5 Best School Gym Flooring Options For Your Budget
One of the best ways to ensure that students keep thriving during their school days is to give them access to fitness and gyming facilities.
After all, all study and no play make Jack a dull boy!
Plus, physical activities positively impact students’ academic achievements by boosting their concentration, memory, and overall classroom behavior.
Hence, being a responsible school authority, the decision to have a safe gym facility within your school campus would be your major step towards shaping a healthier generation of tomorrow that you’ll never regret.
Oftentimes, we get asked these questions by schools:
How do you choose the type of flooring for a school gym? What kind of flooring material suits the best for a school gym?
We get it. You want to make sure that the school gym flooring you install absorbs the shock of pounding feet and tumbling bodies while reducing the chance of injury.
However, choosing the right type of flooring for a space that will be used by hundreds, if not thousands of children regularly is no cakewalk.
Thus we have decided to put our knowledge to good use and give you our curated list of cost-effective flooring options that are a perfect fit for the school gym.
But before that, we have some practical tips to help you get a school gym flooring students would fall (literally!) for.
Factors to keep in mind while choosing the right kind of school gym flooring
1. Safety first
The safety of students must be your priority while selecting a flooring material. The least you should expect is that it should protect their joints when they fall.
2. Longer life
A long-lasting school gym flooring material will save you time and money since you do not have to replace them frequently.
3. Non-slip grip
Best school gym flooring should be grippy. So when there is high moisture due to sweat or when somebody is handling heavy machinery, they do not slip.
4. Shock absorbing
The material should give the gym flooring much-needed elasticity and good shock absorption to prevent strain injuries and ligament tears. It also stops weights from bouncing.
5. Low maintenance
Flooring material’s simplicity of cleaning ensures hygiene in the gym all the time. So select the flooring that does not absorb odor, dirt, and moisture and can be easily mopped down.
6. Noise reduction
Your gym is bound to generate a lot of sound due to weights and physical exercises. A flooring option with superior sound insulation will absorb sound, which otherwise will disturb the quieter zones of the school facility.
7. Project budget
Depending on how much you’re willing to spend on the school gym flooring, you can find the right fit.
But we strongly advise you to go for the best you can afford. Think not just about the initial cost but also about the long-term maintenance expenditures, gym equipment protection, and most importantly, the safety of your school students. It will save you money in the long run!
Our Top Picks For The Best And Most Affordable Flooring For Your School Gym
1. Rubber floor
Tough and resilient, this one tops among the safest school gym flooring options currently available in the market. It provides superb cushioning — great for reducing injury risks and exercise fatigue.
They come in interlocking tiles, 4×6 ft mats, and even 4 ft wide rolls. While rolls are great for seamlessly covering larger areas, tiles are versatile in thickness, color, size, and patterns.
What we love about it:
- Superb cushioning
- Durability
- Water & stain resistance
- Ideal for heavy free weights and bulky machines
- No need to wax time and again
- Excellent sound dampening
- Better impact protection
2. Vinyl Floor
If you want to give your school gym floor a classic hardwood touch that also absorbs shock, the vinyl floor is your aide.
It’s a great floor for the school gym that works in double shifts as a volleyball or basketball court and the gym.
And did we tell you that it’s the most economical flooring option?
What we love about it:
- Low maintenance
- Longevity
- Multi-functionality
- Stain-resistance
- Stability against temperature and humidity fluctuations
3. Artificial Turf
Artificial turf’s dense grass-like cushioned surface offers the dual advantage of enhanced performance and athletic safety without costing you an arm and a leg.
It can sustain quick turns and even high-intensity workouts while safeguarding students’ joints.
What we love about it:
- Potential to last for years
- Shock absorbency
- Hypoallergenic properties
- Easy-breezy installation
- Appealing looks
- Low-maintenance
4. Carpet Tiles
The gym carpet is durable, low-pile, and can hold up well to the intensity of hardcore workouts. Moreover, due to its non-slip backing, large size, and sturdy weight, it remains steadfast in its place, reducing the risks of slipping.
Also, its acoustic performance and warmer appearance make it a great choice for boosting the aesthetics of a larger school gym.
Anti-fatigue carpet tiles with a 3/8″ foam pad underneath are a true staple for high-traffic gyms and offer extra comfort to joints.
What we love about it:
- Pocket-friendliness
- Fun design options
- Easy installation and removal
5. Polyurethane Floor
A functional and beautiful option to consider is polyurethane flooring.
We recommend this product when schools demand hardwood floor performance at a lower price. But by no means it’s a mediocre flooring option.
PU renders your school gym floor softer and more elastic than hardwood offers. Its high-performance surface makes it ideal for all kinds of sports activities.
What we love about it:
- Incredible slip and wear resistance
- Easily resurfaced
- Widest range of colors
- Cheaper to maintain
Wrapping up
Sprucing up your school gym floor may seem like an uphill battle to you, and now you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the information we have unraveled on this page!
Then why not leave it to the experts?
Rubcorp’s extensive expertise in playground and gym flooring will help you make a sound decision and create durable school gym flooring exactly as per your requirements.
