Which flooring and which thickness?
Our floor protection mats are availible in different thicknesses and designs and: rolls, interlocking and square tiles. The appropriate thickness depends on the exercises which are planned to be done on it. So which one of these are the best solution?
When to use which thickness?
In general: The heavier the used weights, the thicker the flooring should be. It improves the impact shock absorption when dropping weights, reduces noises & vibrations and is more gentle on the joints.
- For cardio or plate load areas a thickness 6 to 12 mm is sufficient to support the machinery and equipment.
- For Functional Fitness with bodyweight or weighted exercises the flooring should have a thickness of at least 10 mm.
- In barbell/dumbell areas it’s not unusual to drop the weights from a great height. Therefore a floor mat with a thickness of at least 15 mm should be used. If the thickness is too low, dents at the floor and noise can occur.
- For Cross Training with barbells and heavier weights the floor should be even thicker. 15 mm are the minimum, in rig areas a thickness of at least 25 mm is recommended.
- For Rack areas with the use of heavier weights a floor thickness of 40 mm is advisable.
- For Heavy Weightlifting a flooring with at least 40 mm should be considered to protect the floor and the joints of the athlete.
When to use rolls for gym flooring?
Floor Rolls are very easy to lay and the installing is cheap. They need to be glued to the ground with a certain PU adhesive which makes the flooring less inclined to become unattached because of heavy use.
In addition they include fewer joints and therefore trip potential. Especially exercices with fast stop and go movements and large rooms benefit from these advantages. On the other hand the replacement of damaged spots is more difficult and complex.
For large rooms as well as for small rooms like Home Gyms, tiles are a appropriate flooring. The great advantage of this type of floor is the uncomplicated replacing of damaged or worn spots, since one tile can be removed and exhanged easily.
When to use square tiles for gym flooring?
Square Tiles are very easy to transport and replace. They do not interlock, therefore they also need to be glued to the ground with a PU adhesive.
When to use puzzle for gym flooring?
Interlocking tiles look like a piece of puzzle and can be attached to each other. This creates a solid connection even without glue and implies the opportunity of reusing. If a rearrangment is desired, these tiles can easily be separated and reattached. For easy do-it-yourself installation.
If you need advice to choose the right thickness? Give us a call or request a callback. We are here to assist you!
