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Different Types of Rubber Flooring for Gyms

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Rubber gym flooring is the preferred type of flooring to add to gyms and home fitness facilities. Rubber gym flooring is available in a variety of thicknesses, styles, and patterns so every gym owner can truly customize their gym space from floor to ceiling. (Continued below)

Every gym, whether it’s the one you have at home or the one you frequent in your neighborhood, suffers the consequences, especially gym floors. When you’re doing cardio or strength training exercises, gym flooring is put to the test. It experiences greater and more intense forces than those experienced by traditional floors.

But also imagine the beating your body is taking. If you do aerobics or a full-body strength workout in a gym with no resistance on the floor, your body will feel it. You’ll be putting your ankles, knees, and other joints at risk for repetitive motion injuries. A floor that doesn’t flex is also a hazard to your musculoskeletal system, as fractures and tears can occur more easily when you’re working out on a hard, unforgiving surface.

To protect your body, your gym space, your equipment, and the flooring underneath, padding is necessary. What goes on your gym floor is an important consideration, and luckily, there are some great options that we want to cover today.

Rubber gym flooring is the preferred type of flooring to add to gyms and home fitness facilities. You’ll be happy to know that there isn’t just one type of rubber flooring available. Rubber gym flooring comes in a variety of thicknesses, styles, and patterns so every gym owner can truly customize their gym space from floor to ceiling.

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    1. Virgin rubber vs regular flooring

      Regular rubber flooring is made from recycled or vulcanized rubber. Virgin rubber flooring does not use recycled materials.

      Regular rubber flooring

      Standard rubber flooring for gyms is usually referred to as recycled or vulcanized. Recycled rubber flooring is the most affordable option.

      Vulcanized rubber flooring is in the mid-price range. These floors are made from post-consumer products, including truck tires, but the process involves treating the material with sulfur at high temperatures to increase its strength.

      Recycled and vulcanized options are more environmentally friendly since these floors are made from reclaimed materials.

      The process of making recycled flooring involves shredding tires into small pieces, grinding these tire pieces into small pellets, removing the steel pieces, and cleaning the remaining pellets. These are then mixed with a binder to create a flooring material.

      Vulcanized flooring is made from portions of tires that do not contain any wires or belts. These tire pieces are formed into small pieces and then mixed with sulfur, latex, and oil. The mixture is heated to high temperatures under extreme pressure to create an ultra-strong flooring material. Vulcanized rubber flooring is non-porous and does not require a sealant.

       

      Virgin rubber flooring

      This type of gym flooring does not use recycled materials. Instead, it is made from newly produced rubber polymers. Flame retardants are often added for safety reasons. Virgin rubber flooring is generally more expensive than its recycled counterparts.

      Once the virgin rubber flooring formula is mixed, it is transferred to a steam-heated press and vulcanized for added strength. The result is an ultra-strong, non-porous material that does not need to be sealed.

      Many people prefer the aesthetics and durability of virgin rubber gym floors over regular flooring. Strength and resilience are also attractive features, especially for a fitness center.

       

      Toxic vs Non-Toxic Rubber

      Some of our customers are concerned about toxic rubber materials. They want to know if rubber flooring is toxic to humans or pets. This is a valid concern.

      Natural rubber is made from a plant. You might think that this is a good thing, and for many people it is, but many others are allergic to natural rubber. To them, this plant-based material is toxic rubber. Synthetic rubber is a better choice.

      However, manufacturing synthetic rubber requires the use of several toxic chemicals, leading people to wonder if this option is safe. Toxic rubber is already a hot topic in healthcare facilities. What about in gyms?

      To be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to opt for known nontoxic options, especially those that don’t emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can trigger asthma, fatigue, headaches, nausea, eye irritation, and other issues in some individuals.

      By choosing non-toxic rubber flooring, you will create a healthier environment. Rubber flooring with the lowest VOC levels includes products made from vulcanized and virgin rubber.

      If in doubt about toxicity levels, check with the manufacturer.

      Sizes, thicknesses and patterns

      Our customers sometimes ask us how thick gym flooring should be to effectively absorb impacts. This is a great question, especially since flooring can range from ¼ inch to over an inch thick.

