Best Home and Commercial Gym Flooring Options

When it comes to flooring for your home or commercial gym floor, there are some things to consider. If rubber flooring is being considered, think about if it is important to have the flooring be low-smell. For home gyms, we generally recommend a low-odor option. This is because, if you have forced air and decent insulation, that smell can disperse throughout your home and be a nuisance for some time. Some rubber flooring has a strong “new tire” smell, but it’s not determined by whether or not the rubber flooring is made from recycled rubber. The binding agent (usually sulfuric or urethane based) will determine the power of the odor.

Home and Commercial Gym Flooring

If rubber or foam tiles seem to be the best option, We typically recommend a smaller sized tile option (such as our Interlocking 2x2 tiles).For a larger area, we will usually quote you a larger tile size (Geneva 3x3). This is because, in a smaller area, you will typically find yourself wasting less product when cutting for a wall-to-wall installation if your tiles are smaller. For use in a larger facility, the larger tile size is nice as it leads to fewer seams in the floor.

best commercial gym flooring

How Does Wall Padding Work?

We've all seen the Major League Baseball player crashing into the outfield fence in a last ditch effort to make a catch. Sometimes they make the catch, other time they get injured. It's no secret that sports can get rough. Sports injuries range from people falling on their own to players running into each other, as well as into walls, floor, and fences of the arena. There are multiple sport floors to make an indoor or outdoor sports facility more safe. To protect people from posts, walls, bleachers, and more, wall padding is a great option.

Wall padding is installed for the purpose of providing a safe level of impact absorption for the person that is hitting the object. Often these objects are walls (hence ''wall padding''), but these pads also protect against impact with bleachers, stage fronts, I-Beams, goal posts, columns and fences.

How does wall padding work

Wall Pad Sizing

Typical indoor wall panels are 24 inches wide by 72 inches (2x6 feet) high. More recently though, many new basketball facilities have made the move to installing 84-inch-high (7 feet) padding because athletes are often elevated in motion. In grappling and wrestling facilities, pads are regularly 60 inches (5 feet), since most movement occurs on the ground.

Outdoor stadium padding is 48 inches wide by 96 inches (4x8 feet) high. However, when ordering and working with a premium manufacturer, every dimension of the wall pads can be customized satisfy the unique needs of a facility.

Foam Padding

The standard thickness for indoor wall padding panels is 2 inches. The type of foam varies, but specialty flooring retailer Greatmats uses 2-inch thick cross-linked polyethylene foam. The wall pad features a vinyl cover that is over the face and back of the wall pad to increase the durability and lifespan of product. Sturdier pads, containing a wood backing board (typically oriented strand board) are also available.

Foam used in manufacturing wall padding is typically a polyurethane based foam, but can vary based on a specification written, or simply customer preference.

garage wall padding

Vinyl Covers

Vinyl ranges from 14 oz. to 18 oz. in weight, and typically has a light leather emboss pattern ingrained into the good side of the material. This product features phthalate-free vinyl. Greatmats offers a wide range of vibrant color options, and can even custom print team or school logos on the wall pads. Vinyl is often treated to be anti-fungal and antibacterial. Vinyl should also be expected to meet fire retardant test NFPA-701 and ASTM E84 [2].

Installation Methods

A couple common installation methods are using a nailing margin, lip top and bottom pads, or z-clips. Lip top and bottom or nailing margin is a process in which the manufacturer will intentionally leave 1 inch of foam off the top and bottom of the panel. This 1-inch area is left to allow for the back panel to be drilled into without damaging the pad itself. If the surface the pads are being installed on is capable of being screwed into, pads will often be mounted directly to that surface. If the wall is not able to be drilled into, as is often the case with cinder block walls, furring strips can first be mounted and then the wall pads can be mounted on the furring strips.

Z-clip is a process in which the panels are hung with male/female aluminum channeling. First, the female side of the slip is mounted to the wall, most commonly in 6-foot lengths. The installer will then mount the male side of the clip to the panel (typically 22-inch lengths). To hang the panels, the installer will drop the panel with the male clip into the female clip on the wall. From head on the pads will appear the same as standard wall pads, but they are able to be removed from the wall because of the z-clips.

foam wall padding

What's different about outdoor versions?

