There are several different rubber gym floor varieties including jigsaw matting, repurposed tire mats, roll-out matting, and square floor tiles. All of which can be put to effective use in your fitness space.
We’re going to talk about the benefits that each variety provides. Read on for everything you need to know.
Different Rubber Gym Flooring Types
Here are the main flooring varieties and their benefits.
#1-Recycled Tire Mats
For the environmentally-conscious person who wants to achieve maximum durability, recycled tire mats are the way to go.
What makes this such an attractive flooring option is the fact that it is crafted out of recycled tires.
Piles of rubber including tires are often left to deteriorate and harm the environment in landfills.
Worse still, they are also burnt which leads to the emission of toxic fumes. This harms people and animals alike.
By choosing a matting option made out of rubber waste, you’re avoiding it from being placed in one of these hazardous sites. This means less pressure on the ozone layer and damage to wildlife.
There’s also another unique aspect to repurposed matting that you may not have considered.
The strands of rubber that go into the creation of this flooring variety give way to some great design opportunities. The way that the mats have been designed means that you’ve usually got clumps of rubber fused together.
If some of these clumps receive a dye treatment, you’re able to create some really eye-catching speckled designs. If you use it effectively this can complement your branding.
The main benefits of this flooring variety include:
- It reduces ozone layer and environmental damage
- It has the same durability as newlyformed rubber matting
- You can enjoy some reallyeye-catching designs
- It comes in a jigsaw or straight-edged mat variety to improve versatility
Recycled mats are almost as popular as traditional jigsaw mats for use in outfitting fitness facilities.
#2-Jigsaw Mats
Jigsaw mats are an easy to use and versatile matting option for those who want the ultimate in accessibility and durability.
Their perforated edge design allows the individual mats to lock into one another making them very easy to install.
This saves you from having to cut each individual section to size.
You’ll still have to measure the area and cut the rubber down in locations where the mats meet walls and fill alcoves, however.
On the whole though? They offer a very efficient flooring solution that’ll cut down on labour time during installation. They’re long-lasting and they come in an enormous array of different design types.
Their interlocking mechanics also make them super secure and ensure that slippage/movement is always at a minimum.
When using jigsaw mats you can expect to:
- Reduce preparation time (less cutting and resizing)
- Enjoy a high level of durability thanks to the interlocking system and non-slip base
- Access a wide variety of designs
- Have access to a wide variety of thicknesses to suit any fitness space
Most people class jigsaw mats as the easiest option to work with.
This has given rise to their immense popularity.
#3-Square Rubber Floor Tiles
You won’t get the same degree of security and design variety as you would with jigsaw and recycled matting here. The truth is that you’re not always going to need this, though.
Square tiles are very easy to work with and also very cost-effective at the same time.
You don’t have to cut them to size and the straight edges are actually preferred by some if they’re outfitting a small space.
Jigsaw mats are great for commercial use. It’s commonly accepted that square tiles are a better option for outfitting home training spaces though. They’re cheaper and hassle-free.
You’re definitely not going to need the high level of durability and security that jigsaw mats offer for a light exercise environment.
This means that it simply makes more sense to save some hard-earned money.
Some of the benefits of using square rubber floor tiles include:
- They’re easy to lay
- They’re durable and come in lots of different thickness varieties
- They’re cheaper than jigsaw mats
- There isn’t much re-sizing involved before placing them
Square rubber floor tiles are a more economic and sensible flooring type for non-commercial fitness spaces.
When you don’t need to cater for heavier footfall and usage, you should cater for your wallet instead.
#4-Roll-Out Gym Matting
The main benefit to using roll-out rubber gym mats is that they’re definitely the cheapest flooring option available.
This type of flooring comes in several different varieties of thickness meaning that you can adapt it for use in any fitness space.
It’s durable enough to be able to cope with footfall even in the busiest areas and there are plenty of design options. this ensures that you can meet your branding requirements.
If we had to highlight a major negative, it would simply be that this matting type isn’t quite as durable and secure as interlocking matting. It’s also more difficult to work with due to it having to be cut down to size.
If you don’t mind a little extra labour then the money saved in the short-term is likely to please your pocket.
The main benefits of roll-out mats include:
- They are cheaper than other rubber mat varieties
- They come in plenty of different design varieties
- They come in several different thickness varieties to suit any fitness space
For an accessible light-commercial or home fitness flooring variety. Roll-out rubber mats should definitely be strongly considered.
Conclusion
You should now feel comfortable enough to be able to make the right rubber gym mat choice for your intended fitness space.
As you’re now aware, not all rubber flooring varieties are the same. Some will definitely work better than others in certain situations. It all depends on your requirements.
You may need the added security of a commercial-grade jigsaw mat type, or you might be completely fine with using standard square floor tiles.
There’s no right or wrong choice. It’s all about making the right decision based on the space you’re equipping.