Tag Archives: DIY Flooring

What You Need To Know Before You Get Your Rubber Floor

So you’ve decided to get rubber flooring, but what do you need to know before you get those rubber floor tiles put in?

If you didn’t already know why the interlocking rubber tiles are a good idea for your gym, here’s why: It is because not only do the floors provide traction that prevents you from slipping on any spilled water, the rolled rubber prevents any damage from heavy equipment and helps reduce the noise that heavy gym machines make.

You might have a picture in your head of drab, dull, gray rolled rubber flooring, but that is a thing of the past. Now the rubber floor mats and interlocking rubber tiles come in bright colors and wide varieties, with the added bonus of a puzzle-like interlocking feature that means you can install them in your own home by yourself.

If you’ve considered rolled rubber flooring already, you can choose between brand new rubber flooring and recycled rubber tiles. If you’re all for saving the environment, don’t hesitate to get the recycled variety, as these are a good choice, since they are not made of crude oil. This means you can help save your environment simply with the choice of flooring you install in your home! What adds to their advantage is that they can be reused and recycled when you’re done with them. This means that when you move houses, you can take your floor with you!

The color and the style is a very important choice. Many people imagine a rolled rubber floor to look industrial and gray, but with the innovation in design and the array of color choices, your home gym or your new kitchen floor can now not only be practical, but extremely stylish and good to look at!

Make a note of the measurement of the room. If it is large, you might want to save on costs by getting a less expensive variety of the interlocking tiles. Furthermore, getting the measurements exactly right ensures that your new rubber floor is fitted perfectly. The best part is that with the interlocking tiles, you don’t need an expert to do it. You can take care of the job yourself and have a stylish new floor for a very low cost relative to the value it provides.

The only real decision you therefore have to make is what color and style to go with. Go for something that fits the rest of the theme of your home, or choose something that will make your gym an exciting place to be, so you have an added incentive to work off those pounds in your new gym.

You can play around with the interlocking tiles to create a variety of shapes and designs to get a high gloss look, or a matt appearance or add sparkles in the design. Apart from this choice factor, since the tiles are so easy to install and so relatively inexpensive, the decision seems to have been made for you!

Great Reasons Why You Should Use Rubber Floor Mats

Rubber floor mats are perfect for facilities which require people to stand or exercise in one place for long periods of time. They provide soft landing areas if an individual happens to fall during an exercise regime, or slip while on the premises.

The best part is that rubber flooring such as this comes in a wide range of densities and thicknesses to accommodate your particular requirements. Some are also made with different materials besides rubber.

When looking for gym flooring, weight room flooring or exercise flooring, people usually tend to go for the anti-slip or anti-skid variety. Chefs who need to manage large kitchens also prefer to purchase such rubber floor mats for their staff.

Such environments are prone to grease, sweat and oil spills that need to be soaked up immediately to avoid unfortunate accidents from occurring. Rubber floor mats are designed specifically to retain a very low coefficient of friction. You need to check the packaging of your mats for this label before purchasing them though.

Such type of flooring usually comes in a large range of styles including soft rubber, tiles, marble etc. Interlocking rubber tiles made out of sturdier materials is preferable to the soft variety if you want your employees to remain healthy and free of injuries while working in your facility.

Commercial kitchens for instance, typically have interlocking tiles such as these installed in them. Each comes with tongue-and-groove tiles with trimmed edges to make them as unobtrusive as possible. Floors that typically get wet a lot also have patterned holes in their design to allow liquid to drain through effectively.

Rolled rubber flooring can be easily set in place in a large room by rolling it out. Low density mats are used in gyms due to their ability to handle impact. The same goes for anti-fatigue and dojo mats. The former is used in factories, specifically in assembly lines to reduce the fatigue of worker who need to stand for long periods of time.

The displacement abilities inherent in such material allow weight to shift from the feet allowing increased blood flow and oxygen. That’s why you can usually find the recreational variety in self defense facilities and factories.

Besides reducing fatigue and chances of injuries, rubber floor mats are also given as complimentary giveaways by their manufacturers. These usually have the company logo and cheerful messages printed on them to encourage people to come back to them for more rubber flooring if the need arises.

You can do the same with your own establishment by placing a welcoming rubber floor mat in front of the doorstep welcoming customers. Plus, it can end up attracting more and more clients to your establishment, resulting in greater revenue for your business.

All in all, rubber floor mats are essential elements in any facility that gives the safety and comfort of its customers top priority. You can also use such matting as batting cage flooring and baseball flooring to make your players more comfortable off the pitch.

Rubber Floor Mats To Avoid Bathroom Falls

Rubber floor mats have been around for decades. They can help you in avoiding those scary bathroom falls that can cost you dear. It is not just the older people that are affected by falls. Young and otherwise healthy people may also suffer injury after taking a wrong step out of their tubs.

Statistics

According to a 2008 survey by the Center for Disease Control, 234,094 people sustained injuries in a bathroom. These injuries were non-fatal, but resulted in a number of serious injuries, some of which lead to permanent disabilities. Another estimate by the American Society of Orthopedic Surgeons puts the annual spending on bathroom injury recovery at billions of dollars.

