You paid good money for your gym floor. So it makes sense that you’d want to protect it to the best of your ability! Along with routine care and maintenance, a good gym floor cover can also protect your sports floor from damage and extend its lifespan.
There are several factors to consider when investing in a gym floor cover. We’ll explore them in more detail below so you can make the best choice for your facility.
Why should you invest in a gym floor cover?
Most likely, you’ll be using your gym for more than just games and matches. Gyms are often the site of community fundraisers, concerts, polling stations, and more. Having a floor cover on hand for other activities such as these will protect your floor from damage and can even prevent slip and fall accidents.
Heavy foot traffic and debris from the elements can scratch your gym floor and lead to excessive wear and tear if the flooring isn’t appropriately protected. Forgoing the use of a gym floor cover can also incur higher maintenance costs and more frequent hits to your pocketbook. Using a cover will protect your long-term investment.
How often will you use a gym floor cover?
If your gym frequently hosts a range of events like concerts and fundraisers, then you’ll probably be using a gym floor cover many times throughout the year. In that case, you’ll want to invest in a large one. You may also want to consider investing in courtside runner carpets or pre-cut vinyl rolls to protect other parts of the gym, like seating areas and sidelines.
Gym floor coverings can be customized to fit your space and specific needs. Also, gym floor covers come in a wide range of patterns and colors that will showcase your unique brand and style.
Different Gym Floor Covers
Sports facility managers can choose from three main types of gym floor covers on the market. The type of gym floor you have and the activities that will take place on it will ultimately determine the cover that will best meet your needs.
Gym floor cover tiles
To protect your gym floor during non-sporting events, gym floor cover tiles are an excellent choice. These products are slide and wrinkle-proof, and they don’t require adhesives or tape to keep in place. So, you won’t have to worry about people tripping over the tiles.
You can have either carpet or vinyl cover tiles. Manufacturers produce these products in a wide range of colors that will be sure to match your facility and branding guidelines.
Another benefit of gym floor carpet tiles is they dampen sound and eliminate echoes. They’re a great choice if your gym will be hosting a concert or otherwise loud event.
Compared to other options, tiles are more expensive. Also, they can take longer to install. While there are convenient storage options for gym floor cover tiles, these materials take up more space than other types of covers.
Consider the following pros and cons before picking this type of cover for your gym floor:
Pros:
- Slide and wrinkle-proof
- Ideal slip and fall prevention
- Good for deadening sound and echoes
Cons:
- Pricier option
- It takes longer to install
- Requires more room to store
Gym floor vinyl roll cover
Vinyl rolls are the most common gym floor cover that you’ll see in sports facilities. They’re very easy to install and store compared to carpet or vinyl tiles. The material is:
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Waterproof
- Rot-resistant
Vinyl roll covers are such a popular choice because they’re versatile enough to work for any facility and wide range of occasions. You can purchase vinyl roll covers in sections, from six to ten feet wide. Manufacturers also sell storage racks that make installation, removal, and storage easy.
The biggest con? Vinyl floor covers often come in diamond or coin patterns. While these are attractive, they don’t make the most stable surface for placing equipment. You can purchase smooth vinyl rolls, but they’re more expensive than patterned options.
Let’s recap.
Pros:
- Rot and microbial resistant
- Water-proof
- Easy to install, remove, and store
Cons:
- Patterned options make the surface potentially unstable for some equipment
- Smooth vinyl rolls are more expensive
Pre-cut vinyl rolls and courtside runner carpets
A subsection on this list, these products are ideal for protecting the floor in seating sections and on the sidelines. Pre-cut vinyl floor covers come in ten-foot sections. Our courtside runner carpets can be customized with logos and taglines to fit your unique facility.
Runner carpets are easy to store, install, and remove as well. Both courtside runner carpets and pre-cut vinyl rolls are ideal for reducing slip and fall hazards in high-traffic areas. These materials come with the same sets of pros and cons for vinyl roll covers and carpet tiles listed above.
Protect your gym floor with a cover from J&J!
Gym floor covers are a must for protecting your investment and keeping visitors safe from falls. At J&J Gym Floors, we offer a range of gym floor cover options that will be sure to meet your facility’s needs!
Contact us online today or call (973) 453-2425 to learn more. We’ll guide you through the process of choosing a cover that’s perfect for your gym.