What are Gym Floors Made Of?

Oct. 28, 2024

What are Gym Floors Made Of?

With competitive price and timely delivery, Guardwe sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Gym floors endure significant wear, from heavy foot traffic and weights to occasional spills and dropped equipment. Consequently, they need to be constructed from materials that are highly durable. Among the commonly used materials for gym flooring is rubber.

Rubber flooring is particularly popular due to its durability and ability to absorb shocks, making it perfect for areas where heavy lifting and jumping are frequent. Let's explore the various materials typically used in gym flooring.

What Gym Floors Are Made Of?

Most gym floors feature a subfloor constructed from either concrete or screw-fixed plywood. This foundational layer is then coated with a synthetic material such as urethane, rubber, or vinyl. These coverings serve to protect the subfloor while also providing a smooth, even surface suited for various activities.

Certain gym floors are composed entirely of synthetic materials, including urethane and rubber.

Gym floors need to endure extensive use and wear, requiring them to be durable, simple to maintain, and slip-resistant. The choice of flooring should be guided by the activities planned and the project's budget.

Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring is a favoured option for gym floors due to its ability to handle substantial wear and tear. Its slip-resistant nature and cushioning properties help reduce injury risk from falls. Additionally, various thicknesses are available to accommodate different levels of foot traffic. Here are some advantages of using rubber flooring:

Durability: Rubber is highly resilient, making it ideal for high-traffic gym environments.
Slip Resistance: Essential for sports flooring, rubber reduces the risk of injury by preventing slips.
Ease of Installation: Rubber tiles are straightforward to install.
Sound Absorption: Rubber flooring effectively minimizes noise levels in bustling gyms.
Comfort: Designed for prolonged standing, rubber floors offer enhanced comfort.
Safety: With its cushioning properties, rubber flooring lowers the likelihood of injuries from falls.

For a gym flooring solution that combines durability, safety, and comfort, rubber flooring is an excellent option.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are popular in some gyms and sports centres for their durability and low maintenance. They can be refinished to look new if they begin to show signs of wear. For lasting quality, Maple hardwood is a popular choice due to its strength and durability.

Here are additional advantages of hardwood floors:

Simple to clean.
Built to endure heavy foot traffic.
They can be restored if they begin to show signs of wear.
They feature a timeless look that many adore.

If you're thinking about installing maple hardwood floors in your gym, consult a professional about installation and maintenance. Hardwood sports flooring requires specialized knowledge, and a sprung floor system should be installed by an expert.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring, made from PVC, is point elastic, meaning the impact remains localized rather than spreading across the floor. This makes it a favoured option for sports facilities, dance studios, and multi-purpose halls due to its low maintenance, versatility, and ease of cleaning. Available in both tiles and sheets, vinyl offers a wide range of colours and designs, including options that mimic the look of wood or stone.

While vinyl flooring is preferred in sports halls, it is not ideal for gyms. The surface can be easily damaged by powerlifting and heavy equipment, and it offers minimal protection against impact for users.

Vinyl floors are:

Easy to maintain
Simple to clean
Available in a wide range of designs
Perfect for sports and dance studios

Foam flooring

Foam floors come as tiles or mats and are crafted from EVA foam, a soft and flexible material. They are widely used in specialist gyms and studios due to their comfort and excellent cushioning for impact activities. Additionally, these floors are easy to install and can be laid over any existing flooring.

Foam floors are:

Comfortable to stand on
Offer cushioning for sports such as MMA, Boxing, and Gymnastics
Simple to install
Compatible with any flooring type
Available in a range of sizes and colours

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Gym Flooring

When selecting the ideal flooring for your gym, it's important to consider several factors. The flooring type should align with the activities planned and fit within your budget. Here are some key points to keep in mind to ensure you choose the most suitable flooring for your gym requirements.

Material and Type

When choosing gym flooring, it's crucial to consider the material and type that suit your needs. With a wide range of options available, each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Determine what features are most important for your gym'whether it's easy maintenance, high durability, slip resistance, or cushioning to protect your joints.

Activity and Use

When deciding on gym flooring, it's important to consider the activities you'll engage in. For weightlifting, choose flooring that can withstand heavy loads and protect your equipment. If the space will be used for cardio workouts, opt for flooring that can support machines like treadmills, rowers, and bikes.

Thickness and Dimensions

When selecting gym or sports flooring like vinyl and wood, thickness plays a vital role. Ensure the flooring is thick enough to safeguard your subfloor and equipment while still allowing optimal performance. Additionally, it's crucial to measure your available space beforehand to identify the right size for tiles or rolls you need to purchase.

