Rubber Gym Floor Mats, Gym Flooring, Rubber Gym Mats

Top 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Rubber Gym Flooring

How do you clean rubber gym flooring?
Most rubber gym flooring can be cleaned with a vacuum or a damp mop and neutral pH cleaner.

Does rubber gym flooring have a strong smell?
Vulcanized rubber gym flooring can have a strong smell. For those with smell sensitivity, opt for a non-vulcanized rubber flooring option.

What is the cheapest rubber gym flooring?
Rolled rubber gym flooring will be your cheapest option, especially if you go with regrind or confetti versions in which the color flecks are not tightly controlled.

How thick should rubber gym flooring be?
The biggest thickness concern for rubber flooring comes into play when used on an environment when heavy objects will be dropped on the floor - such as an olympic free weight lifting facility. In those case the flooring should be a minimum of 3/4 inch thick.

How do you cut rubber gym flooring?
Rubber gym flooring can be cut with a sharp utility knife and a straight edge. Cut using a series of shallow scores. For thicker rubber, placing a 2x4 board under the rubber can help open cuts, making it easier to get through the material.

The Benefits of Rubber Gym Flooring

Our gym flooring can be found in both home and commercial gyms, as well as fitness facilities for middle schools, high schools, colleges and even professional sports teams.

Most of our rubber gym flooring is intended for indoor use, but some products can be installed outdoors as well.

There are many benefits to choosing rubber flooring for your gym:
1. Durable flooring that can withstand both home and commercial applications
2. Versatility - rubber flooring comes in a wide variety of thicknesses, sizes, color choices, and installation types
3. Affordability - rubber is one of the most inexpensive types of gym flooring
4. Sound dampening for a more enjoyable workout environment
5. Shock absorbing - rubber flooring is a more forgiving surface than a concrete subfloor, and this makes a big difference in your body over the course of a workouts
6. Environmentally friendly - most rubber flooring is made from recycled rubber, so you can feel good about your choice to use rubber flooring

Let's take a more detailed look at the reasons why you may want to use rubber flooring your gym.

Durability
Rubber gym flooring is a highly durable flooring option. It's strong enough to support heavy traffic and exercise equipment, like treadmills and weight training equipment. Its extreme durability makes rubber flooring perfect for multipurpose athletic rooms. You can also buy with confidence, knowing that you are investing in flooring that will last, whether for your home gym or for a commercial gym that will see high traffic.

Versatility
Rubber flooring comes in countless options, so you'll certainly find a product that's perfect for your gym. Choose from a wide variety of sizes, thicknesses, color choices, and even installation types to find the exact product that you're looking for.

Affordability
Rubber flooring is affordable and is a smart economical choice. This flooring is available in easy to install tiles, but for larger installations, rolled rubber may make more economical sense.

Sound Dampening
Rubber flooring helps to dampen the noise associated with home and commercial gyms. Whether it's the clanging of weights, blaring of music or clamor of conversation, gyms tend to be noisy places. Rubber flooring can prevent the noise from distracting you from your workout, making the gym a more pleasant workout environment.

Shock Absorbing
Most gyms have a concrete subfloor which can be cold and hard. Rubber gym flooring works well to create a buffer between you and the existing floor, preventing the negative effects of that cold concrete and subtly softening its effect on your bones and joints. In most cases, the rubber is so dense that you may not be able to see or even feel a significant difference when you first step onto the floor, but as you work out, your body will thank you.

Your pocketbook will also thank you as rubber flooring is one of the most popular ways to protect your concrete from dropped dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells.

Environmentally Friendly
To top it off, most of our rubber gym flooring is made from recycled rubber, making it an environmentally-friendly and renewable gym flooring option. This flooring is most commonly made from used tires and keeps thousands of pounds of waste rubber out of landfills, giving it a useful purpose once again.

Below is an overview of your gym flooring options so that you may choose the flooring that's best for your project.

