Take some time to scout out the proposed site with a long tape measure to make sure the tent fits where you want it.  An area of relatively level lawn is best when choosing a site for the floor.  We will deliver the floor and attempt to get as close to the setup site as possible, without marking the lawn, etc.

The full size floor (32 x 24 feet) consists of twelve steel frames (8 x 8 feet each) which are connected and then shimmed until they are perfectly level, or at least on a uniform slope.  A surveyor’s transit or laser transmitter is used to direct the shimming.  Each frame is supported with shims in several places to eliminate flexing when people are dancing.

There are two pieces of floor surface (4 feet by 8 feet), for each frame, constructed out of four-inch (wide) by one-inch (thick) ash lumber.  The top surface has been planed, sanded and varnished, like any household hardwood floor (though due to its impermanent nature, it won’t be that perfect).  As soon as these surface sections are set into place and fastened down, you are ready for dancing!  The whole process of assembly takes two efficient people two to four hours to complete.  Disassembly of the floor takes roughly half that time.

As can be seen in these photographs, dinner tables can be arranged on top of the floor, and then moved off later for dancing.  There will be a step up onto the floor of a few inches (more where it spans a depression).

If a tent is to go up over the floor, we generally put the floor down first so that the tent’s posts can be placed on top of the floor where necessary.  Try our scale diagrams to help you visualize how the floor might fit inside a tent.  Cut the pieces out and move them around until you find an arrangement that suits.

The 8-foot frames can be fastened together in any configuration, and are priced as follows:

Full size (12 frames) (32’ x 24’) $600.00

Three-Quarter size (9 frames) (24’ x 24’) $500.00

Half size (6 frames) (24’ x 16’) $425.00

One-Third size (4 frames) (16’ x 16’) $350.00

A good portion of our costs are capitalized in the floor, trailer and truck with some fixed transportation and depreciation rates, along with fixed costs for storage and materials/labour for maintenance work.  This is why the price is not necessarily reduced in direct proportion to the size reduction.  Our trailer is custom-made to carry (and store) the whole floor, so hauling only a portion of the floor does not significantly improve our transportation efficiency.  However, our hours of labour for assembly and disassembly are somewhat more closely related to the size requested, and thereby represent the greater fraction of the price differences.

Please note:  Distant events require more travel time and more fuel.  For setups more than 25 km from Bainsville, a $1.75 per km charge will accrue for each kilometre over the built-in 25 km rate.  Example: if your site is 45 km from Bainsville, your fuel surcharge would be $30.  Even though we’ve driven the additional 20 km four times by the time we’re finished, the extra distance is not multiplied four times.  The distance will be calculated by the odometer on the truck on our first visit.

I’d be happy to answer any questions relating to the floor.  Thanks again for your interest, and good luck with the rest of your plans!

Sincerely,

Shawn McRae

To contact us:

Craig McDonell

P.O. Box 128  Williamstown, Ontario  K0C 2J0 

Phone: 613-347-2267

E-mail: craig@mcmactents.com