You’ve spent thousands installing a new gym floor. It makes sense that you would want to keep it in pristine condition to extend its lifespan and reduce your maintenance costs. But you can’t keep it under bubble wrap. The gym is meant to be used. A well-placed gym floor covering can protect gym floors from all kinds of damage and wear and tear.
Gym floor covering: The basics
Hardwood is a classic gym floor material, and it looks fantastic when well maintained. But hardwood is one of the most expensive materials to install in the gym. Without proper protection and care, hardwood floors can suffer significant damage from regular foot traffic.
Rubber gym flooring can also sustain damage from regular foot traffic. Multi-purpose facilities, in particular, can become damaged and become dirty quickly from events like pep rallies, dances, fundraisers, and more. Unfortunately, non-athletic shoes and water can also cause a lot of damage to natural wood and finishes.
The best way to protect a gym floor, especially high-traffic areas, is with a protective gym floor covering. Floor coverings are relatively inexpensive to install — most cost around $1 per square foot of coverage.
For multi-purpose facilities, investing in a gym floor covering can enable you to rent out your space more frequently. Non-sports usage won’t cause damage or result in pricey repairs because your floors will be protected from heavy foot traffic under a protective covering.
Gym flooring covering benefits
- Gym floor coverings prolong the floor’s lifespan
- Covers can increase the versatility of the space
- Floors are protected from water damage and heavy foot traffic
- Maintenance and repair costs are reduced
Different types of gym floor coverings
You can purchase gym floor coverings in vinyl, carpet, or a gym floor covering tarp. Each of these materials has different pros, cons, and costs. Some are also easier to store than others.
Vinyl gym floor covering
Vinyl gym floor covers are stored on hanging racks, making them easy to store. Another benefit of vinyl floor coverings is they’re antibacterial and antimicrobial. Cleaning is a breeze! All you need to do is run a mop over them, and you’re done.
Gym floor coverings in vinyl often come in a diamond or coin pattern. While these patterns can be attractive, they may make equipment placement unstable. You can purchase non-patterned vinyl covers, but they’re more expensive.
Carpet gym floor covering
Carpet gym floor covers are a popular choice for sports facilities. These products are ideal for installing during events where sound dampening is a must.
Carpet floor covers can come in runners and tiles. They’re slide and wrinkle-proof and help prevent slips and falls during high-traffic events. Carpet floor covers are a bit pricier than vinyl covers and require more room to store.
Tarp gym floor covering
Gym floor tarp coverings are ideal for covering large areas of the gym and fast, too. These products can be easily stored on a convenient roll rack and then unrolled quickly to protect the valuable floor underneath. Tarps are highly durable and rot, mildew, and fungal-resistant.
our Gym Floor Covering FAQs Answered
What’s the best gym floor covering for my sports facility?
It depends. You’ll need to know the dimensions of the area you’ll be covering, what your gym floor is made of, and what type of events you’ll be hosting. It’s also essential to keep your storage capabilities in mind since some coverings take more space to store than others.
How heavy are gym floor coverings?
Carpet tiles weigh around eight lbs each. Vinyl rolls can weigh between one and two lbs, while tarps weigh about the same.
What gym floor covering is easiest to store?
Vinyl rolls and tarps are the easiest gym floor coverings to store. They’re lightweight and can be rolled, unlike carpet tiles. Carpet tiles and carpet runners will need to be stacked and are bulkier than vinyl and tarp coverings.
Do gym floor coverings need tape to stay in place?
Carpets will stay in place without the need for adhesives. There are special tapes for vinyl floor coverings that are safe to use. But most vinyl floor covers and tarps have special slip-resistant backing, so you don’t need to worry about using adhesives.
Never use duct tape, painters tape, or any adhesive that’s not recommended for gym floor coverings on the gym floor. Painters tape, and other adhesives will leave behind residue that will damage hardwoods.
How do I clean and store my gym floor coverings so they last?
Carpet tiles and runners only need a quick vacuum or spot cleaning for spills. For storage, simply stack them until they’re needed again. Vinyl covers and tarps can be mopped and rolled for storage.
Order your gym floor coverings today
You can order a range of gym floor coverings from us today. We offer green and earth-friendly Eco Tile Gym Floor Carpet Tiles that are easy to install and store away for later use. Our Eco Roll gym floor covers look like carpet but are easy-to-clean vinyl.
We also offer runner carpets for installing in high-traffic areas, keeping your gym floor pristine and in tiptop shape.
Not sure what you need? Give us a call today at (973) 241-5119. Or contact us online. We’ll be happy to help you choose the right coverage for your gym floor!