Given these cheerful statistics, it becomes necessary that you deploy rubber floor mats in your bathroom to avoid it happening to you.

How to Place Rubber Floor Mats

It is a simple process. All you need to do is to place the mats near the tub, water closet and sink. It is always good to place a mat near the exit as that place tends to get slippery. Try buying mats with a heavy construction and good absorption. This will enable you to use the same mat for days without the need to wash or replace it.

Alternatives

You can also cover the entire space with rubber floor tiles. This should be a top priority if the bathroom is frequented by older people. They have higher risk of falling and sustaining debilitating injuries. Rubber flooring is good for every type of bathroom, irrespective of size or type of fixtures. The tiles are available in standard specifications and can be locked together into almost any shape.

You can encourage your kids to join and you will be able to complete the assembly within a few hours. The tiles can be removed with the same ease as the assembly process. You can replace interlocking tiles with other variants of rubber flooring. Some of these can be installed permanently. This will enable you to get over any fears of falling on the bathroom floor and sustaining injuries.

Do not take bathroom injuries lightly. It is better to take preemptive measures to avert future slips or falls that may lead to serious injury.

Rubber Flooring For Baseball Dugouts and Batting Cages

We are truly obsessed with baseball, and rightly so. Only football can claim as many fans and enjoy as much coverage. While fans’ passion is limited to cheering for their favorite teams and keeping an eye on upcoming matches, maintenance staff hardly enjoys a respite from work. Each area of a baseball stadium has specifications of its own that one has to comply with.

The dugout is a special area as it is the place where the players observe the game and wait for their turn. Batting cages are equally important as they are the places where players can perfect their skills. Rubber flooring is perfect for both these locations.

Dugout Flooring

The dugout is one of the most heavily used areas of a baseball field. It is the place where the players rest and observe the proceedings of the game. Given the heavy use, dugout floors can wear out quickly. They need a floor that can withstand such pressure and last longer. Rubber flooring thus appears as a better alternative.

It can help the maintenance staff in ensuring cleanliness without disturbing the players. Rubber flooring now comes with special drainage features that can allow for easier management of dirt, grime and sweat that is common in dugouts. Rubber flooring is also good for the players who find it easier to walk and lounge on a uniform, flexible surface. It is even better placing rubber floor mats in the vicinity of players’ seats so as to provide them with a comfortable surface to place their feet.

Batting Cages

Batting cages are the places where rubber flooring can make wonders. Interlocking rubber tiles are particularly good for batting cages. They are easier to install and offer better traction along with greater protection against injuries.

Batting cage flooring is different from dugouts in the sense that it is the place where practice shots are played. This means that it is exposed to rigorous pressure and drag that can accelerate its wear and tear. Batting cages are also located both on-field as well as inside an auditorium or practice space. Exposure to water, heat and moisture on cages located outside can shorten their life.

Rubber floors with extra flexibility can overcome this problem. They are good for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Along with better drainage and heat resistance, they are easier to maintain.

Rubber floor tiles are gaining popularity and are increasingly being used in professional arenas. Their wear-resistant and durable construction can help managers and maintenance staff in overcoming the problems associated with repairs and replacements.

Five Things To Consider Before You Install Garage Flooring

Taking a cautious approach towards garage flooring is always a good thing to do. Garages are the most hard-used spaces in your home and has to cope with a lot. Apart from providing shelter to your cars, they house spare parts, furniture, generators and all manner of other household detritus.

They can also offer a secure playing space to children and may serve as an indoor games or hobby area. Given the heavy use, garage floors do not last long unless you use a high quality garage flooring solution.

  1. Use

The first thing to consider is the daily traffic in the area. Traditional concrete flooring can hold out in case of heavy use, but is cold and uncomfortable. Concrete garage flooring topped with tiles or old carpet may appear a durable option but is subject to wear and tear.

  1. Storage Items

Some garages are stocked to the roof, while others have very little stored inside. If your garage falls in the first category then you need flooring that can withstand regular movements and impact. Some of these items need to be dragged across the floor and often leave ugly marks. Thus you need a floor type that can withstand such pressure.

  1. Size of the Garage

It is equally important to keep the garage’s size in mind before selecting a flooring type. Expensive tiles may look visually appealing but can drain you financially if the area is large. There are many cost effective garage flooring solutions that provide a viable surface that won’t break the bank.

  1. Savings

You need garage flooring that can be installed with little spending. Expensive tiles, marble, or granite floors do not provide that financial comfort. You need flooring that can be installed with minimal investment, but will also last longer.

  1. Durability

You can prolong the life of garage floors by selecting a type that can stand the test of time. Rubber floor tiles, for example, offer better alternative to traditional flooring. Rubber floor has that combination of elasticity and durability that can help you in overcoming wear and tear problems.

Why Rubber Floors?

Unlike traditional flooring, rubber floor tiles are springy yet made of solid construction. They can replace traditional tiles and have a simpler installation. You can use them in your garage as they will remove the need for frequent repairs.

Rubber flooring in the garage is the ideal solution. It’s cheap, hard-wearing, stain-resistant and look pretty good too. Why not see for yourself?