Puzzle Rubber Gym Floor Tiles

Puzzle-style interlocking rubber tiles are one of the most popular gym flooring options. Since rubber is a naturally heavy material, these tiles allow for a more manageable installation. The gym flooring system consists of a collection of modular tiles, most often 2x2 or 3x3 feet in size, so you won't be dealing with heavy rubber rolls.

This floor style cuts down on waste when compared to larger rubber rolls or mats. The flooring can be expanded by adding more tiles, reduced by removing tiles, and changed in shape at any point in time.

There's no adhesive required, and you won't damage the floor by adding or removing tiles in the future. If you need to make the tiles fit flush against the wall, you can cut the tiles with a sharp utility knife for wall-to-wall installation. Some rubber tile models also come with border strips for a finished edge.

The modular design of these interlocking tiles reduces the weight of the individual components, and means that it's possible for just one or two people to install this product. Installing these puzzle style tiles is as simple as lining up the tiles and pushing them together. The connections will hold together tightly and will not separate or pull away.

Our 2x2 foot rubber tiles weigh between 3 and 22 pounds apiece, depending on their thickness and density. Puzzle interlocking rubber tiles are available from 1/4 inch to 3/4-inch-thick in all black and color fleck options up to 90 percent color. Greatmats also offers a 3/4-inch-thick 4x6 foot interlocking rubber gym mat.

Because the tiles are such a manageable size, you can easily handle tiles of varying thicknesses. The thickness of your tiles should directly correlate to the level of abuse you expect your gym floor to endure.

For gyms with mostly foot traffic or machines, thinner rubber floors can suffice. Most weight rooms will need a thicker material, especially if weights will be dropped, since thicker rubber materials will absorb the impact better, protecting both the subfloor and the longevity of your rubber surface.

Rubber Gym Floor Mats

Rubber gym floor mats can be used to cover large areas, but are more commonly used in smaller spaces where only 1 to 2 mats are needed to provide the necessary covering for specific areas.

Rubber gym floor mats are commonly 4x6 feet and have straight edges. They're very popular for Olympic lifting areas. For heavy impact areas such as these, we recommend mats that are at least 3/4 inch thick. At 4x6 feet and 3/4-inch thick, most rubber gym mats weigh more than 90 pounds.

While the mat's weight can make installation more difficult, it does help prevent shifting and lessens the need for interlocking edges. In most cases, these mats are dry laid. Rubber mats are typically more affordable than interlocking tiles of the same size and material.

Greatmats offers 4x6 foot rubber gym mats in 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch thicknesses. The mats are typically black, but they are available in natural color, as well. Some of these gym mats may have more of a rubber smell than others, depending on the manufacturing process.

Straight edged rubber mats are great for small, isolated areas where extra floor protection is needed. They are an excellent way to reinforce areas when weights may be dropped. Should you need to cover a larger area, the mats can be butted next to each other, but they will not lock together and may separate if not properly installed.

If you need a mat that interlocks for a more stable surface, our 4x6 foot by 3/4-inch Interlocking Punter Top rubber mats may be the right choice. These mats are designed for installations that need a durable interlocking system with good ventilation for larger installations. The mats insulate against cold and damp conditions and serve as a noise buffer. Made from 100 percent recycled rubber, this flooring option is a great fit for CrossFit gym floors.

Rolled Rubber Gym Flooring

Rolled rubber is one of the most economical forms of gym flooring. Additionally, the rolled rubber greatly reduces the number of seams present in a gym's floor. This design advantage, paired with the product's affordability, makes it a popular solution for large coverage areas, such as commercial gyms.

Installation is quite easy, but it does require more people due to the size and weight of the rolls. If the edges are cut to fit the room, then you may end up with more scrap material than if you had used gym mats or rubber tiles. Rolled rubber can be dry laid, or taped or glued down for a more permanent installation.

When installing rolled rubber over a large area, you will have fewer seams in your gym floor than you would if you opted for gym mats or interlocking rubber tiles. This can be an advantage when flooring large gym spaces.