Cost and Installation

When choosing gym flooring, it's essential to consider both cost and installation. Since some flooring options can be pricey, establishing a budget before shopping is crucial. Don't forget to include installation expenses in your planning; some flooring types are simple enough to install on your own, while others might necessitate professional assistance.

By keeping these aspects in mind, you'll be well-equipped to select the ideal flooring for your space.

Gym floors play a vital role in an athlete's training routine. Choosing the right flooring is essential as it greatly influences safety, comfort, and performance. It's important to explore various options to find the one that best meets your specific needs.

In fitness gyms, rubber is typically the flooring of choice, whereas sports gymnasiums often select wood or vinyl. By deciding on the material first, you can then make a well-informed decision about the style and format of the flooring.

Tips for Maintaining Gym Flooring

Once you've selected and installed your gym flooring, it's important to maintain it properly to keep it in top condition. Here are some tips for maintaining different types of gym flooring:

Rubber floors: Regularly sweep or vacuum the surface to remove debris and dirt. Clean spills promptly with a mild detergent, and avoid using harsh chemicals.
Hardwood floors: Use a dry mop or vacuum regularly to remove dust and debris. Wipe any spills immediately with a damp cloth, avoiding excess moisture on the floor.
Vinyl floors: Sweep or vacuum periodically and clean with gentle detergents. Avoid abrasive cleaners that can damage vinyl surfaces.

For foam flooring, follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and maintenance.

Conclusion

Choosing the right material for gym floors, such as rubber, wood, vinyl, or foam, is pivotal for ensuring durability, safety, and suitability for specific activities. Each material offers distinct benefits, with rubber being ideal for high-impact areas, wood providing timeless aesthetics for sports, and vinyl being versatile for multi-purpose use.

When selecting gym flooring, consider essential factors like material type, the intended activities, thickness, dimensions, cost, and installation requirements. The correct flooring significantly boosts safety, comfort, and performance, making informed decisions crucial to meeting the gym's specific needs and staying within budget. Ultimately, the right choice enhances the overall training experience.

FAQs

What should be considered when choosing gym floor material for a home gym?

When selecting gym floor material for a home gym, consider durability and compatibility with your workout routines as well as the thickness to suit your workout type. Rubber gym flooring is a popular choice for its resilience and support, especially for gym floor mats and home gym floor mats. High quality rubber flooring provides excellent protection for gym equipment and can support free weights, making it ideal for functional fitness zones.

How do rubber rolls and floor tiles contribute to effective gym flooring options?

Rubber rolls and floor tiles are versatile gym flooring options that cater to different needs. Rubber rolls offer a seamless, fluid layout for wide, open-plan areas for example spin studios, while floor tiles allow for customisable layouts and come in thicker options to support weights. Both options are excellent for creating functional fitness zones and protecting the gym floor from damage caused by heavy gym equipment.

Why are gym mats and high quality rubber flooring essential for functional fitness zones?

Gym mats and high quality rubber flooring are essential for functional fitness zones because they provide cushioning and reduce impact, which is crucial for high-intensity workouts. These materials help prevent injuries by offering a stable and non-slip surface, making them suitable for activities involving free weights and dynamic exercises.

How can home gym flooring be optimized with the use of rubber rolls and gym floor mats?

Optimizing home gym flooring involves using rubber rolls and gym floor mats to create a safe and effective workout environment. Rubber rolls provide a continuous, durable surface, while gym floor mats offer targeted cushioning for specific areas. This combination supports gym equipment and enhances the overall functionality of the gym floor, accommodating a variety of exercises and workout styles.

The Pros and Cons of Rubber Flooring

If you're considering whether to install rubber sheet or tile flooring, this article is for you. Like any flooring option, rubber has pros and cons. It performs well in high traffic areas, has good acoustics, and low maintenance costs. On the other hand, it has a higher price tag up front and requires dry fitting during installation. This article will give you an in depth look at these points along with where and how rubber flooring is used.

Where is Rubber Flooring Most Commonly Used?

Because of its durability and safety features (among others) there are three sectors where you often see rubber flooring'education, fitness, and healthcare. It's been a popular product in the education sector for many years. You'll see it in preschools, primary schools, and universities. Health clubs and gyms often choose rubber flooring. And you'll find it in hospitals from the individual rooms to the cafeterias and common areas. Rubber flooring facilitates the needs of these large and highly trafficked spaces well.