A basic stadium pad, will spend most of its life outdoors, and should always begin with a 1/2- to 3/4-inch weather durable backer board. Moisture resistant composite wood is commonly used in outdoor wall pads, and then a layer of foam is laminated to that wood back board.  For outdoor stadium panels the standard thickness of foam is 3 inches. After these steps, an 18 oz. UV-protected vinyl fabric will be secured over the face of the pad. A wide variety of outdoor pads are available, some with Z clips, and some with grommets. Please call us to speak with an expert customer service representative at Greatmats who can help find the perfect product for any space and budget.

Padding that is designed specifically to be installed on chain link fences can also be used for ball field fences as well as gates and outdoor track arenas. Composed of 3-inch thick foam, these pads are attached with a bolt and plate method. Z-Clip attachments are also available. Printing your pads with a custom logo gives a professional look to any field or sport facility, and also helps bolster team spirit!

gym wall padding installation

Pole Pads

Column or pole pads are also available in a range of colors, in a standard height of 72 inches. Three sizes are available to fit 4-, 5- or 6-inch diameter poles. If the facility has I-Beams, Greatmats offers four standard sizes of 72-inch high wall pads that are designed to wrap around the beams. The padding attaches with hook and loop fastening strips.

Budget and Temporary Wall Padding

Perhaps your budget is tight or you don't need full-time cushioning. Another option that some customers choose is to use gym mats, which are commonly used for gymnastics, wrestling, or martial arts.These have an external flange on the long side that can be screwed into a furring strip on the wall. Some home gym and fitness studio owners even use foam puzzle mats on their walls. Using puzzle mats on the walls can add color to the wall and carry a pattern from the floor onto the wall.

Regardless of what type of padding you chose, work with a reliable company like Greatmats to help you through the ordering process. Working around outlets, doors, and windows present unique considerations, so consulting with an expert at Greatmats is a perfect way to make the process as simple as possible.

wall foam padding

Are Gym Floor Protection Covers Worth the Cost?

When picturing a high school basketball game, the shining maple floors are a defining feature of any basketball game. The vibrant lines painted on the court and resounding smack of the ball as its dribbled.  But those shiny wood floors come at price - easily starting in the tens of thousands for a standard gym, with annual maintenance costs adding to the overall price tag. With a cost like this, most schools and institutions want a way protect their investment. While there are synthetic gym flooring options, athletic departments, coaches, and players often prefer genuine wood flooring. The timeless look and superior performance of wood gym flooring is what athletes and fans have come to expect. Perhaps your local school isn't developing the next LeBron James or Kevin Durant, but fans of wood floors believe that because of the foundation that lies beneath a hardwood floor, which absorb shock, athletes are less likely to sustain injuries.

gym floor covers worth cost

Wood flooring has a longer lifespan than synthetic flooring, but it comes with a higher upfront cost. Installing a wood floor is more expensive than synthetic alternatives, and depending on the amount of sanding and refinishing required, can deplete an institution's maintenance budget. Colleges and larger high schools, both places that have a wide range of needs for their athletic spaces, will often have a main gym with wood flooring and a secondary gym with a synthetic flooring for practices and other uses. In cities and small towns alike, school gyms are used around the clock for various school and community events, making durability and longevity of the flooring vital. The Maple Floors Manufacturers Association estimates a $2,088 annual daily maintenance cost for 10,000 square feet maple sports flooring (174 hours at $12 an hour). Plus another $2,800 for the annual cost of screening and re-coating maple sports flooring. And finally, $845 annual cost of refinishing maple sports flooring.

