Rubber Mat Flooring

Interlocking rubber floor mats can be used for a variety of purposes and comes in a number of shapes and styles. In terms of its usage, rubber flooring is fit for purpose in many areas. This includes commercial and industrial flooring, athletic/exercise flooring and also for use in the home.

Interlocking rubber floor mats is also excellent for use in wet areas such as bathrooms. Where ceramic tiled floors are in place, the use of rubber mats can provide a slip free surface helping to prevent falls. This is especially true in the shower where a rubber mat can help prevent accidents. Likewise, these mats can also be used in pool areas to provide a non-slip, durable surface around the swimming pool.

One of the main advantages in all these uses is safety. Interlocking rubber floor mats will generally provide a stable, non-slip surface which provides some protection in the event of falls. In commercial applications it can be used for flooring in factories and commercial buildings, providing a durable surface which should last for a number of years. It can also be used for playground surfacing to provide a safer area for children to play, and is often used in athletic/exercise areas, which includes flooring for gyms and martial arts or dancing areas. Rubber floor mats can also be used in gyms as individual exercise mats.

Rubber mats can be used in the home for a variety of purposes. For those with children, rubber play mats are an excellent idea. They provide a degree of safety which is obviously important for young children who may be unsteady on their feet. They can be purchased with designs and pictures on them which can be fun and/or educational for the child. It is also possible to use rubber matting for garage or basement flooring. The mats will provide a strong and durable surface and should stand up to the rigors placed on it, especially when used in the garage.

Interlocking rubber floor mats usually come as interlocking tiles which can be easily fitted together. They can also be purchased as a roll of material which can easily be laid, and reduces the number of visible seams. Both tiles and rolls can be purchased in a variety of colors and designs which should make them a viable alternative for most situations where the use of rubber flooring or mats is desired.

Rubber Stable Floor

The most common type of stable floor is concrete. However, many stable owners are covering their concrete floors with rubber, which offers a number of advantages:

• Yielding. A concrete floor is very hard and can cause various types of injuries. For example, when getting up from a prone position, a horse can scrape skin off against the concrete. Also, if the bedding is thin, walking on the hard concrete can stress joints, potentially injure feed, or cause sore points where the horse lies down to rest or sleep. A rubber surface provides a softer and more yielding surface, which minimizes the rick of such injuries.
• Warmth. Rubber is naturally insulating, which is more comfortable and healthier for horses, especially in winter.
• Traction. Concrete and wooden floors can be slippery when wet; rubber provide better traction and thereby reduces the risk of injury to horses.
• Bedding. Rubber performs some of the functions of bedding (e.g. insulation, traction, shock absorption, softer surface), reducing the amount of bedding required. Stable owners, on average, report that they require only half as much bedding with a rubber stable floor as with concrete floors. This results in a considerable saving in bedding, labour and storage costs.

There are two solutions for providing a rubber stable floor. One is rubber stall mats which one lays on top of an existing floor (e.g. on top of a concrete floor) and join together to form a interlocking rubber floor mats. The other solution consists of liquid rubber which is poured onto the concrete floor and then allowed to harden (this takes one or two days) to form a single rubber surface which covers the entire floor. The term 'liquid rubber' refers to the fact that the rubber is in liquid form when it is initially put onto the stable floor, but it then forms a solid rubber floor. Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages.

By Doug M Stewart

Preferred in Commercial Gyms and Sports Centers

Interlocking rubber floor mats is now being used within most commercial gyms and sport centers for a number of reasons. One being that it keeps the weights and the flooring damage free. Not to mention that it also keeps the gym user embarrassment free.

When you are working hard in the gym, I'm sure that you don't frequently take the time to peruse the floor. That is until you drop a free weight. Dropping a free weight can cause a tremendous noise and will cause damage to both the floor and possibly the weight. On top of this you will have the rest of the gym members' watchful eyes on you whilst you try to regain your cool.