Related: The Designers Ultimate Guide to Specifying School Flooring

Color Anchor Rubber Collection, ColorScape

When to Use Rubber Sheet Vs. Rubber Tile

Making the decision to go with rubber sheet versus tile has to do with aesthetics and application. Generally speaking, we see more sheet in healthcare, and more tile in education. If it's a large open space, we typically recommend rubber sheet because there are less seams. Having less transitions is a good thing, because it means less opportunity for hazardous material buildup. That being said, sometimes we see large open areas that use tile. With modular versions of the product, you have more design flexibility with things like color and quarter turning, so even in large open spaces tile is sometimes chosen to create a certain look.

Related: Top Ten Decisions to Make When Selecting Healthcare Flooring

Related: The Best Flooring For Schools and Education Spaces

Benefits of Rubber Flooring

Rubber has plenty of benefits, here is the breakdown:

Durability: Whether it's sheet or tile, rubber flooring holds up particularly well in high traffic areas over long periods of time, so it makes for a good investment. It's also resistant to indention, not just from foot traffic, but from things like hospital beds or heavy rolling wheels.

Comfort: Another benefit of rubber is comfort under foot. We get a lot of feedback on this feature. It feels nice to walk on rubber flooring, and it's naturally slip resistant. This makes it a safer option when there are a lot of people walking around.

Acoustics: Because rubber is a bit softer than some of the other hard surface products, it ends up being quieter. The sound absorption of rubber is particularly useful in large open areas where there may be an empty echoic sound.

Self-Migrating Wax: A particularly unique feature of rubber flooring is self-migrating wax. Rubber has built-in waxes that help dirt and grime release from the floor surface making it easier to keep clean. It's similar to how your skin produces oil. As the product ages, the waxes continue to migrate to the surface, so you don't need to take that extra step of waxing the floors. This results in lower maintenance costs over the life of the product.

Sustainability: Rubber is a sustainable product. It's harvested from rubber sap that comes out of rubber trees. Tapping trees for sap does not necessarily harm them. As a result, manufacturing rubber ends up being easier on the environment than other flooring materials like PVC (polyvinyl chloride). There are folks out there that want and appreciate non-PVC products, and the biggest and most popular option is rubber.

wall base,
Design Options: Rubber flooring at Mannington Commercial has so many options! Customers can choose their stair tread transitions , landing tiles, and whether they want tile or sheet . There are tons of colors and formats that can be coordinated. These come in handy when you need to transition from one type of flooring to another or from one space to another. Imagine you have a color spec on the floor, and when you go into the stairwell, you have stair tread and landing tile that coordinates with the color you just left. Facilitating all of the design options can really help tie a space together. Some people might find the number of options overwhelming, but Mannington has tools to help

Related: Design Solutions: Get Help Designing Your Floor

Teles Collection, Beach Stone, Costal Fog, Dew Drop

Drawbacks of Rubber

There are three disadvantages that have been associated with rubber flooring. The main downside is cost. Rubber typically costs more upfront. But over the life of the product, the cost is actually less because of how long it lasts along with the lower maintenance costs.

And while there are more design options than ever before, rubber has a reputation of being visually limited. Mannington has products like Teles that have overcome the visual limitations of speckled rubber tile with new textures and patterns.

And the last drawback involves installation. Installing rubber floor requires dry fitting the product before installation.

Installation Issues

In terms of installation difficulty, you could say rubber flooring is a little less forgiving than something like LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile), but it's a very subtle difference. We recommend dry-laying rubber tile or sheet before its installed. Because rubber is made from natural materials, there's a little more variation than there is with PVC based printed products. There are cases where LVT would be more difficult to install than rubber and vice versa. You need experienced installers putting down any commercial hard surface product, because it requires knowledge of the adhesive and subfloor.

Related: The Best and Worst Places for Rubber Flooring and Costly Installation Mistakes to Avoid

Some people assume that rubber doesn't work in places where there is existing slab moisture, but that is not the case. The adhesive system has more to do with moisture tolerance than the flooring product itself. Whatever the product, whether it's LVT or rubber, the sub floor must be properly prepped and the correct adhesive for the product must be used for adequate moisture tolerance.

All in all, rubber is a great flooring option, especially if you are dealing with large open spaces or high traffic areas. In the end, it's worth the extra upfront cost. It's a very durable product that has unique color and design elements, and it's made from natural materials. If you have questions, or if you would like customized information about flooring for your project, contact a Mannington Commercial Representative.

A Guide to Rubber Stairways and Wall Base

In this guide you'll learn about the 3 main types of rubber and where to use them. You'll also learn how to design stairways to be in compliance with IBC regulations. Then we'll look at how to specify rubber wall base to finish out your space with style and performance.

The company is the world’s best PP Interlocking Tiles supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Comments

All Comments (0)

Previous: The Benefits of Using the Best Flooring for Table Tennis
Next: Badminton | DLGSC