Q) How thick should a rubber gym flooring be?
A) For a gym, a thickness of 3/4 inches or above is necessary with rubber matting. 1 inch or above will be required for heavy/Olympic lifting. Aerobic centers and contact sports facilities should use 1-1.5 inches, whereas home gyms only need 1/4-1/2 an inch of matting.
Rubber is resilient, cheaper than hard floor alternatives and generally, it’ll last forever. But only if you buy the right kind. Today we’re going to help you find the right rubber matting for your exercise space. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is.
If you’re ready to future proof your training area, then let’s get to it.
Gyms
It’s shocking how many facilities get this aspect of their fit-out completely wrong. So much money gets spent on premium gym equipment, but so many businesses skimp on their flooring.
Whatever you do, don’t make flooring an afterthought. Unsuitable flooring degrades super fast, presents tripping hazards, and damages long term business.
The average large scale commercial or private fitness center has 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch rubber mats in place. This isn’t thick enough. If you’re only going to rest machinery over the top, that’s completely fine.
Most gyms definitely need more to cater to the daily activities of their members.
The wear and tear that occurs over the years plus the variety of exercises people perform is the issue. It all leads to degradation.
Even if you’re not well-stocked on free weight equipment, this will still be the case.
Unknowledgeable customers are very good at finding ways to damage your flooring. Often by accident, but they’ll find them all the same.
Small Personal Training facilities can make use of thinner matting, but not gyms. Equip your large fitness space with at least 1-inch matting.
If you do this you’ll be making an investment that’ll stand the test of time. It’ll also allow pretty much any user type to exercise at your facility.
Home Exercise Spaces
Home gyms are usually quite easy to set up, but it all depends on what you’re planning to do in your training area.
The type of rubber matting you need depends on the stresses you’re going to be placing it under every day.
You’re unlikely to use dumbbells weighing (usually) more than 44 lbs (20kg) each in an area like this. You’ll no doubt throw some bodyweight movements into the mix, too.
If that’s the case, then there’s no problem with you laying down rubber matting that’s 1/4 inch, 5/32 inch 5/16 inch thick. It’ll definitely do the job.
1/4 inch + mats will withstand the force of regular impact from cardio or 44 lb dumbbells. Here’s where you need to think forward though. Are you planning to use 44 lb dumbbells forever?
This type of rubber matting can withstand 44 lbs worth of force, but it might limit your progress, too. To be able to progress and make use of dumbbells weighing more, an upgrade will be necessary.
It’d be worth investing in some 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch flooring instead. You might not like the extra expense now, but you’ll be glad that you invested in it later.
Olympic Lifting / Elite Free Weight Areas
It’s worth touching on Olympic lifting, too. Some of your members are going to want to perform elite level powerlifting.
If that’s the case, then it makes every bit of sense to allow them to do exactly that. 1-inch matting might be suitable for pretty much any user type, but you should use some 1.5-inch matting, too.
Even 1-inch mats are going to get put to the test by some individuals. It’s a good idea to further safeguard your facility by adding 1.5-inch matting in the right areas.
If you want a tip, then put 1.5-inch matting down around your Olympic platforms / certain power racks.
It’s too bouncy to have as your regular flooring across the entire free weight area.
1.5-inch mats are at their best when used in small quantities. They’re still worth using all the same for the added protection they provide in the right places.
Martial Arts / Contact Sports Areas
Comfort and breathability are the key factors for equipping contact sports facilities. Think about the kinds of activity that’ll be occurring here.
These facilities face a daily flurry of high impact exercise.
1/4 inch rubber matting wouldn’t cut it in this environment. Both from a health and safety and practical perspective for the people using it.
This is where the bigger measurements/levels of thickness need to become a mainstay.
Some people like to use 1.5-inch foam matting in these environments. It provides soft padding and cushioned support. The issue with foam is that it isn’t the hardest wearing of materials.
Installing 1.5-inch rubber matting would be a more cost-effective decision and a safer one in the long run as well. It’ll last for longer whilst not presenting any health and safety risks due to rips and tears.
Rubber surfaces also provide a better grip for bare feet. They have enough cushioning for grappling and groundwork, too.
Dance Halls And Aerobic / Group Exercise Centres
The flooring for group exercise zones has to be able to tolerate lots of high impact movement daily. Many businesses install wooden flooring, sometimes even with a spring mechanism underneath.
The problem with wooden flooring is that it’s expensive, especially spring-loaded varieties. It’s also quite uncomfortable for users over time.
Rubber matting provides an all in one long-lasting solution with a natural spring effect. It’s super hard wearing and caters to heavy footfall.
The safest facilities use at least 1-inch thick rubber matting. 1.5 inches is best. 1.5-inch matting is so comfortable to use that your users won’t need core mats for floor-based exercise either.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to absorb the above information on rubber matting. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal at first. Getting this part right means getting the entire project right.
Thicker varieties are more expensive but for several reasons, they’re going to be worth it. Especially if you’re creating anything other than a small home training space.
Happy exercising!