Hanging Hammock over Concrete

[mountainm]

Big bean bags.

[joker421]

When the Auburn Tigers play, I could display royal blue and orange. War Eagle!

WAR EAGLE!! Last Saturday was a heartbreaker - glad I didn't spend a small fortune to stand in the rain and watch that sloppy game (I almost did)!

[ktitan]

I practice martial arts and have spent a lot of time with these kinds of mats, and they would cushion ok. A couple of concerns. CKMaui make a good point about wetness underneath. If non-flood rain runs under the house then the tiles will always be wet underneath and you will start to have smells. If you plan on making a tight fit (especially with some kind of border, or cut outs for beams) it can be difficult to get the tiles all flat and back down. You may want to label the tiles as you lift them up so you can get them back down more easily. If they are un-bordered this is not a problem. As someone who has fallen on them a lot they are not that soft.

As an alternative you could also look at rubber rolls. We've used those in some schools and they usually provide a better cushion. They have also been cheaper per square foot. The ones I've seen come in 4 foot wide sections and you could get whatever length you want (I would probably do 24 feet). They are easier to get up when you have a storm coming and take some time but aren't too bad putting back down (Use a chalk line). They still would have the same moisture issue as the tiles (actually it could be worse because you can't remove small sections) and they are very heavy.

I've not used, but have seen wooden tiles, designed for outdoor use that snap together and sit on a plastic base. Probably would be a lot more money.

[rob317]

Make it a giant sand box and do a tiki bar theme? . I know that isn't stoable tho but replenishing washed out sand wouldn't cost a fortune

[oldgringo]

Pole vault pit material? I'm only half kidding...if I gotta fall, that would be my choice.

I use 2"ccf under my hammock at home. That's a reasonable compromise.

[gargoyle]

With a head like yours, I wouldn't worry.

Exactly....

[dukhntn]

Cheap carpet remnants that can be discarded after a flood.

[Otter1]

The mulch/sand idea would work, but the neighborhood cats will find it! Peeeeeeeeeee U.

[FLRider]

Rolled rubber mats will work fine. Ones that have holes in them can be found through restaurant suppliers; this allows them to be hung up from hooks and dried after particularly bad flooding. Also makes 'em pretty easy to clean (hit 'em with a deck brush and soapy water, hang and rinse with the hose).

That being said, they may not be your cheapest option.

[nothermark]

I see two different requirements and a comment.

First, for wood you would put flat sleepers down first then floor over them. That adds less than 2 inches in height. Depending on the wood you choose that would range from very stiff to springy. If the top layer breaks your maximum fall is about an inch. ;-)

It seems to me that you want a thin fairly stiff floor like wood, indoor/outdoor carpet, the CCF shaped squares, or any of the anti fatigue mat ideas over all the concrete for comfort. Then you want specific fall protection under the hammock where folks will not be walking that can be higher and softer. Beanbag chairs and stacks of CCF foam are examples of that. They can also provide alternative seating. You do not need to cover the whole floor for that. In fact other than maybe wood I would not cover the whole whole slab. If I was setting it up as outside entertainment space I would want concrete under the grill, wet bar, and any enclosed storage space.

FWIW I am not an expert on building codes but from what I say on the OBX stilt houses one can do enclosed storage in part of the raised area. You will probably want that for part of the space just to avoid lugging stuff upstairs all the time.