Even though the road to basketball glory may be paved in shining maple, it’s important to protect that flooring. That's where gym floor covers come in. Protective gym floor covers are available in two styles: roll out sheet vinyl and large carpet tiles. Both of these floor covering options are simple to install and easy to use. Either protective flooring surface will do a great job of safeguarding your hardwood gym floor. Vinyl covers are typically much faster to install while carpet tiles will offer more comfort for your gymnasium event.

gym floor protection

Vinyl Gym Floor Protection Rolls

Vinyl floor covers come in long rolls, which are typically stored on large racks, and are rolled out to cover the floor for activities other than sporting events like dances, registrations, banquets, plays and commencements. Gym floors receive heavy foot traffic, as well as the stains, scuffs, and impacts that come from their use as a multi purpose flooring. Greatmats.com, a specialty flooring retailer, carries several types of vinyl floor covering materials, and the racks needed to store the materiel. Their vinyl mesh fabric is fire retardant, ADA and OSHA compliant, and waterproof, rot and mildew resistant. As an added feature, the flooring material is both antimicrobial and anti-fungal.

The ultra durable three ply PVC vinyl sheeting is available in multiple thickness, which is measured by the weight of the vinyl per square yard. For PVC vinyl sheeting, thicknesses range from 18 ozs to 32 ozs per square yard. The number of uses per year equates to the recommended weight that you choose. For use six times a year or less, choose the 18 oz. If the covering needs to be used 6-12 times per year, Greatmats recommends the 22 oz. weight. Twenty-seven oz is preferred for usage of more than once a month. For more frequent events, opt for the heaviest 32 oz. weight.

Greatmats has nine colors available, plus three which have tan on the reverse side. You might even get your school's colors. On some weights, a raised pattern that enhances the non-slip factor of the flooring is available.

protective gym floor covering

Only two people are needed to easily set out a vinyl floor cover system over a standard basketball court. With two people it will take less than 30 minutes.

The material is easy handling, and the seams are strong and lay smooth and flat. Seams are typically taped down, and the product is stored rolled up on racks. The product comes in 10-foot widths, and it is recommended to add six to 12 inches for overlapping each section. The rolls will arrive custom cut for the space they will be installed in. Cleaning is simple, just sweep before storing.

Gym Floor Protection Carpet Tiles

Another option are durable and attractive carpet tiles. Greatmats stocks a 6mm thick carpet tile in a 3.28 by 6.56 foot size, which weighs less than 14 pounds a piece. These carpet tiles are used by schools, universities, and community centers to cover gym floors. This product is also used as a protective flooring for convention halls and sport/recreational facilities.

Carpet tiles lie flat on top of the wood gym flooring and there are no unsightly wrinkles or ripples to cause potential tripping hazards. Customers often report enjoying the added acoustic dampening that the carpet tiles provide to a room.

They are easy to install and remove by one person even for large areas and don't require tape or lots of special accessories. Carpet tiles provide a more finished and clean look when used as protective gym flooring when compared to other gym flooring protection options. They give a space a clean and finished look.

Tiles are available in gray and blue and can be stored on rolling carts for easy mobility and storage of the tiles - up to 75 carpet tiles per cart. Greatmats also offers the carts for these tiles.

Whether carpet tiles or vinyl rolls are the right choice, any facility will save time and money when its gym floor is properly protected. You will gain usable space, without damaging the quality flooring your athletes, coaches and fans expect.

vinyl gym floor covering

Which Sports Use Rubber Flooring and Why?

Like all equipment in an athletic facility, it's essential sports flooring promotes health and safety.

As many sports include high impact activity, the flooring for the facility must be able to protect athletes from injury. Sports floors must also be resilient. Without a tough floor, wear and tear will yield any protective features ineffective.

Rubber flooring sports

Rubber is the standard flooring material for athletic facilities all over the globe. Customers lover for its durability and superior shock absorption. It can lessen the severity of accidents and safeguard against injuries. Rubber flooring can be used for multi-function flooring as it is very versatile. That being said, different thicknesses and styles of rubber work for different sports. Read below for an overview of the most common utilizations of rubber flooring, and what kind of rubber flooring works best for each area.