The Different Types of Rubber Garage Floors

The garage is the one space in a home that most people take for granted. It’s somewhere to store the car, old furniture, family history that you don’t want to throw away and anything else you can’t fit in the house. Elevating your garage from the mundane to the eminently useful can be cheaper than you think. Here’s how to use rubber flooring to do just that.

The flooring is a good place to start. If your floor is bare concrete and experiences a lot of traffic, it could start to crack quite quickly. The result would be a thousand dollar repair bill that you could easily have avoided if you had acted sooner. Installing rubber floor tiles on your garage floor can help you do just that.

Of course, buying any old rolled rubber tiles from your nearest hardware store just won’t do. You have to have an idea of the type of rubber flooring you want to install in your garage. Look for quality and be prepared to get what you pay for. Low grad floor tiles, especially the cheaper variety, tends to warp easily and can crack under heavy loads.

You would therefore be doing yourself a favor by opting for quality tiles or quality rolled rubber flooring. The rubber floor tiles are made from a hard wearing, stain resistant material that is ideal for a garage. They can be laid individually, or some lock together to create a solid rubber floor.

If you want to cover an area at once, then rolled rubber garage floors are what you should be looking out for. Rubber floors that come in this variety are the most convenient to install. All you have to do is to roll them out and trim to fit your existing garage floor. Some will need adhesive to secure them, others will not.

Ask the experts at Kodiak Sports.com, a primary supplier of rubber flooring. Their expert guidance can quickly guide you in your quest to elevate your garage into another useable space.

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!

Three Areas at Home for Which Interlocking Tiles are Ideal

Interlocking tiles, comprising rubber flooring with a color or pattern, can be very tempting to use. You can’t help but like their reasonable price tag, or how easy they are to install and maintain. However, you may find it a little overwhelming to use this rubber flooring all over your house. If you’re interested in enjoying the benefits of interlocking tiles, consider using them in the following three areas at your home.

Home Gym

Rubber interlocking tiless are excellent for any home gym because they secure your fitness equipment and protect you from injuries caused by slips and falls. However, what makes them most ideal is their puzzle piece design. If one part of your floor is damaged, you can easily remove the worn out tiles and replace them within minutes. To get the best value for your money, invest in interlocking tiles that have a color fleck design because they hide footprints and dirt.

The Garage

Your garage is very important, especially if you use it to store some of your old possessions or work on your car. However, the look of your garage as well as your stored items’ safety can be compromised if you do not give much thought to the garage floor.

Not only do interlocking tiles protect your belongings and brighten up your garage, but they also reduce noise, reduce the need for cleaning and protect from the effects of spills and stains. The best part is that you will receive all these benefits without stretching your budget!

Patio

One of the most common ways of giving your house a new look is by remodeling your patio. However, rather than investing in different patio decorations and wooden floors, consider using interlocking tiles. These tiles are durable, which means they won’t be worn out easily by your guests or the weather. In addition, they will guarantee the safety of your patio because of their anti-skid design. So, even during rain or slate, you can rest assured that no one will slip on your deck.

Installing interlocking tiles in any of these areas will not only reflect your belief in safety and show your practical side, but it will also flaunt the fact that you are up to date as to what is most fashionable in home renovations. So, make the choice between hiring a professional and getting a DIY kit to create your own interlocking tiles floor.

How to Install Rubber Flooring

Installing rubber flooring is easier than it looks. There are certain floor preparation techniques that need to be applied before you can begin, such as thorough cleaning and site clearance but the rest is easy. This is only true if you have already had a carpet installed in the room, so if you didn’t, you’re good to go!

Start by cutting the first roll and laying it out dry across the length of the room.  This is done to ensure that the rubber flooring rolls adjust to the temperature of the room and so that you can trim the rolled rubber according to the shape of the floor. The items you will need to trim are a utility knife, a razor knife, sharp blades and straight edged metal tape. Do not try to cut the rolled rubber flooring with one stroke. Make several passes till you cut clean through.

Roll the rubberback from the shorter edge about 2 feet away from the wall and begin spreading the adhesive on the floor using a trowel. Allow the adhesive to settle for about half an hour, then ease the rubber roll back into the adhesive and make all adjustments that you need to make before the adhesive sets.

Since you will be using rubber floor tiles while installing rubber flooring, start at the seam of the other end of the first roll and repeat the procedure. To work quickly, you can spread adhesive on the second half of the first roll and the first half of the second roll at the same time.

You have to be careful to keep the interlocking rubber tiles as close as you can to prevent gaps. You will know that you have done it perfectly if the seams between the rolled rubber in the rubber flooring are invisible.

When you are done, you can install the cover base on the rubber flooring and then the room is ready for use. You can use the rubber floor for garage flooring, gym flooring and weight room flooring purposes, so you can install the rubber floor tiles in this fashion in your garage, weight room, gym and sports areas, such as for baseball flooring.

The interlocking rubber tiles are a highly preferred choice for gyms and fitness rooms because they are easy to install and are very tough to damage. The best part is, when you move houses, you can take the floor of your fitness room with you!