In 1891, Springfield College hosted the world’s first basketball game, with two peach baskets mounted to the walls of the court. The game was a hit, and the official sport of basketball was born. Today, basketball is a multi-billion dollar industry. One particular detail that sports facility managers may not know is that the first game ever played and basketball games played today, are still conducted on the same types of gym floor construction—durable maple flooring. Here’s what you need to know about what makes a sports floor different.
What is a gym floor made of?
Gym floors are made out of maple planks. Our Victorian predecessors were correct in using maple wood flooring in the early days of indoor sporting events. Maple is one of the toughest woods you can use as a flooring material as it can take a good beating. Bowling alleys, and even the pins they use, are often made out of maple. For an indoor sports floor, maple can withstand all kinds of activity. But a maple sports floor still needs regular maintenance to protect its lifespan.
Is a maple sports floor different than maple flooring in a house?
The timber industry uses a scale called the Janka scale to measure the toughness of different wood species on a scale from zero (softest) to 4,000 (hardest). Maple scores some of the highest ratings on the Janka scale, coming in at a hardy 1450. In contrast, white oak wood scores 1360, pine 1225, and Douglas fir 660. While it’s true that you can use maple hardwood for flooring in the home, maple wood used for residential purposes is a little different than maple planks installed on a gym floor. In essence, the only similarity between the two is that the wood is the same—maple. The biggest difference between maple sports floors and maple hardwood for a house has to do with the subfloor.
Maple floors for a Gym vs. a House
One of the main reasons why maple is the go-to for gym floor construction is that it has excellent shock resistance. A maple floor can easily withstand the pounding of basketballs and athletes’ shoes during a sporting event without enduring a scratch. The subfloor system, installation, and finishing techniques and products used for gym floors are very different.
Flex in a Gym Floor: Combating Fatigue and Preventing Injury
Some gym floors need the wood to have the ability to flex with athletic activity, and this occurs within the gym subfloor construction. Although this is unnoticeable, every time your foot hits the floor of a gym, the flooring is constructed to give slightly, allowing your foot to sink into the wood plank before springing back. That way, the floor absorbs shock. This flexing action is beneficial for athletes and helps prevent injury and wear and tear on joints, muscles, and bones. For this reason, some gym sports floors are referred to as an “orthopedic surface”. And orthopedic surfaces do not only prevent injury, but they also help combat fatigue.
Common Gym Subfloors
Some gymnasium subfloors are constructed to reduce shock and protect athletes’ ankles, knees, and back. Common gym subfloors have round, soft rubber pads installed beneath a plywood subfloor, and then the maple planks are installed overtop. The rubber pads allow the floor to flex.
How is a gym floor’s finish different than other types of maple flooring?
The finish on a gym floor differs from the finish used in residential hardwoods. After the maple planks of a gym floor are sanded down, a sports floor installer will apply two coats of polyurethane sealant to the surface. The sealant is often shiny, giving the floor a lustrous and crisp appearance. After the sealant dries, graphics and lines are painted on the floor. Next, finishing coats are applied—usually two or three more coats of urethane. These finishing coats not only protect the wood and graphics, but they also create a stickiness that helps athletes gain enough traction on the floor to keep from slipping.
Do sports floors require more maintenance than residential hardwood?
Maple is a durable wood. But sports floors do require annual screening and recoating to keep the wood, graphics, and painted lines protected. Also, the stickiness of the finishing coat will decrease with use. When this occurs, the floor becomes slick and slippery. Screening and recoating are critical for giving athletes traction on the floor which helps to prevent slips, falls, and injuries.
The amount of traffic and use a sports floor sees will determine how often screening and recoating should occur. A gymnasium that isn’t used for professional games, and is only used for sporting events may only need screening and recoating once a year.
Professional gymnasiums may need more frequent screening and recoating. Gymnasiums that are used frequently for assemblies, concerts, and dances will need to be screened and recoated more than once a year. Sports floors that endure a lot of foot traffic in shoes other than sneakers, and where tables and chairs are moved over the gym floor, will need more frequent maintenance.
If your sports floor is in need of a screening and recoating, contact J&J Gym floors today at (973) 801-7219 for a free quote.