret Davis
> Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 2:16 PM
> To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: [TANGO-L] tango surfaces redux
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm Margaret, a tanguera in Portland, Oregon, and list members might
> remember my query from a couple years ago, inquiring about all-weather
> tango surfaces.
>
> As you can read, I'm still at it. This time I'm building new
> construction, and for the indoor tango space I'm thinking bamboo. I
> would love to hear from list members whether bamboo worked well for
> them, and if so what type (there's vertical, horizontal, and various
> finish permutations). Also, my builder says it would lay over a foam
> bed ...
>
> Complicating all this (maybe) is the fact that there will be a radiant
> heat system installed in a cement slab underneath the dance surface.
>
> Again, anyone's experience with the ideal dance floor surface is
> welcome input. I'm also willing to consider other woods/materials
> besides bamboo.
>
> I'll post the results of my inquiry to the list.
>
> TIA and many sweet dances to you all, Margarita
>
> LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
> -
>
> LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU.
> -
>

christian@eTanguero.net
https://www.eTanguero.net/

Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 21:04:16 +0000
From: Jay Rabe <jayrabe@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: tango surfaces redux

The dance floor that Polly and Hugo put down at their new Paradise Studio
here in Portland is also cushioned with about 1/2" rubber. It is a
commercial product, sort of a high-low grid, and works very well. I think
they stilll have a sample of the cushion material. Ask Hugo or Polly when
you get back. OTOH, horse stall mats may work just as well and are surely
lots cheaper :-)

J in Portland
www.TangoMoments.com


----Original Message Follows----

Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2005 2:16 PM
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [TANGO-L] tango surfaces redux

Hi everyone,

I'm Margaret, a tanguera in Portland, Oregon, and list members might
remember my query from a couple years ago, inquiring about all-weather tango
surfaces.

As you can read, I'm still at it. This time I'm building new construction,
and for the indoor tango space I'm thinking bamboo. I would love to hear
from list members whether bamboo worked well for them, and if so what type
(there's vertical, horizontal, and various finish permutations). Also, my
builder says it would lay over a foam bed ...

Complicating all this (maybe) is the fact that there will be a radiant heat
system installed in a cement slab underneath the dance surface.

Again, anyone's experience with the ideal dance floor surface is welcome
input. I'm also willing to consider other woods/materials besides bamboo.

I'll post the results of my inquiry to the list.

TIA and many sweet dances to you all, Margarita

Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 09:42:35 -0700
From: Trini or Sean - PATangoS <patangos@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: tango surfaces redux

Hola Listeros!

In my part of the US, Bamboo is about 1/3 the price of
Clear Oak. I am an architetct, and researched bamboo
floors a few years ago for an apartment building I
designed. The original design specified oak, but we
substituted bamboo during construction and saved about
$160,000 for the owner. (For 40,000 sq. ft.)

A few things that I learned about bamboo:
-It is harder than oak (really!)
-It is dimensionally more stable, so it won't move as
much in response to humidity changes, and is less
likely to buckle. This makes it the best choice for
"wood" floors at or below grade.
-It requires less energy to produce (important for the
environmentally concious).
-It is a far more sustainable resource (also important
for the environmentally concious).

Regarding the finish:
Aluminum oxide is the hardest finish commonly
available. I recommend a prefinished product for
bamboo floors, but I prefer to have oak floors
finished in place. The only drawback to prefinished
wood floors is that the edges of the planks must be
micro-beveled. But this should not be a problem for
dancing.

Any wood floor can be installed on a cushion. This is
standard practice for athletic floors, including dance
studios. These systems require trained installers,
because standard installation practices will
compromise the cushion. The floor should not be nailed
through the cushion. Don't expect a residential
contractor to have the necessary training. (The
manufacturer's of many cushioning systems will train
the installers, usually for free.)

My two cent's worth. (Actually, I'd charge a client
several hundred dollars for this advice.)

Sean

--- Carlos Rojas <Crojas@HACIENDACDC.ORG> wrote:
Hola Margarita,
I just got back from BA, bamboo works well, my
neighbord just did an entire floor on bamboo, but for
the price, and if it is above grade (not in a
basement), then you may consider oak.

Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2005 09:56:02 -0700
From: Carlos Rojas <Crojas@HACIENDACDC.ORG>
Subject: Re: tango surfaces redux

Sean,
Great advice, thank you. I will check the bamboo prices again. I like the
environmental aspects of it as well. I have a basement to finish and I want
to put down wood for the "dance" section. I am glad to hear that bamboo is
an option.

When it comes to "special" dancing underfloors, sometimes they charge a lot,
what do you think about using strips of rubber matts that are 4" wide and 8'
long, sort of 4x2 framing on the floor. The feeling of the floor where this
was done, was just wondereful, much better than aerobic/dance studios.

Thanks again for your help.

Carlos Rojas
El Morocho de Portland


-----Original Message-----

Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:43 AM
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] tango surfaces redux

Hola Listeros!

In my part of the US, Bamboo is about 1/3 the price of
Clear Oak. I am an architetct, and researched bamboo
floors a few years ago for an apartment building I
designed. The original design specified oak, but we
substituted bamboo during construction and saved about
$160,000 for the owner. (For 40,000 sq. ft.)

A few things that I learned about bamboo:
-It is harder than oak (really!)
-It is dimensionally more stable, so it won't move as
much in response to humidity changes, and is less
likely to buckle. This makes it the best choice for
"wood" floors at or below grade.
-It requires less energy to produce (important for the
environmentally concious).
-It is a far more sustainable resource (also important
for the environmentally concious).

Regarding the finish:
Aluminum oxide is the hardest finish commonly
available. I recommend a prefinished product for
bamboo floors, but I prefer to have oak floors
finished in place. The only drawback to prefinished
wood floors is that the edges of the planks must be
micro-beveled. But this should not be a problem for
dancing.

Any wood floor can be installed on a cushion. This is
standard practice for athletic floors, including dance
studios. These systems require trained installers,
because standard installation practices will
compromise the cushion. The floor should not be nailed
through the cushion. Don't expect a residential
contractor to have the necessary training. (The
manufacturer's of many cushioning systems will train
the installers, usually for free.)

My two cent's worth. (Actually, I'd charge a client
several hundred dollars for this advice.)

Sean

--- Carlos Rojas <Crojas@HACIENDACDC.ORG> wrote:
Hola Margarita,
I just got back from BA, bamboo works well, my
neighbord just did an entire floor on bamboo, but for
the price, and if it is above grade (not in a
basement), then you may consider oak.