The thing about commercial gym flooring installation is that you often inherit it from whoever was there when it was originally installed. Even if you don’t, you’ve got so many other things to worry about that flooring maintenance can fall by the wayside. Yet if you ever have to replace that floor, it’s a huge investment. So let expert flooring subcontractors fill you in on how to keep it beautiful and functional for years on end. Here are our tips on maintaining your gym flooring:

Daily Floor Maintenance

Shoes track in grit, sand, and dirt. Sweep every day with a dust mop. If any liquid is spilled, make sure it’s cleaned up immediately – you can even make this a gym rule. Help yourself out by placing wide, absorbent mats at any entrance from the outside.

Marks can be removed fairly easily. A good floor cleaner that’s suitable for your finish can do this, and many marks can simply be removed with a cloth. Also try a tennis ball for more stubborn marks. You can save your back by fastening it to the end of a rod.

Regular Maintenance

The key to applying any weight on gym floor is that the weight should be spread out. Move bleachers in and individual boards will crack. Bleachers and stages should be placed over plywood at least ¾” thick. Consult your installer or gym flooring subcontractors like us as to what the weight limits and best practices are.

Ventilation is also crucial. Indoor relative humidity shouldn’t exceed 50% or drop below 35%.

Avoid at All Costs

When it comes to gym flooring, avoid these mistakes:

  • Avoid using tape of any kind. It doesn’t lift well off gym flooring.
  • Do not shut down the ventilation system when the facility is closed or you’re away. It needs to be active in order to maintain humidity. The cost of replacing a floor exceeds the extra energy costs of keeping things running.
  • Don’t run your own modifications or bring in a heavy load without taking precautions and making sure you know what the floor can and can’t handle.
  • Don’t use cleaning products intended for home use. They can damage the consistency of the finish to the point where the floor becomes dangerous to use for athletes.

Have more questions? Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.