Time for new gym flooring? Decided on rubber, but unsure of the type of rubber flooring? Rubber is a popular flooring choice for both use in homes and commercial gyms. It will last for decades of use. It is an environmentally friendly product, often incorporating recycled rubber. Plus many rubber products are made in the United States, making this a great green building choice. Also, as many rubber products are made in the United States, rubber is a great choice for use as a green building choice. It is tough as nails, durable, and long lasting. In the right thicknesses and densities, it can stand up to heavy machines, dropped weights and the toughest fitness workout
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| Rubber Gym Flooring Options |
Durability
If the main purpose of the flooring is to support weight lifting or exercise machines, rubber is one of the best options due to its high density. Unlike other products such as foam, rubber is tough enough to protect the floor underneath from heavy equipment like treadmills and weight racks, and from dropping weights. Rubber is wear resistant and won't be compressed by heavy exercise equipment, or damaged by moving equipment. It is also suitable for high impact workouts. Rubber is extremely durable, affordable, and easy to install flooring material.
Pros and Cons of Heavy Rubber
The drawback with rubber installation is the weight. Rubber tile are lighter and thus easier to install, but rolled rubber results in the floor having fewer seams once installed.
Because rubber is heavy, it tends to stay in place, so adhesive is generally unnecessary except for some double sided carpet tape around the the perimeter of your space. The tape holds the rubber in place to prevent rubber. Please note that the rolls of rubber are heavy, and will require at least two people to safely move them.
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| cost of rubber gym flooring |
Rubber will expand and contract due to temperature. A more permanent option is using adhesive, but this is more complex and best done by an experienced installer.
Effects on Sound
Rubber is sound dampening, another benefit that makes it a popular choice for gyms. It helps reduce all gym sounds whether from a treadmill or dropped weights. Rubber is a common underlayment material for just that reason.
Cleaning
Water resistant, rubber is also easy to clean, with regular vacuuming and a damp mop - especially with smooth surfaced rubber products. If properly cared for over its lifetime, rubber can be used for decades.
Rolls
If affordability is the main consideration, rolled rubber is the least expensive flooring option. Rolls come primarily in 4 foot widths, with lengths from 10 to 200 feet. 8 mm thick rolls are available, along with 1/4-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch thicknesses. Some rolled rubber is multilayered, including a base or underlayment layer. For others, you may want to purchase an additional underlayment. Rolled rubber flooring installations have fewer seams once installed, giving the space a learn and elegant look. Rolled rubber can be laid over concrete, ceramic tiles, or any other smooth, hard surface. Rubber flooring, including rolled rubber, can be made from virgin, synthetic or recycled rubber materials, or combinations thereof.
Greamats.com, an online specialty flooring retailer, offers a wide range of rolled rubber flooring from several different factories across the continental United States. This gives you the option of choosing the factory closest to you, reducing shipping costs, and saving you money.
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| gym flooring cost |
Rolled rubber comes in Solid Black or a multitude of flecked options in over a dozen colors. Some product lines offers the choice of color mixed in, ranging from 10-90% color mix. Confetti, which is a black base with a mix of multi colored flecks is another popular choice because it is priced less than other color options which have a color guarantee. Regrind rubber, which includes small flecks of whitewall tires, is an economical option if cost is more important than appearance for a flooring installation.
Interlocking Tiles
For a lighter weight option, that is easier for one or two people to handle, try a rubber interlocking tile.
When considering rubber tiles, one option that is ideal for Midwest customer is the American-made Geneva Interlocking Rubber Tile. The 2x2 foot size is popular for home gyms and easy for homeowners to install. These tiles are available in several thicknesses, with 8mm being the most popular choice for home gyms, and thicker ones for commercial applications.
Geneva Rubber Tiles are manufactured with a combination of recycled scrap rubber and new virgin rubber, thereby keeping millions of pounds of waste rubber out of landfills each year. These tiles have low odor, a 5 year manufacturer's warranty and qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points in five different categories.
The best option for East Coast customer is a Rubber Puzzle Tile from Eureka.These 23x23-inch tiles are available in several different color flecks, have a non slip surface, and are commercial grade quality.
If colored tiles are a better fit for the space, West Coast customers can explore the options that Color Plus Rubber tiles offer. These tiles come in nine different colors to give any space a vibrant look and feel.
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| rubber exercise flooring |
Budget Rubber
Bodybuilders who are also looking for an economical option flooring option often turn to horse stall mats as an extremely durable and low cost gym rubber floor option. They are designed to protect the joints of horse weighing a thousand pounds or more, so they can handle a few dropped weights. In the pro column, these are affordable, and readily available locally, which eliminates shipping costs. As rubber is a heavy floor material, shipping can be a significant cost when purchasing what would otherwise be a relatively cheap flooring option.
One of the downsides of using horse stall mats in a gym is that the mats weren’t designed for use in an indoor gym. Horses who aren't too picky about odor. Stall mats can have a strong odor, somewhat akin to rotten eggs or asphalt. Customers have reported success in washing the mats or airing them out in the sun. Others can't get rid of the smell and end up returning them. Stall mats are also heavy (100 pounds each) and can be cumbersome to move, especially down narrow basement stairs. Mats also vary widely in height - it can be hard to find two mats that are an exact even height, even after digging through a whole stack of mats at the farm supply store. The unevenness of the mats can lead to large seams between mats, a look that some find unattractive. For extra help dispersing the impact weight and protect your floor from things such as deadlift drop backs, some bodybuilders or powerlifters also use plywood underlayments in addition to stall mats.
Rubber is durable because of its density, and because of that it doesn’t add much cushion to aerobic activities. Standard rubber isn’t an ideal material for zumba, cardio activities, tumbling, grappling, or floor exercises.The one exception is plyometric rolled rubber which can be a good, affordable option, offering enough cushion for a safe cardio workout, whether it is HIIT, P90X, Tae Bo or Zumba. This flooring material is great at absorbing shock and is available in 4 foot wide rolls, starting at lengths of 25 ft. 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch and 8mm are standard thicknesses. While less dense than standard rubber, plyometric rubber still comes with a 5 year guarantee.
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| rubber gym flooring rolls |
For any further explanation about topics discussed in this article, or any flooring needs, feel free to contact Greatmats' knowledge customer service representatives. They are available to help in choosing the best flooring for an individual project, space, or budget.
How to Clean Rubber Floor Mats
- Vacuum with a beater brush for routine cleanings.
- For more stubborn grime, a nylon mop with warm water and a mild neutral pH cleaner works best.
- To reduce the rubber odor, try Pinesol or Simple Green.
- Be sure to mop up all residue.
- Do not use petroleum-based cleaners or those containing a wax agent.
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