Bleachers are used in all types of sporting areas and parks, as well as in concert venues. Shopping for bleachers can be a difficult task because of the many available styles and types. Bleachers are made with a variety of plastic, metal and wooden materials and use all sorts of products to secure them in place. Understanding these products and materials helps you to choose a set of bleachers that will last your company for years to come.

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Earth anchor

An earth anchor is a small stabilizing screw or system that is embedded into the ground to hold the bleachers in place. These earth anchors are lightweight and come in a variety of styles to hold different types of bleachers.

I recommend: View pictures and more information about earth anchors at The Hunting Life.

Thermal, or thermo, plastic coating

Thermal, or thermo, plastic coating is a layer of plastic that is applied to an object with heat. Some bleachers, benches and risers are available with thermal plastic coatings.

I recommend: Newswire Today provides information about thermal plastic coatings. Visit Plascoat Systems for more information about thermo plastic coating.

Extruded aluminum alloy

Extruded aluminum alloy, or mill-finished aluminum alloy, is aluminum that has been melted and had other minerals or products added to it to strengthen it. The metal is then pushed through a mold to shape the aluminum. Extruded aluminum alloy is commonly used in producing bleacher braces and foundations.

I recommend: Bonnell Aluminum supplies information about the extrusion process that is used on aluminum. View more information about aluminum alloys at The A to Z of Materials.

Anodized aluminum

Anodized aluminum is aluminum that is sent through a chemical acid bath and is electrically charged. This causes the aluminum to create a protective surface. This type of aluminum does not rub off on your clothing and is as hard as diamonds.

I recommend: WiseGEEK provides information about the type of anodized aluminum that is used in making bleacher seating.

Galvanized steel

Galvanized steel is often used for braces under bleachers. This steel is coated with a layer of zinc to make it rust and corrosion resistant.

I recommend: Buildeazy.com gives more information about galvanized metals.

Tip-n-roll

Tip-n-roll is a type of bleacher system that has casters and skid protectors to allow the bleachers to be lifted and pushed to another area. Some tip-n-roll bleachers are foldable, allowing for easy storage.

I recommend: Basketball-Goals has information on and photos of tip-n-roll bleachers. American Park and Recreation also has information regarding tip-n-roll bleachers.

Bleachers are tiered stands that are used for seating at spectator events. Manufactured bleachers are usually made from aluminum. Bleachers can be installed to be a permanent fixture or can be purchased as portable units that can be moved from event to event.

Bleachers are sold in standard sizes ranging from 7 1/2 to 30 feet long, with three to 10 rows of seating. Most bleachers are made to be assembled by the consumer. When standard bleachers are not an option, have bleacher seating custom designed and installed by a bleachers manufacturer. As you review the needs on your bleachers list, consider the following:

1. Buy standard bleachers

2. Find a portable bleachers supplier

3. Order custom bleachers when specific dimensions are required

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Purchase standard bleachers from an online bleachers supplier

Standard bleachers are a great option for indoor and outdoor areas that do not have specific dimensions for seating. Standard bleachers are manufactured with three to five rows of seating. Depending on the price range budgeted for bleachers, upgrades are available for handrails and shade covers.

I recommend: National Recreation Systems is a bleachers supplier that has a variety of standard bleachers for sale. Find items as simple as an aluminum bench to deluxe bleachers with center hand rails on their website. Find bleachers online shopping at APark. They carry a line of standard bleachers as well as bleacher covers. Get a discount when purchasing in bulk from their website.

Buy portable bleachers

Portable bleachers are either small enough to be easily moved by a few people, or they have wheels for portability by a tractor or other vehicle. Portable bleachers come in varying lengths and have between three and five benches.

I recommend: Aluminum bleachers is a bleachers vendor that carries a standard line of bleacher seating as well as portable aluminum bleachers. Their portable bleachers come in sizes small enough to be moved by human power to large sets that require a small tractor or truck for maneuvering. School Outfitters is another bleachers website that sells portable bleachers. Many of the bleachers for sale on this site have free shipping.

Custom order bleachers from a bleachers manufacturer

When you have specific requirements for seating you will want to work with bleachers manufacturer that can custom design bleachers for you. Whether you are putting bleachers in a ball park or are filling an indoor stadium, a manufacturer will work with you to design and manufacturer bleachers to your exact specifications.

I recommend: Get Seating is a bleachers manufacturer that specializes in custom bleacher seating to fit your specific requirements. They offer complete architectural consulting and design services. All Star Bleachers also specializes in custom designing bleachers. They offer no-obligation consulting for design, budget and custom specifications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking though a bleachers directory look for the providers that offer free shipping and discounts for bleachers purchased in large quantities.