When interlocking rubber floor mats is used within sport centres it is done so for many reasons. As well as it being durable and long lasting, it can also reduce the strain that an athlete puts on their joints as it softens the pressure that the activity places on the joints. It also is a great safety feature that can be used when taking part in such sports as trampolining and gymnastics. The interlocking rubber floor mats can be used in addition to sports mats which will aid any would be gymnastic if they happen to misplace their foot.

Obviously this is not ideal! But if you have dropped a free weight recently in the gym, you may have braced yourself for a massive clatter, only to be greeted with a delicate thud. And the reason behind this is the relatively new discovery of rubber flooring.

We all go to the gym to sweat. It's not nice, but it is a truth. If the gym had been covered with a carpet, then the sweat would easily be soaked up into the carpet, making it difficult to clean and difficult to get the lingering smells out of the floor totally. Similarly if the gym is decked out in laminate or wooden flooring, the sweat can seep in between the gaps and help to give put an odor of old sweat socks - not exactly a selling point for new members. Interlocking rubber floor mats will solve all of these issues. It does not absorb liquids and rather they sit on top of the surface making the rubber flooring easy to clean and making it easy to get rid of all of the smells that one associates with the gym.

Throughout both gyms and sport centers, interlocking rubber floor mats is a cost effective way in which both safety and flooring can be combined. It helps to dull the noise of these, at times, noisy environments. In addition to this it is long lasting, stain resistant and kind to the environment.

Why Quality Sports Flooring Matters

Like shoes, the surfaces below our feet greatly affect the level of comfort or discomfort we may experience while moving across them. Similarly, choosing quality flooring is just as important as choosing comfortable shoes-particularly if the area is used for sports and high-traffic activities.

The alternative to rubber tiles, rolled rubber flooring, is also offered in a variety of thicknesses and colors and is typically less expensive. One downside to this option, however, is that glue or some kind of adhesive is usually necessary for installation.

The installation of gym mats in weight rooms, health clubs and locker rooms should not be overlooked either. Not only will sports flooring protect a facility's surfaces, it will also absorb shock and sound. In a room full of heavy and noisy weights and equipment, rubber gym mats will make a huge difference. Additionally, adequate sports flooring in fitness and athletic buildings will reduce the amount of sports-related injuries and will minimize joint stress.

Home sports flooring should also be considered for personal exercise areas and children's play areas. There are many economical and easy to install options available that will more than make up for the costs. interlocking rubber floor mats can also be used in pro shops, large gymnasiums or auditoriums, and commercial spaces. Many interlocking rubber floor mats tiles and gym mats are aesthetically appealing as well as highly utilitarian.

When choosing sports flooring, there are several factors to consider. First you must decide whether you need gym mats for isolated areas or wall-to-wall rubber flooring. For home gym flooring, purchasing smaller gym mats for weight areas may be sufficient to cover only the high-stress areas. However, if your personal fitness area is in a basement, installing rubber flooring is a great way to prevent moisture and avoid cold surfaces. For commercial and public athletic facilities, the installation of complete sports flooring is recommended. Rubber flooring will portray a professional look and will facilitate the cleaning and maintenance of a large surface.

Rubber tiles that do not require adhesive is the easiest type of sports flooring to install. Tiles with interlocking rubber floor mats edges are best in order to avoid gaps, and materials include both virgin-based rubber and recycled rubber. Advancements in polymer technologies have resulted in recycled rubber products that perform just as well as virgin-based rubber products. Depending on the use, varying thicknesses are available for different levels of sound and shock absorbency.

Sports interlocking rubber floor mats varies greatly and has many benefits for both the protection of a facility's floors and the people that visit and make use of the facility. Rubber flooring such as gym mats and rubber flooring tiles is a good choice for areas that sustain high amounts of stress like locker rooms and ice rinks. Installing interlocking rubber floor mats will protect surfaces from sharp and potentially damaging athletic footwear and equipment.

Whether you are designing a fitness center or simply equipping your own home gym, investing in the appropriate sports flooring is essential. Interlocking rubber floor mats and gym mats are durable and easy to maintain flooring solutions that will provide protection and aesthetic appeal.