Rubber rolls are available in varying sizes to suit many different projects. The smaller rolls are in the 4x10 foot range and measure 1/4 inch thick. These rolls can weigh as little as 60 pounds each, and are ideal for use underneath treadmills or other similar gym equipment. These smaller rolls ship directly to your door via ground shipping for excellent convenience.

Most pre-sized rubber rolls measure 25 or 50 feet long. An 8mm thick roll in a 25-foot length weighs about 190 pounds. At 50-feet long, that weight doubles. Rubber gym flooring rolls can also be ordered at custom lengths for your specific project.

When working with rolled rubber, you can choose different lengths, widths and thicknesses. Rolled rubber is also available in different densities. Plyometric rolled rubber is a low-density rubber specifically designed for plyometric exercises. It offers a little more cushion than traditional rubber rolls, and is a popular option in gyms where a lot of jumping is included in workouts.

Plyometric rubber gym floor mats are softer and offer more cushion than standard rolled rubber. These mats also properly support for aerobic floor exercises and repetitive movements. Plyometric rubber rolls are available in any length needed to accommodate larger fitness rooms.

Rubber Gym Paver Tiles

Rubber gym paver tiles are an alternative to the puzzle style interlocking tiles. These rubber gym tiles are often much thicker than puzzle mats and some can even be used outdoors.

The rubber paver tiles connect together using several different interlocking systems. Some utilize a lap joint style interlock, while others pin together. Ramped borders may also be available (sold separately) for some models.

These types of interlocking rubber floor tiles are available in 1 inch and 1.25-inch thickness in all black and full color options.

CrossFit-Friendly Gym Flooring

CrossFit training centers require strong, durable gym flooring capable of withstanding repeated dropping of objects like dumbbells, barbells or kettlebells. Most gyms are opting to use rubber gym flooring for such demands. Additionally, the rubber flooring is slip resistant and provides sound and limited thermal insulation.

Rubber flooring helps to reduce the stresses and impacts on the body during intense workouts, particularly during jumping. Because the rubber is firm, athletes don't lose output during heavy lifts because of excess cushioning.

If you need flooring for a CrossFit facility, consider our rubber gym flooring mats. These gym mats are ideal for cross fitness training, thanks to their durability and ability to absorb the shock of dropped weights.

These mats will protect your subfloor from damage when weights are dropped, and this is particularly true with our 1/2 inch and thicker mats. Greatmats offers interlocking versions of these flooring mats so you can rest assured that the mats won't shift, no matter how intense the action is on top of them.

For burpees, push-ups, handstands and any other exercise where your skin may come in contact with the flooring, you'll want to install one of our many smooth surfaced rolled rubber gym flooring options. Rolled rubber floors can be installed in layers if greater thickness is desired. This will help protect your concrete subfloor from becoming damaged during Olympic lifts where heavy weights are being dropped from waist height and above.

Rubber Composition

When ordering rubber gym flooring, you'll often have your choice of color. Black rubber gym flooring is made from recycled rubber, most often ground truck tires. Color flecks in rubber tiles and rubber rolls are ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) -- a synthetic rubber.

Rolled rubber is offered in standard black, natural, various color flecked, and confetti options. Confetti is created when the scraps from colored rolls are reground into the material creating a random mix of colors that can appear anywhere in the product.

Rubber floor tiles are available in the full range of color percentages, but are most often black or mostly black. Rubber mats are generally just black.

Rubber Thickness

The most popular thickness of rubber flooring for gyms is 3/8 inch. However, the slightly thinner 8 mm (approximately .32 inch) option is gaining in popularity. These choices are the ideal thickness for home gym floors and commercial facilities where heavy weights are not dropped. The 8mm option is thick enough to accommodate heavy static equipment and is less expensive than thicker rubber flooring options.

For free weight areas and heavily-used high school gym floors, 1/2 inch or 3/4-inch-thick material better protects the subfloor. This increased thickness provides the best shock absorption to protect both the weights and the floor beneath the rubber surface.