Bleachers are a good way to provide seating without having to worry about individual seats. Bleachers are a simple seating solution that offer a lot of versatility between all of the bleachers types and styles that are available. You can add a little or a lot of seating with ease using bleachers as opposed to setting up individual chairs one at a time.

Evaluate how much seating you are looking to offer at your place of business in order to decide which type of bleachers is right for you. Consider the following bleacher options:

1. Tip-n-roll bleachers types and styles offer a little extra seating, but offer a lot of flexibility.

2. Grandstand bleachers are the king of bleachers and can provide tens of thousands of extra seats.

3. Angle frame bleachers are a middle of the road option and can be combined for the precise number of extra seats.

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Use tip-n-roll bleachers for maximum portability

Tip-n-roll bleachers types and styles allow you to move a set of bleachers by just tipping them on their side and rolling them on the attached wheels. Tip-n-roll bleachers are great for setting up extra seating in an auditorium or on a show-room floor as a temporary addition. This type of bleacher often includes only a few rows, but with a few sections of tip-n-roll bleachers you can multiply your seating with ease.

I recommend: American Park and Recreation Company, a bleachers manufacturer, explains the benefits of tip-n-roll bleachers. Basketball-Goals provides diagrams of various tip-n-roll bleachers for sale.

Put up grandstand bleachers for a permanent sports stadium or event venue

Grandstands from a bleachers supplier are ideal if you are erecting a permanent structure. Grandstand bleachers are a structure that, once built, are there to stay. Grandstands are also the largest type of bleachers and hold the most people.

I recommend: All Star Bleachers has a bleachers directory of the many types of grandstand bleachers products. The bleachers vendor, Stadium Solutions, explains the many configurations that grandstand bleachers offer.

Use angle frame bleachers for smaller-scale seating options

Angle frame bleachers are still portable, but only because they are smaller than grandstand bleachers. This bleacher style often includes many more rows than tip-n-rolls and doesn't have the attached wheels. Angle frame bleachers typically come in sets of three to 15 rows and are many times protected by fencing on the sides. This type of bleacher would be ideal for a place where more seating is needed than tip-n-roll bleachers can accommodate, but not as much as a grandstand would supply.

I recommend: Aluminum Bleachers has a bleachers list that shows how putting a few angle frame bleachers sets together can make ample seating. One bleachers supplier, Southern Bleacher, details the flexibility of angle frame bleachers.

Bleacher seats are widely used by sports stadiums, schools and even corporate event venues for occasions when the venue space needs to flexibly accommodate large audiences. Because bleachers are complicated pieces of equipment, however, some basic bleachers education and training can help your business adequately address your seating needs while also ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

Stadium bleacher seats also come in a range of different architectural designs. Learning more about the various types of bleacher seating and when bleachers need to be restored or retrofitted can help you make a decision about the design and materials that are right for your purpose. You can also access architectural plans and specifications to become better educated in how bleacher design actually functions within your building structure.

Begin your bleachers education and training using any of the following options:

1. Learn more about safety concerns and precautions for bleacher seats;

2. Make an informed decision about bleacher installation and restoration;

3. Access and research architectural information for different bleacher types.

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Stay current on the latest knowledge about bleacher safety precautions

Use of bleacher seat systems presents business and venues with a number of challenges in terms of safety and liability, and every year people are injured by falling from bleachers. Understanding both the safety concerns associated with bleachers and the precautions that can be used to prevent incidents is the first step in becoming well trained and educated to utilize bleacher seating for any purpose.

I recommend: School Planning and Management provides an article reviewing the basic safety concerns that accompany bleacher seating. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also publishes reports regularly addressing bleacher safety and maintenance issues.

Learn about the many types of bleacher seats and how to use them

With many varieties of bleacher seating available for venues to use, understanding the features and differences is imperative before making an educated decision. A buyer's guide to bleacher types provides a helpful resource for determining which type is right for your needs, while you can also learn more about maintenance needs of various types of bleacher facilities and how to keep your bleachers structurally sound.

I recommend: Access a buyer's guide for bleacher types from Basketball-Goals.com. You can also learn more about when bleachers need to be restored and retrofitted from Bleacherman.

Find architectural information for technical expertise in stadium bleacher seats

If you are installing a new bleacher seat system, one of the best ways to obtain a highly detailed technical knowledge of the bleachers is to obtain the architectural specifications. Many bleacher manufacturers publish their specifications online for download, so that you can use them in considering the overall architectural planning for your facility.

I recommend: Make an educated decision about the architecture of new bleacher systems with blueprints and specification sheets. Get Seating and Preferred Seating are two sites that publish architectural plans for their bleachers.