protecting and maintaining gym floors

Gym Floors: Protecting and Maintaining High-Traffic Areas

By John Scillieri Hours Published on

The gym is a busy place and often a cherished part of the local community.  Such an active place will see a lot of foot traffic.  Protecting and maintaining gym floors, no matter what material they are, is critical.  There are certain tips and tricks for maintaining the gym floor in its entirety and high-traffic areas in particular. 

Cleaning and maintenance schedules for sports facilities

The gym is often the centerpiece of a sports facility.  Beautiful, clean, and well-maintained floors provide a positive image to guests and athletes alike.  Sports floors require routine cleaning to protect their longevity, usability, and good looks. 

  • Dust, dry, mop, and vacuum floors every day.  For high-traffic areas and events, you may need to sweep more frequently.
  • Clean spills immediately.  Water is the number one enemy of gym floors, especially hardwood maple sports floors.  Any liquid should be removed and the floor dried asap. Consider adding gym floor carpet runners to high traffic areas.  This will keep the floors cleaner and protected from moisture, especially during rainy or snowy weather. 
  • Be mindful of the type of cleaning products you use on the gym floor.  Rubber floors require mild or pH-neutral cleaners.  Artificial turf can be washed with a mild detergent or simply water and vinegar.  You can use an EPA-approved disinfectant on hardwood floors, such as Bona SuperCourt Hardwood Gym Floor Cleaner.  But be careful to rinse disinfectants thoroughly and dry asap.  Otherwise, you can damage the finish.
  • Maintain optimal heat and humidity conditions.  For maple sports floors, maintaining the right heat and humidity levels in the gym is vital.  Too low or too high humidity can warp the floors, leading to buckling and cupping. 

Let’s break down the top high-traffic areas in the gym and how best to maintain and clean them. 

1. Front lobby and entryways

Points of entry and exit see the highest levels of foot traffic.  The front lobby is also the first thing people will see and experience when they enter your facility, so you’ll want to pay special attention to it.  

Be mindful of how frequently you check and clean these areas.  To protect and maintain the gym floors, it’s essential to clean messes as soon as they occur.

Standing water, mud, and muck are terrible for the longevity and look of the floor.  Water can also be a slip and fall hazard.  Frequently check the area for debris and smudges on the glass doors and windows.  Clean promptly. 

Place high-quality floor covers and carpet runners in these areas.  They’ll protect the floor and sop up muck and debris that people will inevitably carry in on their shoes. 

2. Pool area

If you manage a large facility with a pool, maintaining and protecting the gym floors requires additional attention.  Moisture can wreck the floor, and it can also harbor germs — frequently dry mop the floors to prevent moisture-related problems.  Consider keeping food and drinks out of this area as well. 

3. Locker rooms and restrooms

These areas will see a lot of visitors throughout operating hours.  If your facility has a pool, then locker rooms and restroom facilities will see both wet and dry visitors.  Throughout the day, you’ll want to review these high-traffic areas for cleanliness and slip and fall hazards.

Keep restroom fixtures clean and sanitized throughout the day.  Check shower facilities and clean standing water and moisture build-up.  This will help prevent slip and fall accidents, but it will also prevent mold from forming.  Clean the floors often, and keep them dry.

Maintaining high-traffic areas for different floor types.

Your facility may offer rubber flooring, artificial turf, hardwood, or a combination of all three. There are different maintenance techniques you can use for high-traffic areas for the different flooring types. 

Let’s discuss. 

Rubber flooring

Rubber gym floors can last a long time and are very durable.  They’re resistant to scratches, scuffs, and sole marks.  But for high-traffic areas, these regions can get flattened in short order. 

To maintain the longevity of your rubber gym floor, remove the tiles in high-traffic areas and swap them with tiles from low-traffic areas.  Do this periodically and you’ll maintain the rubber floor for a longer time and save money on frequent replacements. 

Artificial turf

Artificial turfs are incredibly versatile and shock-absorbent.  However, high-traffic areas can wear out and flatten quickly if not maintained. 

Regularly brush the turf to redistribute the infill.  Vacuuming frequently can also prevent high-traffic areas from looking shabby and losing their shock absorbance. 

Hardwood sports floors

Maple sports floors offer that wow factor that’s tough to beat with other flooring materials.  But, they are high-maintenance compared to rubber and artificial turf flooring. 

Water is supremely damaging to hardwood.  In high-traffic areas, especially during spring and winter, people can bring in a lot of mud, muck, and water into the gym. 

Besides frequently checking for and mopping up water quickly, you can further protect high-traffic areas on the hardwood gym floor with courtside carpet runners. 

These products are relatively inexpensive but will do an excellent job of protecting the gym floor underneath.  They’re much easier and affordable to replace than fixing and replacing hardwood flooring. 

Maintaining and protecting gym floor high-traffic areas: Key takeaways.

Vigilance and employing specific cleaning and maintenance techniques for the flooring material will go a long way toward protecting high-traffic areas from damage.  A clean, well-maintained facility delights users and will help you sustain and grow a customer base. 

Has your gym floor sustained damage?  Or are you looking to prevent damage with affordable and effective courtside runner carpets?  Contact us today online or at (973) 801-7219.  We’ll be happy to discuss how we can help you best maintain your sports facility.

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.