Concrete and hard-based floors can easily be damaged in a space used for exercise and fitness. Not only is it unsafe and uncomfortable to work out on a hard surface, repetitive impact and heavy equipment can damage the subfloor resulting in costly repairs and replacement.
In this article, we'll explore the best gym flooring options that are designed to protect both the user and the external environment.
Table of Contents
Different Types of Gym Floor Mats
Benefits of Having A Gym Floor Mat
What are Gym Floor Mats?
Gym floor mats are specialised mats designed to prevent damage on wooden, concrete, and other hard surfaces when doing physical activities in the home or gym.
They provide cushioning that helps to reduce the impact on the joints and back while protecting the surface underneath from scratches, dents, and other damage.
Features of Gym Floor Mats
Gym floor mats come in various thicknesses and sizes to suit different workout areas. They can cover the entire floor or just a designated area. They are typically made of rubber, foam, PVC, or carpeting materials that provide an anti-bacterial and slip-resistant surface. The mats have a textured surface to help reduce slipping during workouts and come with a non-slip backing to stay in place during use. Some gym floor mats have extra padding for added comfort and shock absorption as well as to reduce noise from heavy weight drops and equipment use.
Gym floor mats can be a protective layer between the hard surface and any exercise equipment or weights. They can also help protect against dust, sweat, and spills that can damage hard surfaces over time.
By using gym floor mats, you can extend the life of your floors and keep them looking better for longer.
Varieties and Uses of Gym Floor Mats
Gym floor mats come in various colours, styles, and sizes to fit any home or commercial gym space. Whether you're protecting your hardwood floors from heavy weights or your carpeted area from sweat, there's a floor mat for every need.
Select the right type of gym floor mats for your workout area, and enjoy knowing your floors are safe from damage as well as your body being protected from potential injury.
Different Types of Gym Floor Mats
There are lots of options for gym flooring mats. Let's break down the most popular choices for both commercial gym facilities and gym mats for home fitness:
Rubber Gym Tiles
Rubber gym mats are the mainstay of any good gym set-up. Typically square, with a bevelled edge profile, these rubber gym floor mats come in different thicknesses from approximately 11mm to 60mm. This choice of mat thickness is to allow users to select a density that suits their specific fitness needs, whether that be lightweight exercise to olympic weightlifting.
With a sleek and professional look, these gym floor mats are designed to withstand different levels of impact, offering shock absorption and body support while you exercise.
Interlocking Foam Tiles
These foam mats come in lightweight and durable interlocking pieces that provide cushioning and shock absorption when exercising. The interlocking pieces make installation easy and fast while providing a slip-resistant surface.
Additionally, these mats feature an excellent grip surface and are easy to clean and maintain. This foam flooring solution is perfect for home gyms, commercial gyms, sports studios for Boxing and MMA or any other space needing extra protection from weights and heavy equipment.
Rubber Puzzle Mats
Rubber puzzle mats are widely used as gym floor mats. These are hardwearing and come in different thickness options, providing shock absorption when you drop weights or jump around during your workout. They also provide a cushion to reduce the impact on your joints, helping you avoid injury. Rubber mats in a puzzle shape tend to be easy to clean and maintain and are popular for their simple installation method.
Rubber Matting Roll
Rubber flooring roll is a popular option for gym matting and offers great protection to the floor. The rolls of rubber gym flooring are resistant to moisture, easy to clean, and come in various thicknesses. Generally, it is the ideal option for wide open spaces with lots of equipment as it covers large areas more economically reducing waste.
Self-Locking Rubber Tiles
Another excellent gym floor solution is interlocking rubber tiles. These easy install gym tiles come with plastic inserts hidden underneath which allow each mat to link together without using adhesive. These mats offer superior stability and are simple to install without specialist assistance.
Customer Feedback:
"I would definitely recommend the Konnecta tiles. They were a little more expensive than the other tiles but worth it for the installation which I did myself. The whole process was straightforward and clean. Very happy with the look of our gym, the flooring is excellent quality and looks brilliant"
Benefits of Having A Gym Floor Mat
When setting up your home gym or facility, a gym floor mat is one of the most important pieces of equipment. Not only do these mats help protect your floor from damage caused by intense activity, but they also make workouts more comfortable and enjoyable while keeping users safe and free from injury.
Here are the benefits of installing quality gym floor mats in your gym:
Shock Absorption
Gym floor mats are designed to absorb the shock of heavy weights and intense exercises, reducing the impact on your joints and muscles as you move around. This means that you can perform more challenging activities without fear of damaging your property and have a softer landing spot for exercises such as plyometrics, HIIT, resistance or suspension training.
Fitness flooring comes in different thickness options which determine the level of shock absorption you will receive. There are very light options starting around 6mm and 8mm for lightweight, bodyweight exercise. The range increases up to 15mm, 20mm and 30mm for medium exercise which supports moderate to heavier weights then peaks from 40mm to 60mm for very heavy free weight protection and impact absorption.
Here is a quick guide of the thicknesses of gym floor mats and the levels of impact absorption in terms of exercise and equipment used:
Provide Cushioning and Support
Gym floor mats can provide much-needed cushioning and support for your joints. They help to reduce the chances of injury by providing a softer surface for you to move on, making it easier to go from one workout position to another without fear of strain or pain.
Noise Reduction
Hardwood floors and other surfaces often echo and reverberate sound. Gym floor mats can help reduce the noise level in your gym by absorbing sound vibrations, creating a more peaceful workout atmosphere. Noise reduction improves concentration and makes listening to music or audio recordings easier without disruption. Heavy duty gym mats minimise noise from the dropping of weights that can cause disturbance in commercial gym's and home gym set-ups.
Easy to Clean and Maintain
Gym mats are designed to be easy to clean and maintain. They come in various materials and can be wiped down with a damp cloth or vacuumed regularly, without absorbing moisture and becoming damaged. Many gym mat companies offer cleaning products that can help keep your floor mats looking great for years.
Economical
Most gym floor mats are inexpensive, making them a cost-effective way to protect your floors. Depending on the type and size of the mat, gym floor mats at affordable prices are widely available on the market which do not compensate in quality or style. This cost is significantly lower than repairing a damaged floor caused by heavy equipment.
Portable and Easy to Install or Move
Some gym floor mats are lightweight enough they can be easily moved around and reconfigured when loose-laid. You don’t need any specialised tools or skills to install most mats they either interlock with connectors or by design (puzzle gym tiles) or are butted together using compression or adhesive.
Versatile and Attractive
We know how important the right gym floor mats are for protecting your floors, but did you know that they can also be attractive and aesthetic? Depending on the type of gym floor mats you choose, you can customise their colour or design to match the rest of your workout space. This means you don’t have to sacrifice style to get the protection and support you need. Opting for colour fleck gym tiles or luxury gym flooring options with standout design instantly adds style and energy to a gym interior.
Conclusion
Overall, gym floor mats protect your floors from damage and can save you the time and money of having to make repairs or replacements. Whether you are outfitting a full-scale fitness centre or just looking for something to cover up your hardwood in the spare room, there is a gym mat that will fit the bill perfectly.
With proper maintenance, gym floor mats can last years and provide you with the peace of mind that your floors are protected from wear and tear, while minimising strain on the body and safeguarding you from potential injury.
Looking to future-proof your gym space? Explore our heavy duty free weights flooring and fitness surface solutions for the ideal protection.
