gym floor repair 101

Your Guide to Gym Floor Repair 101

By John Scillieri Hours Published on

Hardwood gym floors are one of the most durable sports flooring solutions.  However, they still require regular maintenance and occasional repairs to retain its performance and safety qualities.  It’s essential to know your hardwood floor’s care needs and be able to determine when it needs to be repaired.  In this gym floor repair guide, we’ll highlight all of the hardwood repair challenges you need to keep tight control of to get the most out of your gym floor. 

Common Hardwood Repair Challenges

Each gym floor is slightly different, but they require relatively similar maintenance practices and repair activities.  Here are the four most common hardwood gym floor repairs you should address without delay:

Water Damage

Water damage is undoubtedly one of the most severe problems that can affect your hardwood sports floor.  It can lead to many hardwood floor problems, most notably cupping and buckling. 

The latter issue, in particular, is the floor’s reaction to extreme humidity and excessive water damage.  It is possible to repair a water-damaged floor if the damage is not too far gone.  With that in mind, repairing a water-damaged hardwood floor is a multi-step process. 

First, the contractor will need to completely dry off the surface and identify the source of water damage.  Then, depending on the severity of the damage, they’ll suggest a repair or a complete replacement of your damaged hardwood floor.  A completely new installation is often required, as the damaged boards can’t return to their normal position. 

Scratches and Dents

Dents and scratches are an unavoidable result of everyday hardwood floor use.  Daily wear and tear is something every hardwood floor experiences, and there’s no way to prevent this. 

If you operate a multi-purpose sports facility, utilizing floor covers can help prevent deeper dents that could damage your floor’s performance and safety characteristics.  The best way to fix scratches and dents is to sand down the floor, fill in any deeper dents, and screen and recoat the entire surface. 

Loose or Cracked Boards

This issue makes up the bulk of gym floor repairs, as it’s a typical result of frequent floor use. Loose and cracked boards are usually fixed or replaced during a sanding and refinishing project.  In most cases, a loose board is nailed back in place.  Cracked boards are repaired with wood filler, providing that they’re not moving.  Otherwise, the flooring contractor will need to install a replacement board.

Loose or cracked boards might also be a telltale sign that your hardwood floor is getting near the end of its lifecycle.  If your gym floor has been used for several decades and is starting to crack in multiple places, consider installing a completely new one. 

Discoloration and Staining

Discoloration and staining is not such a dangerous problem as those above, but one you should still fix without delay.  Discoloration often occurs in high-traffic areas, as heavy foot traffic will lead to the floor deteriorating over time.  Both of these issues are relatively straightforward to fix. In such cases, all your floor needs is a screening and recoating, and it should look as good as new.

If you’ve noticed any of these four signs, your floor is due for a replacement or at least a makeover.  Some of these signs are an indication of more severe damage.  That being said, you should act upon each of them to mitigate the damage and prevent even costlier repairs and renovations. 

Patching a Hardwood Floor: The Quick and Fast Way

Patching up and fixing a hardwood floor is a demanding project and needs to be done right.  The correct way that this process should be done is by sanding down the entire surface, not just the patch that’s being replaced.  This will make sure that the whole surface is uniform and of equal color.  That way, no one will be able to notice that you’ve patched up the floor.

With that said, repairing a hardwood gym floor the right way requires a lot of time and effort. Moreover, it costs a lot of money.  Some facility operators can’t afford to shut down their gym for a couple of weeks or cash out several thousand dollars for the repair.  You can opt for a quick patch-up repair in such cases, which will act as a temporary solution to your hardwood’s problem.

If you decide to go this route, your flooring contractor will tear out the damaged part of the floor, install a new patch of floor, lace it in, and seal and finish the floor.  Repairing the floor this way will technically do the job, and the hardwood floor will perform the same way as the rest of the surface.  However, it will look significantly different from the rest of the floor and isn’t the best long-term solution.

Do You Need a Repair or a New Gym Floor?

Most, if not all, of the common hardwood challenges we addressed on this page can be fixed and repaired.  However, sometimes, the only way to go about an issue is to completely tear out your existing hardwood sports floor and install a new one. 

But, how do you tell if you need a repair or if you should invest in a new floor?  That’s why we’re here!  Our skilled and experienced flooring contractors will recommend the best course of action based on your floor’s unique needs. 

For more information on how we can help, call (973) 801-7219.  You can also reach out to us online, and we’ll get back to you without delay!

John Scillieri

John Scillieri is the Founder and Managing Partner of J & J Gym Floors, bringing over three decades of expertise in hardwood flooring to the sports and fitness industry. Following in the footsteps of his father, a renowned hardwood floor professional, John launched J & J Gym Floors after graduating college, combining rich family tradition with innovative approaches to gym floor installation, maintenance, and customization.

With a passion for quality craftsmanship and a commitment to customer satisfaction, John has led J & J Gym Floors to become a trusted name in the industry. His hands-on approach and deep understanding of flooring technologies ensure that every project, from local school gymnasiums to professional sports arenas, receives the highest standard of care and attention to detail. When he's not transforming gym floors, John enjoys staying active and spending time with his family, always keeping an eye out for the next big trend in sports flooring.