By Rachel Messina

Functional Interlocking Floor Tile

There are several different types of interlocking rubber floor tile that can be installed either in a business environment or at home. The kind of floor tiles that you choose to install depends solely on the manner in which they will be used. Determine first if you are going to need indoor or outdoor flooring. What room of the house will the flooring be placed? Do you have animals or children? All of these things can help in choosing the right flooring.

Epoxy flooring is most often found in garages or basements that are in need of a refresh. Epoxy floor tiles are not really tiles, but a coating. The floor is comprised of epoxy resins and should be 2mm in thickness. The epoxy is painted directly on the floor. It is nice flooring because it resists dirt and oil, but it does take a few days and can be a tiring process to put in.

If you are looking for patio tiles, you will most likely want to get something that isn't slippery. Tile floors can spell disaster for a patio, especially one that has a pool. If the tiniest amount of water gets on tile it can be incredibly dangerous for bare feet to run across. Interlocking carpet tiles can be a slip free solution. They are inserted a few inches higher than the ground so that the water can be evaporated without causing mold and mildew. Other types of interlocking floor tiles that would be satisfactory next to a pool would be PVC floor tiles. These are interlocking mats that offer slip resistance, especially in high traffic areas.

Vinyl floor tiles are easy to size and shape to the specific size that you need. For outdoor surfaces, vinyl is a great solution because of its slip resistance and moisture resistance. Since the vinyl tiles are easy to size down, they make great travel companions. At a campground, the vinyl tiles are nice to have to place in a shower.

Foam Floor tiles are typically placed in children's bedrooms. They are easy to clean up and provide a fun and safe atmosphere for kids. These mats are very versatile and can be used in basements, schools or at trade shows. They are comfortable to stand on and offer relief if someone has to stand for a long time.

Article Source: Steve Colville

Sports Flooring

Indoor or backyard sports facilities are a pleasure to have in any house. Besides helping you and your family to stay active and healthy, these also enhance the appeal of your home. Before you install artificial flooring in your home, however, consider your requirements. Do you want to build a home gym in your home or backyard? Or would it be a basketball/badminton court in the backyard complete with all the facilities possible? Once you have a clear picture of your requirements, it is time to pick the right flooring.

If you chose to build a home gym, go for interlocking rubber floor mats. There is simply nothing else available that can compete with rubber in this case. You can go for long, 3.5" thick rubber flooring, that you can roll out like a carpet. Buy additional rubber mats and put them in places where you may drop heavy dumb bells or bar-bells repeatedly. Rubber is great for absorbing punishment and for muffling the sound produced by dropped equipment. If you perform maintenance occasionally (around once a week), then you can look forward to getting 5-6 years of good service from your rubber floor.

When the interlocking rubber floor mats gets dirty, simply mop it with water and let it dry. The additional mats may get frayed sooner than the floor itself, but these come cheap and are easy to replace. These floors and mats come in various colors, such as, black, green, red, orange, etc. and patterns, such as, diamond, ribbed, checkerboard, or even plain flat. Thus these can match your home décor perfectly.

If you are looking to put up a sports court in your backyard, choose the surface material carefully. A basketball or badminton court will benefit from synthetic turfs. These turfs come in various colors, such as, green, orange, brown, and a host of other colors. The turf can even be emblazoned with the logo of your favorite sports team or just about any picture, thus giving you a personalized experience. These are waterproof, fire retardant, and highly resistant to regular wear and tear. When it gets dirty, you can simply hose it to wash it clean. Unlike natural grass, synthetic turf prevents the growth of insects and mites, and thus stays safe for even children.

Sports flooring can be an ideal way to add value to your house. If you do choose to sell the house in future, well-maintained sports flooring will boost the market value of the house to a great extent. Above all, it is great for creating a personalized space in the house, just for you and your family.

by Kathleen Chester

What Flooring Do You Need For Your Gym?

Gym flooring must be flexible and tough to withstand the demands of heavy weight and high impact seen every day in sports facilities. Gym flooring should be able to absorb an impact, while also remaining rigid enough to remain stable under heavy loads. This is a tall order for any flooring product, but there are many rubber flooring products manufactured specifically to fit these needs. The best gym flooring will provide a level surface, but also be able to muffle the sound of a falling weight.