      Generally, different thicknesses are suitable for the following:

      • Quarter Inch (1/4″): Ideal for protecting your floors from heavy equipment, such as treadmills and ellipticals
      • Half Inch (1/2″): Suitable for weight rooms with weights up to 100 pounds and for floor aerobic exercises
      • One Inch (1″): Ideal for powerlifting and higher intensity cardio workouts

      In addition to considering the thickness of the flooring, think about the mat or tile sizes and patterns of the rubber flooring elements. How much of your floor space do you want or need to cover? What do you want the area to look like?

      Rubber flooring elements are available in a wide range of sizes, styles and patterns. Our Akfit specialists can review the options to help you make the right decision for your home or commercial gym.

       

      Lock vs Rollers

      Another consideration is whether you want rolls or interlocking gym flooring tiles.

      Rubber gym flooring rolls are non-slip and come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to choose the size that fits your space. Commercial grade rolls are also available.

      Interlocking rubber floor tiles also come in different sizes and can be connected to create the desired length and width.

      While rolls can offer you ease of installation and the flexibility to easily reconfigure your space as you expand your gym, tiles hold up well to heavy traffic and can be customized to best fit your space.

       

      Advantages and Disadvantages of Rubber Flooring

      We’ve covered a lot of gym flooring so far! It’s time to summarize the options when it comes to rubber flooring and list the pros and cons.

       

      Standard rubber flooring

      Benefits:

      • Made from recycled materials
      • Recycling makes it a better choice for the environment
      • A more affordable option

      The inconvenients:

      • Not as durable
      • May contain higher levels of toxic rubber
      • Not as strong

      Virgin rubber flooring

      Benefits:

      • A better non-toxic rubber option
      • Designed to be very durable
      • More attractive aesthetics
      • Non-porous, so does not require sealing

      The inconvenients:

      • More expensive
      • Less ecological

       

      Less than half an inch thick

      Benefits:

      • Lighter weight for easier installation
      • Suitable for exercise equipment, such as treadmills and spinning bikes

      The inconvenients:

      • Not ideal for powerlifting or more intense cardio workouts

       

      Thickness greater than half an inch

      Benefits:

      • Best choice for lifting heavy weights or doing high intensity cardio
      • Improved cushioning to better absorb impacts

      The inconvenients:

      • Thicker material is heavier, making it more difficult to install or move.

       

      Interlocking rubber tiles

      Benefits:

      • Highly durable, making them suitable for high traffic areas
      • Let yourself be personalized with your floor space
      • Easy to install (no adhesive needed)
      • If one tile is damaged, the others are still good – you have less to replace

      The inconvenients:

      • Longer installation time in large spaces
      • If water spills, the seams can allow it to seep down to the ground below.
      • The floor may not look as even as you would like

      Rubber rollers

      Benefits:

      • Durable and suitable for high impact exercises
      • Quick and easy to install
      • Homogeneous appearance
      • Resists water spills

      The inconvenients:

      • May be slippery when wet
      • More weight during installation (a roll is heavier to move than an individual tile)
      • Less configurable than tiles

       

      Buying Rubber Flooring for Your Home

      If you are buying rubber gym flooring for your home, there are several things you need to keep in mind. They include:

      • Choose non-toxic and non-slip products for the health and safety of your family
      • Choosing the Right Rubber Flooring for Your Home Gym Space
      • Consider how easily you can install or move your flooring when it comes time to reconfigure your fitness space.
      • Choose the right thickness based on the type of strength and cardio exercises you do most.

      One of the benefits of working with Akfit when you are ready to configure, build and install your home gym components is that we can deliver and install items for you. Talk to us if this is an option you are considering for your gym flooring.

       

      Purchasing Rubber Flooring for Your Commercial Facility

      Another advantage of our collaboration with Akfit is that we regularly help commercial gyms with their needs for fitness equipment, flooring and accessories. Call on us for a reliable and professional service when you want to build and equip your commercial gym .

      If you want rubber flooring for your commercial gym, consider the following factors:

      • Choose durable materials that will hold up over time in high traffic areas
      • Use the right type of flooring in different parts of your gym to better absorb impacts
      • Opt for non-slip products for everyone’s safety
      • Choose and install easy-to-maintain materials
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