There are many misconceptions about sports floors and their maintenance. Some of these gym floor myths are, unfortunately, popular among gym owners and facility operators. But believing these myths can cause more harm than good. Your hardwood gym floor is a significant investment. So, you’ll want to protect it as much as you can and make sure you get the most value out of it.
Getting Rid of Common Sports Facility Misconceptions
As sports flooring experts, we’re dedicated to debunking myths and misinformation to help our readers ensure maximum performance and longevity of their sports floors. We’ll go over the top 10 gym floor myths regarding both hardwood and rubber sports floors on this page.
1. The AC can be off when nobody is using the gym.
Shutting down your HVAC system overnight or over the weekend may seem like a good idea to save a few bucks. But it can have a detrimental effect on your hardwood gym floor. According to the MFMA recommendations, you should always preserve a stable indoor environment.
This includes maintaining an indoor relative humidity between 35 percent and 50 percent and air temperatures between 55 degrees and 75 degrees year-round. This will limit the facility’s atmospheric swings as the seasons’ change, reducing the hardwood floor’s contraction and expansion.
2. You can use an auto scrubber on the hardwood floor.
Using an auto scrubber might appear like a practical way of maintaining your hardwood floor. According to MFMA guidelines, you should never use an auto scrubber on your hardwood floor. It can cause a long list of problems, including:
- Splintering
- Excessive shrinkage and expansion
- Cupping
- Raised and uneven sides
Using an auto scrubber can also ruin the floor finish and paint.
3. You can use tape on your gym floor.
As a professional sports flooring company, we strongly advise against using any tape on your hardwood floor. Using tape for temporary marking is also an impractical method. We recommend using tempera paint instead.
Also, avoid using any type of stickers. They can mess up the hardwood finish when removed. Stickers are also a safety hazard because they don’t offer the same friction as the playing surface around them.
4. You can replace a patch to fit with the rest of your floor.
If your hardwood sports floor has become damaged in a small area, removing and replacing the entire floor isn’t a cost-effective solution. In this case, most facility operators will decide to only replace the affected patch.
But, if you opt for patch replacement, keep in mind that the new patch on the floor won’t match the rest of your gym floor — unless the entire surface is sanded, repainted, and refinished.
5. Screening and recoating is overrated.
Some facility owners believe that there’s no need to screen and recoat their hardwood gym floor every year. While it’s true that not all gyms experience the same amount of foot traffic, screening and recoating is a critical part of proper hardwood maintenance.
It will only take your contractor one day to screen and recoat your gym floor. You’ll need to have it done every year.
6. Rubber sports flooring is the best overall solution for gyms.
Rubber gym floors can be used for various indoor and outdoor sports activities. But rubber floors aren’t always the best option if your sports facility is mostly used for dance or similar activities. This is because rubber gym floors are too adhesive and don’t allow much slippage. When paired with activities such as dance practice, it can lead to ankle and knee injuries.
7. Rubber sports floors are only good for weight rooms.
Many facility owners think that rubber gym floors are only good for weight rooms and aren’t suitable for multi-sports facilities. While it’s true that rubber sports floors are the best choice for weight rooms, they’re still ideal for many different sports activities.
8. Rubber floors are 100 percent waterproof.
In every single one of our previous posts related to rubber floors, we highlighted this floor’s extreme water and moisture resistance capabilities. Although rubber gym floors possess this feature, they’re still slightly porous.
If soaked in water or power washed, these gym floors can allow water to slowly seep into the rubber and damage it. For these reasons, avoid power washing your rubber gym floor and make sure to follow the recommended cleaning practices for rubber floors.
9. Rubber flooring will make your gym smell.
This gym floor myth is a bit tougher to bust, as there is some truth to it at first glance. Since rubber flooring is mostly made from natural rubber or recycled tires, there’s no way to avoid it — it’s going to smell like rubber. However, the smell will be the strongest right after installation and will slowly dissipate in the following days and weeks.
10. It’s cheaper to maintain your floor yourself.
Sports floors, hardwood ones, in particular, require a complicated maintenance process that demands great precision and timing. The maintenance quote you’ll get from your contractor may seem like a big number. But it’s always best to leave such a difficult task to licensed and skilled professionals.
Gym Floor Myths Debunked: The Bottom Line
Maintaining or fixing the floor on your own can lead to even further damage and more costly repairs — especially if you’ve never done it before.
At J&J Gym Floors, we’ve completed over 17,300 projects since 2003 and know how to provide an efficient and high-quality service. We have the tools and knowledge to execute a service that assures the best results for your sports floor.
Avoid undertaking such a serious project on your own. Hire the best sports flooring company on the East Coast. Our reputation is your guarantee. Call (973) 801-7219 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation or request a proposal.