Using Rubber Flooring for Floor Protection in a Gym Environment

It’s hard to beat resilient and practical rubber flooring when it comes to gym applications. This type of flooring provides a comfortable and safe surface to walk, run, and jump on. These days, gym floors can be lined with full rubber roll floors, tiles, or mats that provide a soft and cushioned surface. This protects the original flooring from the wear and tear of daily use. At the same time, it provides a cushioned surface ideal for doing floor exercises, as well as a safety mat in cases of trips and falls.

Rubber offers some unique advantages that traditional flooring materials simply can’t match. These characteristics make rubber suitable for fitness studios and other similar applications. Concrete floors or ceramic tiles—while durable and hardwearing—can be way too rigid for fitness centers, and may cause injuries in case someone slips or falls over. Floors made of wood—which was a popular surfacing material for yoga studios and dance studios—are friendlier to the feet, but tend to wear down faster and need a lot of maintenance.

Meanwhile, rubber flooring offers a resilient surface that is both soft and resistant to wear. Rubber also provides water resistance on top of sound and impact dampening properties, which are necessary especially in fitness centers. What’s more, rubber tiles are also cost-effective materials that are ideal for covering large square footage. They are cheaper to install and maintain than other flooring options. Did you know that rubber flooring comes in modular units that are easy to install and often don’t need any adhesives or mortar? They come in standard-sized sheets or tile pieces, which make them easy to replace in case of damage. They can also be washed and cleaned with mild soap and water, making them a breeze to maintain.

Choosing the Right Industrial Rubber Products for Your Application

Rubber is a ubiquitous material with many commercial and industrial applications. There is a host of natural and synthetic rubber varieties, each with its own properties. It is crucial to choose the right kind of rubber to suit your intended usage.

For instance, pure gum rubber, which is derived from the sap of the rubber tree, is known for its abrasion and heat resistance. This makes it ideal for use in high heat and contact applications. It often comes in sheets, as tubing, or other special shapes, and can retain its shape in the presence of heat.

Silicone rubber is another form of rubber that has high resistance to heat. It also has a nonstick property, so it can be used as spacers, washers, or bushings, or for other similar applications. This type of rubber is sold in bulk as huge rolls or material.

For conveyor belts and bulk material movers, skirt board rubber can be a good choice because it is highly flexible and durable enough for the job. It’s a cost-effective solution, as it is easy to produce. It is also hard wearing, water and chemical proof, and resistant to spillovers, making it manageable for material moving equipment like belt conveyers.

For extra durable applications and high temperature uses, Styrene-Butadiene synthetic rubber (or SBR) is an ideal choice. It is a semi-abrasive material and has a high temperature resistance up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it ideal for use in HVAC systems, cooling and heating fittings, hoses, and similar applications where other rubber materials will melt or degrade. It is often used in construction applications for heating, cooling, and climate control equipment.

It is well to remember that not all rubber materials are the same. Each type has a different resistance to heat, degrees of flexibility, and resistance to wear, so it is best to know the properties of each before choosing the product for your use.

Things to Take Care When Installing Rolled Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring can act as an additional layer of protective cover for your floor, especially when used in a room that is often subject to conditions that can easily damage the surface. A rubber sheet roll may seem easy to install, where you simply roll it out across the floor and your work is done. However, rubber flooring installation requires a bit of preparation and a lot of care for best results. Here are some of the things to take care of during installation:

•    Have the right tools – You will need hand tools like a T-square, tape measure, notched towel, chalk line, and a utility knife. A flooring roller is optional. Likewise, make sure you have power tools, such as a shop vacuum. You may need a mop and bucket, extra knife blades, glue, double-sided tape, and a floor cleaner, too.

•    Prepare the floor – Most types of rubber flooring can be laid over hard floors, but you have the option to remove the old flooring. Factors such as the thickness of the rubber sheet roll, the condition of the existing floor, and the possibility of the flooring becoming higher after installation must be considered, too. If you decide to install over existing floor, make sure that the sub floor itself is level. Take note of low spots and have them raised using self-leveling concrete. Tough adhesive and old mortar should be chiseled off the concrete, and fasteners such as tack strip nails and padding staples should be pulled back.

•    Clean the floor – It does not matter whether you intend to use glue or tape to hold the rubber sheet down on the floor. You need to make sure that it is clean. So, take time to vacuum and mop if it is a concrete floor, and vacuum if it is a wood subfloor.

•    Remember to clean up after installation – Get rid of installation debris and dirt from the newly installed rubber sheet roll.

•    Consider hiring an expert – To avoid guesswork and costly mistakes and rework, consider hiring an experienced installer. This should save you a lot of time and effort, and you can be sure that the rubber sheet roll will be installed correctly and quickly.

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