gym floor damage winter water

How to Protect Your Gym Floor from Winter Damage

By John Scillieri Hours Published on

Protecting your gym floor from the effects of winter is a key task of a sports facility owner. Winter conditions bring several challenges when maintaining a hardwood maple sports floor. Changes in temperature, dry air from indoor heating, and leaks or burst pipes are just some events that can damage a wood floor.

But it’s not just weather events that can risk damaging the wood flooring system. For example, increased foot traffic in winter means that gym floor protection is crucial during cold weather. And there are added problems of visitors trailingprotect a gym floor in winter in snow, slush, and salt on their footwear.

Therefore, your prized gym flooring could be at risk from damage and costly repairs without adequate gym floor protection measures.

So, what are the most effective ways to protect a gym floor in winter? How can you stop winter from causing damage to hardwood flooring in a gymnasium? This article highlights four solutions for protecting gym wood flooring during harsh winter months.

Why Gym Floors Need Protecting During Winter

Gym floors are at the mercy of pounding feet, moisture, and temperature fluctuations throughout the year. However, there are two primary reasons why a gym floor requires more care during winter. The first is increased use. Who wants to train outdoors in cold snow? The second reason is moisture issues.

Typically, sports halls and gymnasiums experience an upsurge of activity in the months from October through April. For example, basketball season starts, more athletes train indoors due to poor weather, and concerts, school dances, and pep rallies take place. Unfortunately, this increased use takes its toll on gym floors if adequate protection isn’t in place.

Winter brings freezing outdoor temperatures, snow, ice, slush, and salt. Then at the end of winter, all this melts, causing muddy conditions and puddles. The problem is that visitors can track all manner of dirt and undesirable muck on their footwear indoors. 

And there is the risk of burst pipes, which can severely damage a wooden floor.

Four Ways to Protect Your Gym Floor From Winter Conditions

Here are four ways to protect a gym floor from the most common problems winter weather causes. 

How to protect a gym floor from increased use

With heavy foot traffic expected during winter, it’s essential to have an adequate floor care maintenance system. This includes more mats at entrances for visitors to wipe snow and muck off their outdoor shoes. Additionally, absorbent mats are vital to reduce melted snow forming puddles indoors.

Changing mats more often than you would in summer is also crucial. For example, when grit, salt, and sidewalk debris pile up in the rugs, their cleaning capacity is reduced. Therefore, athletes will track grit into the sports facility. Remember, dirt on footwear acts like sandpaper on a polished maple floor.

Extra cleaning is especially vital to protect a gym floor in winter. Regular cleaning every day is necessary, regardless of the season. However, depending on its use, it may be required to dry mop the wood floor three times a day during winter or clean the floor between games. Then in the evening, use a damp mop with an approved athletic wood floor cleaner to ensure all grime is removed.

Suppose there will be dances, concerts, special events, or prep rallies planned during winter. In that case, it’s vital to ensure you have gym floor covers and floor protectors suitable for the type of event.

Protecting a gym floor from temperature fluctuations

Sudden temperature fluctuations can affect the integrity of your gym flooring systems. For example, excess moisture and humidity could build up on cold surfaces unless there is an adequate temperature indoors. And not heating a building properly can result in burst water pipes, which could spell disaster for a gym floor.

Ideally, it would be best to keep an ambient temperature in a gymnasium between 55°F and 75°F all year round. This will prevent excess humidity and help protect your gym floor from winter conditions outdoors.

However, cranking up the heating in winter can cause another issue for wood floors — dry air.

How to safeguard a gymnasium floor from dry air

Monitoring the gymnasium’s indoor climate is vital to protect the floor throughout the year. Indoor heating during winter causes dry air, which can negatively impact a gym floor. Studies show that dry air causes wood to lose its moisture and shrink. As the wood shrinks, cracks form. But then, the cracks widen as the wood expands when humidity increases.

It is vital to monitor humidity levels to avoid shrinkage between wooden floorboards. The optimal relative humidity is between 35% and 50%. Preventing air from being too dry or damp will help protect a gym floor from damage in any season, especially winter.

How to protect a wooden sports floor from damage caused by dripping water

Despite your best efforts to keep excess moisture away from a gym floor, drips and leaks can still impact the flooring system. Apart from a leaking pipe, there are several additional ways water droplets can occur on a gymnasium floor.

For example, inadequate duct insulation in the HVAC system can cause condensation. Then the water buildup can drip onto the gym floor, causing small puddles. However, an ineffective ventilation system could also cause similar problems.

Also, water expands when it freezes. Consequently, frozen water in cracks around window frames or the roof structure can cause a bigger opening when it melts. Therefore, checking the roof in the fall and ensuring watertight seals are around all windows and exterior doors are advisable.

A Complete Floor Care Maintenance Solution for Winter

Regular gym floor maintenance throughout the year is vital to care for your investment. However, regular cleaning is even more critical in the cold months from October until April. Therefore, ensure that you have a winter floor cleaning schedule in place. This should involve cleaning floors at least three times daily, mopping spills immediately, spot cleaning, and regular floor scrubbing.

If necessary, increase the number of mats at entranceways and vacuum them or change them regularly.

Protecting a Gym Floor in Winter

Protect your gym floor in winter by regular cleaning, controlling moisture, and ensuring adequate heating. This will help to prevent costly repairs or frequent gym floor refinishing.

Has excess moisture, water leaks, or grime impacted the look and appearance of your gym floor? If so, contact the team of flooring experts at J&J Gym Floors at (973) 241-5467 to arrange for a free no-obligation estimate and expert advice on restoring your gym floor.

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.