Commercial Mats and Rubber is a large manufacturer of gym flooring, with several models suitable for all sports purposes. Commercial Mats and Rubber's Diamond Mega Plate tiles are specifically designed to absorb heavy shocks and absorb noise, while also remaining rigid under extremely heavy loads. Better yet, Diamond Mega Plates are solid 4x4 tiles that interlock with one another, requiring no adhesives in order to install. The Diamond Mega Plates should remain perfectly in place without any need for adhesives. The rubber used in the construction of the Diamond Mega Plates is engineered to withstand heavy loads, and will not tear or fray under pressure.

Commercial Mats and Rubber's Best Flex Flooring is another great option for gym flooring. The Best Flex flooring is designed to hold up to heavy loads without ripping or tearing. The product is also available in a wide variety of colors and textures. Just like the Diamond Mega Plate, the Best Flex flooring is installed without adhesives, and simply locks together. In addition to its toughness, both flooring types are given a great traction surface that prevents slipping. This makes Best Flex perfect for gyms, where flooring that is tough, safe, and appealing must be used.

For those looking for a more affordable option, Commercial Mats and Rubber sells the Gym Dandy flooring solution. Gym Dandy provides an anti-slip surface that is easy to clean and fire retardant, but also easier on the wallet. Commercial Rubber is running a sale at the moment on colored texture tiles, making them a more affordable avenue for some people. The overstock sale makes 3/8" interlocking fleck color tiles available for $10.99 per tile before shipping. The tiles are easy to install and require no toxic or flammable adhesives. This provides a safe and reliable surface that is also environmentally friendly.

Article by: Mark Simon Dobryniewski

Make Your Home More Comfortable

Interlocking rubber floor mats can be used to make any floor into a comfortable and soft surface. These mats are a really good way to turn your room into a child friendly play room where they are free to crawl around until their heart's content. These mats are available in a number of different colors and designs, there are so many different designs that you are sure to be able to find one to suit your room.

The first time I noticed these fantastic floor coverings was when I was a therapist treating autistic children. Some parents I visited had the idea of using Interlocking rubber floor mats to create a nice space for their child to relax in while the therapy was being done. Interlocking floor mats really are a great idea!

These interlocking rubber floor mats are even perfect for use in small homes, they can be put down and then taken up within a moment's notice. If you have a basement then using interlocking rubber floor mats may be a great way to make the concrete floor warmer and more comfortable. If your child enjoys music then there are music designs available, but there are also many other designs including fish and cars!

The first time I saw these mats I thought they were such a fantastic idea. They allow you to turn any area into a functional play room which is comfortable and warm. They're even a pretty good toy to play with for a few minutes!

These floor coverings make it possible to encourage your child to do some exercise! Playing on the floor mats can be pretty good fun! My daughter loves to play with the floor tiles and will do pretty much anything so she can!

Autistic children are very changeable, not every day will be wonderful. Sometimes they will get upset no matter what you do, however the floor mats still provide a safe surface for them to have their tantrum. By softening your floor you are making quite a safe room, if you leave them on a concrete floor then you're only asking for trouble!

Interlocking floor coverings also make the room much more beautiful, they add color and life into an otherwise dull space. As these mats are themed it also creates an interesting focal point. Not to mention them creating a safe and easy to clean surface for your child.

Advantages of Interlocking Floor Mats

These interlocking rubber floor mats have many advantages. As mentioned, they are a soft surface. Children can run and play on them or anyone can lay on them and be comfortable. They offer a soft, cushioned surface that can not compare to other flooring types. They are also simple to install. If you can put a puzzle together then you can put in this flooring. All it involves is fitting the pieces together. It really is easy. Lastly, this interlocking rubber floor mats is cheap. It can be bought in just enough pieces as is needed, so no waste either. When compared to other flooring types they make the most sense for a high traffic area or a child's area where wear and tear will occur the most. They will likely not show wear as easily and when they do they are a snap to replace. So, you should consider this unique flooring idea when your nest flooring need arises.