Rubber has been widely accepted as the go-to material for commercial gym and home weight room flooring for many years. There are a wide range of options to choose from for rubber flooring. With so many options, it can be hard to choose.
One of the first things to consider when choosing flooring for a weight room is how much traffic/abuse it will need to take. If your weight training facility will be used for competitive athletic teams, such as a college or pro football team, then it will need to be more durable than flooring for home gyms of senior centers.
 |
| Surface for installing rolled rubber |
Rubber has built a reputation for protecting the subfloor, reducing vibration and cutting noise from machines and free weights. Rubber flooring is so popular because it is very durable, simple to clean, and is commonly made from recycled tires. Rubber mats can also be recycled at the end of their life.
 |
| installing rubber flooring over concrete |
Rolled Rubber
When choosing rubber flooring, the thickness of the mat has a big impact on the long-term durability of the flooring. A 1/4 to 3/8 inch rubber floor will suffice for light to moderate use while heavily-used areas will require a thicker rubber surface match that lifespan. In spaces where free weights are going to be dropped, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inch rubber flooring is highly recommended to handle the impact of the weights without damaging the floor beneath. Although many thicker rubber floors can greatly outlast a 15-year warranty, kettlebells, hex head dumbbells and heavily-loaded barbells are especially punishing to any flooring surface when dropped and will take its toll on even the best rubber floors eventually.
 |
| home gym flooring over concrete |
Rolled rubber flooring is the cheapest option for large weight rooms. It also leaves the fewest seams after installation. However, due to the nature of its size and weight (often coming in 25-50 foot long rolls), installation can be cumbersome without help, and thickness is limited - generally to 1/2 inch.
Rubber Floor Mats
Rubber floor mats, often sold in 4x6 foot sizes, offer another economical option with the capability of a slightly thicker surface. Greatmats offers rubber floor mats ranging in thickness from 3/8 to 3/4 inches thick. While heavy and generally stable, these straight edge mats can separate from each other over time, especially when covering a large surface area. Rubber floor mats are commonly used as supplementary floor protection in areas where weights are dropped.
 |
| rubber flooring installation |
Interlocking Puzzle Mats
Interlocking, puzzle-style tiles offer convenient installation and a tight, durable fit without shifting. The are typically chosen for smaller installations due to their much higher cost per square foot. The smaller 2 to 4 foot tiles (1/4 to 3/4 inch thick) are easier to manage, especially if installed by a single person.
For use in cardio areas, where shock absorption is less of a concern than weight rooms, thinner rubber flooring will be fine. Some gym-goers prefer the feel and warmth of carpeting in cardio areas, but cleaning can become an issue as stains and bacteria are hard to remove from most carpeted surfaces.
 |
| rubber floor installation |
Foam and plastic flooring options also exist for weight room flooring. Like carpeting, however, great care should be taken when or if you decide to use these materials. Foam is not suitable for use with exercise equipment as it will intent under heavy objects. Plastic flooring such as StayLock tiles are rugged enough to handle heavy weight equipment and offers cushioning similar to foam, but typically carries shorter-term warranties than rubber weight room flooring.
Greatmats understands that every weight room has unique needs, and that's why we offer a wide range of weight room flooring options.
No comments:
Post a Comment