School Gym Flooring

Some of the best moments at school happen in gyms and gymnasiums. Whether it’s gymnastics, indoor football or dance classes, school gyms create lasting memories, and the quality of the floor plays a big role in this.

Of course, we are not saying that students will remember the floor for years to come, but they will appreciate the safety of a good surface at the time. Safety will also be one of your biggest considerations with school gym flooring.

Hardwood

School gymnasiums are prime candidates for hardwood sports flooring. Hardwood flooring finished in clear lacquer lasts for 20 or 30 years. It’s a hard, unforgiving surface to fall on, but for football and court games, hardwood is excellent.

PU

PU, or polyurethane, is a modern alternative to hardwood. It is just as durable and is available in a wide range of colours because the top is coated. You can choose any colour on the RAL Colour Chart to create a showstopping play surface.

Vinyl

Vinyl, or PVC, is a flooring system made from multiple layers of pressed PVC. It’s one of the most flexible materials because it’s available in several elasticities. The performance can be similar to PU or softer to provide a more forgiving surface.

Rubber (EPDM)

EPDM rubber is an outstanding school gym flooring system in areas where there are machines and weights. You can also use EPDM rubber tiles on top of a normal floor for extra impact protection and sound dampening.

Sprint tracks

Indoor sprint tracks are normally made from PU. PU offers a grippy surface that isn’t too spongy. An alternative is a sprint track that’s pre-made to go over your existing floor. For example, you can get a giant sprint mat to go over carpet.

Summing up

The classic flooring for a school gymnasium is hardwood but this is an expensive material that’s difficult to replace when damaged. PU and vinyl are more modern options offering similar performance at a lower cost. They also come in several colours.

In areas where high-intensity exercise is expected, you can install EPDM rubber flooring to protect the subfloor and students. It also goes without saying that gymnastics classes need to make use of crash mats to prevent serious injury.

Overall, there are several school gym flooring systems to choose from and you can’t go wrong with any of the options outlined in this article. If you’d like more information, please feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help.