Weight Training

Rubber is a go-to flooring solution for weight rooms. There are many different kinds of rubber flooring, and it’s important to use the correct kinds of each kind of weight-training area. Heavy equipment requires a rubber floor that is dense and sturdy enough to hold tons of weight without bending or breaking. Free weight areas require a thicker rubber flooring that protects the flooring underneath from the dropper weights. For olympic lifts, it is essential that the rubber floor is firm enough to allow for maximum output as well as protecting the floor below.

rubber sports flooring

Running

Track and field also often uses rubber flooring in some capacity. This is especially true for indoor tracks. Obviously, rubber used for tracks need to be durable enough to withstand heavy foot traffic. Not only that, but the material has to be dense and resilient enough that it's not punctured or torn by running spikes. The rubber flooring used at tracks should be flexible enough that it can curve with the bends of the track.

Aerobics and Plyometrics

Plyometric drills are all about fast, powerful and explosive movements, which creates a harder impact upon landing. It’s typical or aerobic exercises to include jarring movements such as jumping, lunging, and running. Because of this, rubber flooring designed for plyometrics and aerobics should be more porous to allow for greater shock-absorption and cushioning. In order to help maintain a safe workout environment, this flooring has excellent grip that makes direction changes seamless.

Ice Rinks

You might be thinking to yourself, why would an ice rink use rubber? At first glance the use case is not very obvious. Common areas around the ice require protective surfaces where people can safely walk with skates on. Rubber is the most common material for ice rinks in areas surrounding the actual ice, including the bench. The rubber flooring used around the ice rinks will undoubtedly take a lot of use and abuse from skates, so choosing a durable, sturdy rubber flooring is imperative.

rubber athletic flooring

Multi-Functional Rubber Floors

While many sports don’t use rubber as their ideal flooring, it can still be used as a general sports flooring materials and work great. Basketball, soccer, and volleyball, for example, can all be played on rubber floors. That's why rubber flooring makes a good all-around flooring solution for rooms that will be put to many different athletic uses. If the flooring is going to be used for general use, choose rubber that is has a middle-density. That way, rubber will remain absorptive while balls can bounce on it.

When Not to Use Rubber

Rubber is a grippy material and yields too much friction for some sports. Dance is an activity that requires a surface which allows for feet to turn on without grip. Rubber isn't recommended for martial arts either. Again, the surface is too grippy and too hard for spins or learning throws and falls.

Rubber is a popular material for sport subfloor or underlayments if athletes need impact absorption and a flooring material with less grip.

sports rubber flooring

Types of Rubber Flooring

Now that you have an idea of the sports that use rubber flooring, you can start looking closer at specifics. Greatmats offer rubber flooring in three main forms: rolls, tiles, and mats. Rubber mats are a great and easy way to bring the benefits of rubber flooring into any room. Mats can be a great choice if extra cushion or thickness is needed over smaller areas.

Rubber tiles and rubber rolls are also extremely easy installations. Interlocking rubber tiles are one of the more popular options for spaces that need a sturdier and denser rubber flooring option.Tiles can be installed by your own hand just by laying down and connecting pieces.

Rubber rolls are just as easy to lay out, provided you have enough help to carry the heavy rolls, and can be adhered to the floor with double-sided floor tape or floor glue. Of the three options, rubber rolls are typically the most economical option and the final product will have the fewest seams after installation.

athletic rubber flooring

Keep It Clean

No matter what type of rubber you go for, it's important to keep athletic flooring well maintained.

Athletic facilities can be perfect places for bacteria and fungus growth if not properly cleaned on a regular basis. Rubber flooring should be cleaned with a pH neutral cleaner, as other cleaners can erode the material.

Ultimately, it's key to know your environment before installing a rubber sports floor. Every activity has different needs. Weight training will undoubtedly require a thicker mat that an indoor track. Not only that, but you must factor usage into the equation. The same athletic flooring for a small community center may not work in a busy college training facility, even if the activity is the same.

Greatmats is here to be a helping hand in sorting through all the flooring options that we offer. Customer service representatives can help you choose a thickness and style that will meet your athletic flooring needs.