Keep in mind that the more often and more weight that is dropped, the greater rubber thickness you'll need to ensure proper protection of your subfloor. This form of usage is also much harder on the rubber than other exercise and may shorten the gym flooring's lifespan. Most rubber gym flooring is guaranteed for at least 5 years but has an expected lifespan of more than a decade. Re-vulcanized rubber products will also be more durable than non-vulcanized rubber flooring of the same thickness.

Alternatives to Rubber Gym Floors

With flooring material options that include dense rubber, soft foam, durable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and multi-functional carpet tiles, Greatmats has you covered in all flooring environments.

Rubber is the heaviest and most durable choice, while foam tiles are lightweight and ideal for multipurpose and aerobic gym floors.

In addition to durability, PVC provides excellent cushion, falling in between rubber and foam in terms of cushion and durability.

Carpet tiles should be limited to use with stationary exercise equipment in gym flooring environments.

PVC StayLock tiles are a great gym alternative to rubber flooring, providing excellent cushioning. These tiles are versatile and suitable for a variety of activities, such as aerobics and weight training. Available in bump top and orange peel designs, StayLock floor tiles are waterproof, making them a great choice for gym environments. These tiles offer the benefits of high end ergonomic flooring and give you more options for colors and pattern designs in your gym floor.

PVC floor tiles provide ideal durability and cushioning for aerobic activities and can be installed over carpeting. Both raised vinyl tiles and modular PVC floor tiles are made from waterproof material and feature a raised-base structure that will allow moisture to flow under the tiles.

Greatmats' modular vinyl-topped snap-together tiles offer a sleek wood grain or stone look and make for a long-lasting, finished flooring surface.

Pebble Gym Floor Mats are lightweight, very durable and easy to install. They are designed for home gym use under exercise equipment and can be easily moved and re-installed as needed. These high-density ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam floor mats can support heavy equipment such as weight benches or elliptical machines, but the equipment may leave indentations in the foam. Lead and latex free, pebble gym mats are also waterproof and easy to clean.

A great fit for basement floors, kids' rooms, martial arts, home exercise rooms and floor exercises, foam tiles offer a softer surface than rubber flooring. Foam tiles range from 10 mm to 1-5/8-inch thick and are offered in a variety of colors and styles. Foam gym tiles are affordable, easy to install, and can ship via ground service.

Installation and Care

Most gym flooring can be installed by the home or commercial end user. Interlocking tiles are easy to install and require no adhesive. Rolled rubber can be dry laid, but a glue- or tape-down installation is recommended, especially when the flooring covers more than 400 square feet or is being installed in a commercial setting. Keep in mind that, depending on the size and thickness, rolled rubber can be significantly heavy, requiring multiple people for installation.

Modular and snap-together plastic gym floor tiles will sometimes need an underlayment to provided additional cushion from concrete floors.

Flooring material of all types can be cut to fit using a utility knife, allowing for wall-to-wall installations.

Cleaning your new gym floors is just like cleaning other types of flooring. Foam gym floor mats can be cleaned using common household floor cleaners. Whether you have foam or rubber flooring, it is important to keep the floors clean and free of dirt to ensure a long life span of your gym floor. Always use a neutral pH floor cleaner for rubber surfaces.

Shipping

Delivery of these flooring materials is most often via freight delivery. For smaller orders, ground delivery such as FedEx or UPS may be available. Ground service deliveries to your door generally save on shipping costs over freight deliveries. Freight deliveries require the receiving party to meet the freight truck at the time of delivery.

Commitment to Customers

At Greatmats, we want you to be happy with your product and with your shopping experience. That's why we offer a price match guarantee, and we operate our business with the Golden Rule model - treat others as you want others to treat you. Because we ensure that our customers are satisfied with every order, we have earned an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. You can buy from us with confidence, knowing that your satisfaction is our priority.

You can feel good about buying from Greatmats. We give back to the community by donating 5 percent of our annual profits to local non-profit organizations.

Do you have questions about these products? Would you like a quote or a sample of one of these flooring options? Please contact our customer service team at 877-822-6622. We would be delighted to help you choose the right flooring for your project.

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