Keep Your Children Safe With Rubber Flooring

If you are a parent, then you must also constantly worry about your child’s safety. Children are vulnerable to falls and spills since their bones are delicate enough to break on impact. Broken bones will be the least of your worries if your son or daughter slip and fall just because you did not place rubber flooring in your home. This is why schools, nurseries and even playgrounds have rubber floor mats placed throughout.

The playground is where kids go to have fun and tumble around with other children their age. You can guess the fuss they can create if they are told to play carefully. This is why playgrounds have rubber flooring placed throughout the grounds.

The material is known both for its versatile nature and its eco-friendly characteristic. You can usually find rolled rubber flooring under jungle gyms, at the end of slides, the Merry Go Rounds, swing sets etc.

Besides playgrounds, rubber flooring such as interlocking rubber tiles are used in gyms, health clubs, martial arts centers, sporting facilities etc for the ease and comfort of the clients.

However, since children are the ones most susceptible to injuries, special kinds of rubber flooring have been invented specifically for their play areas. They are usually brightly colored and eye-catching to be as visible as possible and to appear appealing enough to children that they actually use them.

Besides this, they are durable enough to withstand a child’s exuberant play time. Kids will be kids after all. Rubber floor mats made especially for play areas will be able to handle all that abuse though.

If you plan on installing a nursery for your little angels, then placing rubber flooring on the floor will ensure they remain free from injuries during their playtime. The best part is that such material is durable and can last for quite a few years no matter where you have them placed. Plus, since kids jump around most of the time, you’ll need to install shock absorbent rolled rubber flooring to prevent your floors from getting a beating. Make sure the mats are springy enough to reduce injuries if your child falls off.

Kids love to make noise, but parents would give their eyeteeth for a little peace and quiet. Rubber floor mats can provide you that luxury since they are capable of reducing noise no matter how hard someone jumps on them. You don’t want to wake the neighbors at ungodly hours, do you? Additionally, since children are susceptible to allergies, you need to have these dust resistant mats placed pronto to reduce the chances of an asthma attack from occurring. Wash them with a little soap and water once a week to make rubber floor mats completely dust free.

Whether it’s for weight room flooring, gym flooring or your child’s play area, placing rubber mats on them can reduce injuries to almost zero.  Even if they get too worn, you can just recycle them easily enough.

How to Install Rubber Flooring

If you are the owner of a hair salon, gym or health center, or are going to be one very soon,  you will need to have rubber flooring installed. Rolled rubber flooring should be your first priority in this regard since it’s very easy to lay out on any kind of floor and can be removed at will.

Follow these  steps to lay your own rubber floor tiles or mats according to your standards:

1.       Set out the Rubber Flooring

Since rubber flooring usually comes in rolls rather than bundles, it’s fairly easy to spread it out as dugout flooring or as workout spaces in gyms. All you have to do to get your gym flooring is to set the rolled rubber flooring on the floor and roll it out throughout the room. Don’t place any furniture on it until it has had time to smooth out for at least a day. You will be left with unsightly wrinkles on it otherwise.

2.       Cut the Strips

The next thing you have to do is to cut the whole rubber flooring into strips according to the required size of your facility. They can be wide or short depending on the floor design in your gym or health center. For garage floors, you may need to use the entire rubber flooring. If you still plan on cutting your roll into rubber floor mats, make sure to leave at least a foot off each border so that you can trim it off if the need arises. When you are performing the final trimming, you may need to shave off a few more inches to fit those mats into your designated area.

3.       Trim it out

As mentioned before, you will eventually need to trim off some rubber pieces from your cut out rubber floor mats to make them look presentable and make them comfortable. To do that, trim uneven edges using a sharp knife and a ruler to keep the trim straight.

4.       Use Glue

This is a long procedure and one that requires a lot of patience and a steady hand on your part. You now need to apply at least 1/16 inches of glue or the appropriate adhesive to the floor where you intend to place the cut out rubber strips. Spread it out evenly throughout the floor and wait a quarter of an hour to allow it to set. After that, start placing the rubber mats onto the glued up floor.

5.       Spread the flooring evenly

After placing the exercise flooring evenly throughout the area, use a rolling pin or a round rod to even out any wrinkles or bulges on it. This will also ensure that the rubber is firmly set in the glue and won’t get unstuck from the floor.

6.       Clean up extra Glue

This is quite a messy job which is why there is no need to worry if you see some glue seeping through the space between the rubber strips. Use a damp piece of cloth to clean up this mess as soon as possible. If you leave it on too long, the left over adhesive can ruin your nice new rubber floor.

Why You Should Consider Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring is a great choice when creating a home gym because it can give you the look of a commercial exercise center, or professional gym in the comfort of your own home.

We suggest trying rolled rubber flooring because it is not very expensive, provides good grip and a seamless look for a fraction of the price you will end up paying for a gym membership. It can also help tidy up the look of your garage and ensure durable flooring that won’t crack over time.

The best part is, you don’t necessarily need to hire a professional installer to fit your rolled rubber flooring for you. Interlocking rubber tiles and rubber flooring rolls can be installed by someone with even a very basic understanding of home maintenance. The interlocking tiles don’t require any adhesive and can be fit in, or locked together. There are a range of fitments, but the most basic could be installed by anyone.

Rubber flooring can be used in any area that is not covered by a carpet to provide safe, comfortable synthetic flooring. Rolled rubber can be used to create garage flooring, gym flooring, fake turf, batting cage flooring, baseball flooring, weight room flooring, play areas, pet kennels, back yards, walkways, decks and play grounds. You name it, you can probably use it. The range of uses is truly phenomenal!

