Rubber flooring is a suitable solution for a variety of commercial and sports applications due to its extreme durability, and high versatility. Most rubber flooring types provide noticeable comfort underfoot, shock-absorbing qualities experienced when exercising or standing, and a sturdy, slip-resistant surface. These qualities make rubber flooring ideal for use in high traffic and high use areas, such as gyms, weight rooms, playgrounds, commercial facilities, multipurpose areas, and event centers and fieldhouses. Rubber flooring is available in a fairly large variety of colors, styles, and types that allow for a large variety of design options and choices. It’s a green, cost-effective flooring solution that can last for decades when properly cared for.

As a result of these elements, rubber flooring is the perfect choice for any commercial or professional fitness or athletic installation. Identifying the right kind or type of rubber flooring is important to taking advantage of as many of the elements as possible. Here are some of the options available to you for rubber flooring.

RUBBER FLOORING OPTIONS

When planning for a rubber floor, be certain to review all of the available options and find the one that best fits your requirements and preferences.

TYPES OF RUBBER FLOORING

Rubber flooring products come in three common types – mats, tiles, and rolls.

RUBBER MATS

Rubber Mats are very easy to install and extremely versatile. They can be laid on almost any hard, flat surface to add a layer of protection and cushion or thickness to the area, at virtually any size.

Rubber mats come in many different sizes to fit all spaces and needs – from 3’x4’ to 3’x8’, 4'x6', and other various sizes. You can choose from a variety of thicknesses as well, ranging between 1/4 inch to 1 inch. Thinner mats are great for home workouts, while gyms and professional sports facilities need thicker pieces that can withstand high-impact activity and heavy traffic.

Rubber floor mats are intended to be used independently but can also be installed next to one another to cover larger surfaces. For a secure installation over a larger area, you may want to consider rubber mats with interlocking edges that ensure a secure fit.

** RUBBER EQUIPMENT MATS

Rubber mats are also used either separately or interlocked together for equipment mats. These mats are used to protect the floor surface from the movement of cardio machines such as treadmills, bicycles, and others, and the dripping of perspiration. Rubber mats are typically non-porous and make it easy to clean and keep clean. Where many fitness areas for cardio are covered with commercial carpets or other fabrics surfaces, rubber mats provide a more hygienic way to care for these spaces. Depending on the thickness and type of rubber equipment mats, they may also provide a sound mitigating quality.

RUBBER FLOOR TILES

Rubber floor tiles are the most popular rubber flooring option for both residential and commercial settings. Their convenient size and design make them suitable for any space and purpose.

Typically, rubber tiles come in 12”x12”, 18”x”18”, and 36”x36” squares, but they’re very supple and easy to cut into different shapes of varying sizes in order to perfectly fit the layout of the room or create unique patterns within the surface of the floor.

Most rubber tiles have puzzle-style interlocking edges for easy installation (some even come with two detachable edge pieces to facilitate installation in irregularly shaped rooms). Interlocking tiles do not require adhesives, but glue-down forms are also available for larger commercial areas or outdoor applications.

Rubber tiles for outdoor use can be as thick as 2 inches, while tiles for indoor applications tend to be between 2 mm and 3/4 inches thick.

A great advantage of rubber tiles is that if one piece is damaged, it can be removed and replaced quite easily.

RUBBER FLOOR ROLLS

Rubber floor rolls are ideal for covering larger areas – as they produce fewer seams than interlocking rubber tiles and are the most economical rubber flooring option available on the market.

Rubber rolls come in sheets that are typically four feet wide (4') and can be twenty (20') to fifty feet (50') long, allowing you to completely cover an entire room with just a few rolls. That said, rubber flooring rolls are heavy and require additional labor to manage receiving them and installing them. Rubber flooring rolls are typically used in large commercial facilities or workout areas, as well as common areas.

RUBBER FLOORING THICKNESS VS. PERFORMANCE

Aside from the rubber flooring types; mats, tiles and rolls, you will need to consider the thickness, rubber composition and performance.

THICKNESS

Thickness is relative to protection in many ways, but it is not the end-all to protection. Common sense would lead you to believe that the thicker the rubber, the more protection it will deliver. It is true that a 3/4" rubber mat or roll will provide more protection to the substrate (typically your concrete floor) than a 5/16" or 8mm rubber tile or rolled rubber sheet will provide.

PERFORMANCE

Performance is not relative to thickness when you are discussing rubber flooring. Performance is achieved by producing qualities such as; Force Reduction, Energy Restitution, Tensile Tear Strength, and others.

We prescribe a Performance flooring, which is a dual-durometer stacked rubber, that uses a stacking/layering process to achieve a high force reduction. We prescribe solutions that are only 14.5mm, basically 9/16" of an inch and outperforms anything close to that thickness on the market. Force Reduction is basically what it sounds like, it is reducing force or impact on the floor surface for both the athlete and equipment being dropped on the floor. It's easier on the joints and body overall, leading to less wear and tear over time. Having the proper strike surface will also prolong the life of equipment such as bumper plates and Olympic Bars.

WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIFIC USE OF THE RUBBER FLOORING

1. What are the dimensions of your space?
2. What activities will take place on your new rubber flooring?
3. Do you have a specification to meet? Stability, shock absorption, sound mitigation, etc?
4. Is the application indoor or outdoor?
5. What kind of traffic will the rubber floor experience?
6. Length of floor life expected?
7. What is your project budget?
8. Are you self-installing or do you need help?
9. Do you have a design preference, color, style?

The questions above will provide our team with most everything needed to prescribe the flooring type and style that could best fit your needs.