Gym floor installation is not necessarily a complicated process with the right tools and materials at hand.
Gym floor mats are most popular as they only require easy installation in a home or professional gym. And the good news is that there are even ways of setting up these mats over carpet-flooring without risking damaging the carpet underneath.
Things to Know Before You Start
Before you begin, a quick assessment of the floor type is necessary. Floor types can include tile, stone, wood, or carpet layering all around. Once you learn of the kind of floor, it’s easy to decide how to lay the mats.
All you have to do for some floor mats is lay down the mat, and you’re good to go.
But the issue arises when you have tiles or carpet on the floor. It calls for a bit more skill. Laying mats on the carpet is a tricky affair, especially when there’s no intention of removing it any time soon.
More so, installing mats on top of the carpet requires an intense installation process and can stretch the budget. Make a note of this extra cost before deciding on gym floor installation.
Benefits of Gym Floor Mats
Exercising on a floor that’s not protected is not safe. Laying or installing mats makes it a safer place to work out, especially when using weights. Additionally, the mats work to protect the floor from scratches and dents.
Some of the benefits that can encourage you to install gym mats are:
Protecting Your Joints
Working out on an unprotected floor can be disastrous to your joint. Gym floor installation is a necessary process since the mats cushion your joints. This additional safety measure makes working out a great experience that won’t end up hurting your body.
Stylish Gym
Whether gym installation happens at home or in a gym, mats make the whole area stylish. Bare floors might not be as appealing. Having mats laid down can transform the entire space in no time.
Protecting the Floor
Bare floors are a high risk of damage thanks to heavyweights. These weights can cause scratches and dents on the floor, which is not appealing at all. Gym floor installation is necessary to protect and preserve the quality of the floor.
Extra Protection
Slipping is a safety concern in any gym setting. Some floors are too slippery to exercise without gym floor installation. By laying up mats, you have ample protection against slipping, which can lead to severe injuries.
Noise-Proofing
Bare floors can be quite noisy when dropping weights or performing other forms of exercise. By installing mats, there’s noise reduction. If this is a home gym, those around won’t be disturbed by the noise.
After reviewing the benefits of installing floor mats in a gym, start gathering the right tools for the job.
What Tools Do You Need?
Successfully installing gym floor mats requires specific tools. These tools will make the gym floor installation process run smoothly and include:
- A utility knife
- Steel ruler with a straight edge
- Measuring tape
- Double-sided floor tape
- Glue and a hot glue gun
- Heavy floor scrapper
- Chalk Line
- Marker Pen
- Notched Trowel
- Professional roller
These tools are essential and are readily available at the local hardware stores.
How to Lay Gym Floor Mats
Gym floor installation is doable in several ways. All these depend on the choice you make. The different ways to lay gym floor mats are interlocking, using glue, or using double-sided tape.
Interlocking Gym Floor Mats
Look at any gym around, and you’re likely to discover the interlocking gym floor installation system. It’s by far the most commonly used in many homes and professional gyms.
You require interlocking floor mats of the same thickness for an even gym floor installation. Once you have the mats at hand, you discover why this process is a darling of many. All you have to do is interlock the mats like a giant puzzle.
On the same note, it’s essential to realize that there are some intricate interlocking gym floor mats. The good news is they come with directions on proper installation steps. However, most use the universal interlocking system and don’t require any professional help to set up successfully.
Keep in mind that the more complex mats use the directional interlocking system. For proper gym floor installation using them, always ensure they’re facing the same direction. Also, those mats that have straight edges require installation by following a particular order to go smoothly.
Gym Floor Installation Using Glue
When using glue for gym floor installation, take into account the type of floor. If the floor has carpet, it’s best to remove it or install plywood on top. After that, you can begin laying the mats from one end to the other.
It’s advisable to systematically install the mats to avoid mistakes using glue, damaging them, and causing a mess. Have a plan laid out and start from the far end heading to the door. Using glue requires the floor to be clean and always apply it on the mat’s right side.
After installing the mats, use a professional roller or notched trowel to press down the mats. It gets rid of all air bubbles between the mat and floor. Follow this by leaving the gym for some time for the glue to dry completely.
Installation Using Double-Sided Tape
Quality double-sided tape is another essential tool when it comes to gym floor installation. The tape holds the mats in place and won’t shift during a workout.
To avoid the mats moving around, go for quality and long-lasting tape recommended for gym floor mats. Enquire on this from the local hardware store before making a purchase.
After buying the tape, start in a similar pattern to gym floor installation using glue. Start at the far end of the room and head towards the door. It makes it easy to leave the room without disturbing the mats as the gum dries out.
These three methods are ideal for proper gym floor installation. Being a DIY process, it might take more than one try to get it right. However, mistakes are the best way to learn and know what to do in the future.
After the gym floor installation, what follows is proper cleaning and maintenance. If you properly take care of the mats, they can give you more service.
Cleaning and Maintaining Gym Floor Mats
With proper cleaning and maintenance, gym floor mats can last for a long time. It can go on for decades without needing to replace them. One way to keep mats clean is to avoid dusty shoes in the gym and regularly dust the mats.
Avoid using liquids to clean gym floor mats since they tend to be porous. By using liquids regularly, moisture can accumulate, damaging the mats and the floor underneath. Also, this can lead to a foul smell in the gym.
Opt to use a vacuum cleaner to keep the mats clean.
Final Thoughts
Gym floor installation is not a complicated process.
You can do it without seeking any professional help after choosing the ideal procedure for you. Note all the tools that you require and keep in mind the type of flooring you have.