Rubber flooring is a durable, resilient, low-cost option that is easy to maintain. It is not damaged by day to day use and can withstand even the harshest treatment. It can be recycled, is resistant to heavy loads and provides a uniform flooring option that can be fitted throughout your home in the areas of your choice.

With many options of color, style and texture, you can get any look you want. Although it is not exactly inexpensive, it provides you with great value in the long term and gives you a stylish, versatile and seamless flooring option. Rubber flooring is the answer to all those high traffic, high impact areas.

Rubber Flooring for Tiny Tots

Nothing screams safety like a soft rubber floor, the best place for it being on school playgrounds or anywhere children play. Tough rubber flooring has the capability of enduring the feistiest of toddlers. They are also installed alongside slippery pool sides and fountains.

Needless to say, their importance can never be underestimated. Some of the other benefits of rubber flooring are as follows –

Resilient

A rubber floor is designed to be resilient and flexible, which is why it is seen as the perfect floor for playgrounds. This is also why it is also a popular choice of flooring for basketball courts, gyms and exercise areas.

Safety

This goes without saying. Recycled rubber products like this one have non slip properties. This is also why floors made of rubber are ideal for outdoor sporting facilities especially in areas that experience a lot of rain.

Muffles Sound

A playground can become pretty noisy. The neighbors won’t take kindly to screaming children if the school or playground happens to be in a populated neighborhood. Since rubber has the capacity to absorb sound, it is used to make rubber tiles for flooring such areas. For example, children can fall, jump or play quieter since the rubber tiles beneath them will muffle some of the noise they make. While a rubber floor won’t completely bring the noise level down, it will soften it down to tolerable levels.

UV Resistant

The sun can be a cruel taskmaster especially to a toddler’s sensitive skin. Rubber floors are designed to be resistant to the sun’s rays. Other than that, floors such as these are also frost and weather proof. Regions that experience extreme weather conditions can definitely make use of them in their outdoor facilities.

Easy Maintenance

Rubber flooring is also dirt repellent. In other words, you won’t need to wash it too regularly. It doesn’t matter whether you choose to install your floors indoors or outdoors. All you have to do in order to clean it is to sweep it with a standard broom every once in a while. Stains can easily be gotten rid of by applying a soapy solution to them and wiping them off with a dry cloth.

Just make sure that you are not overzealous in your cleaning. This means not using any steel wool, buffing machines, corrosive cleaning solutions or any type of scouring cleaning equipment on the delicate floor. Just wipe down and go, another great benefit of rubber floors!

Make Your Choice From These Interlocking Rubber Tiles Types

Interlocking rubber tiles are quickly becoming popular with homeowners for their affordability and attractive design. However, before you install this type of flooring in your home, you need to know its types. So, without further ado, here are the types of interlocking rubber tiles you can choose from.

  • Eco-Friendly Tiles – Interlocking rubber tiles of this type are usually made from recycled non-biodegradable waste such as plastic bottles. However, this isn’t the only reason which makes this rubber floor eco-friendly. Manufacturers producing these tiles create minimal waste, therefore ensuring that the environment isn’t harmed further.
  • Comfort Tiles – These rubber floor tiles are designed with extra padding to create a soft and comfortable surface. Their texture makes them perfect for ensuring the safety of those walking on them. This is why this type of interlocking rubber tiles is used in children’s shoeless play areas as well as nurseries.
  • Safe-Play – This is a special kind of interlocking tile, manufactured by Rubber Flooring Inc. Safe-play is mainly crumb interlocking rubber tiles that are painted in bright colors to attract children. If you have children at home or run a day care, this type of seamless rubber flooring is perfect. Not only will it protect the young ones from slips and falls, but it will also keep them busy as they trace the designs printed on the tiles.
  • Tough Interlocking Rubber Tiles – This kind of tiles are created to be skid resistant and shock absorbent, making them the perfect type of flooring for home gyms. Also known as athletic rubber flooring, these interlocking rubber tiles are durable enough for exterior use.
  • Drainage Rubber Tiles – Interlocking rubber tiles of this type are perfect for wet or messy floors because they guide liquids away from the surface as well as prevent breakage through their shock absorbent design. However, you need to make sure that the floors aren’t wet all the time or they will lose their skid resistance qualities.
  • Foot-Support Tiles – Foot-support tiles are rubber tiles that have pebble and bubble surfaces. This makes them very comfortable as well as shock absorbent, which is why they are used in large volumes at high volume and high traffic commercial areas.

Now that you know about the types available, you can make the best choice for your home or workplace. However, always make sure to choose your rubber tiles from top manufacturers to get the best value for your money.

Rubber Flooring for Dog Training and Kennels

Rubber Flooring for Dog and Animal Clinics

This article does not include/discuss animal mats for farms, horse/stall mats, etc.  This is specifically related to rolled rubber flooring for indoor pet clinics, hospitals, training areas and more.

Why is rolled better than tiles for pet flooring?

  • Rolled rubber flooring goes down with glue and is virtually seamless upon installation
  • Rolled rubber flooring is 4′ wide, so you can have very few seams
  • Interlocking rubber floor tiles, even the CNC cut type still have more seams and more chance of messes in between tiles
  • Urethane sealer can be applied quickly and easily to your new rolled rubber flooring

Materials needed for proper animal flooring installation?