10 Rubber Flooring Pros and Cons: What You Should Know

Slip Resistant

Rubber flooring is unique because it becomes more slip-resistant when it gets wet. That means you have a safe, slip-free surface to work out on, no matter the conditions. You don’t have to worry about spills causing potential injury.

Plus, because it doesn’t get slippery when wet, rubber is also ideal for outside use. Install it in your yard to create an easy outdoor workout area.

Water Resistant

In addition to being slip-resistant, rubber flooring is also water-resistant!

To prevent water from reaching the subfloor, apply a rubber floor finish and sealer to the flooring. Additionally, seal the seams using a seam sealer. area.

Incredibly Durable

Rubber floors are built with durability in mind. After all, it needs to handle heavy workouts and high-traffic commercial gyms. While the common misconception is that thicker rubber means higher durability, that’s not necessarily true. Durability is more about density. Dense rubber flooring is tough and durable, while you can rip apart low-density materials with your bare hands.

If you need superb durability, make sure to search for these options.

• Vulcanized rubber: During the vulcanization process, the rubber is compressed into a dense, ultra-durable, non-porous rubber. This option naturally has a significantly milder scent than non-vulcanized rubber.
• Virgin rubber: For the purest natural rubber, you can choose virgin rubber floor tiles, which don’t include any recycled material. Virgin rubber is guaranteed to have no additives or latex.

Eco Friendly

Most of our rubber is constructed with recycled materials making it an environmentally friendly option. It helps reduce waste, promotes sustainability, and is more cost-effective.

Absorbs Impact

Intense workouts can put a lot of stress on your joints. You need flooring that can absorb the impact of your burpees, plyometric workouts, and dropped weights.

High-impact rubber flooring can lessen the stress and wear on your knees, back, and hips, and protect you from injury.

For the best high-impact gym flooring, look for products made from recycled, lower-density rubber. You can also find flooring with waffle backings designed specifically to absorb heavy impacts.

Easy Installation

One of the best things about rubber flooring is the ease of installation. Whether you choose rubber floor tiles, rubber rolls, or rubber gym mats, you can upgrade your gym in a single afternoon.

Rubber tiles are the most DIY-friendly option. The edges interlock together like giant puzzle pieces, and they’re heavy enough that you don’t need to glue them down.

Style

Rubber gym flooring is very functional, but it’s not necessarily known for its style. For the most part, your flooring is going to be black. If you want a minimalist look, this isn’t a problem.

One way to amp up the style is to introduce color. Some options will come with EPDM color flecks, containing anywhere from 10% to 95% color fleck. Virgin rubber even offers full color for a more vivid look.

Price

Rubber is premium gym flooring. It’s ultra-durable with highly sought-after features like shock absorbency, a non-slip surface, and easy installation. This is an investment in your gym and your fitness, and the cost is worth it.

If you’re looking for extra savings, confetti rubber rolls are our most cost-effective option. Enjoy playful rubber floors with a mix of color flecks made from recycled rubber scraps.

Heavy

The densest and most durable options are pretty heavy, especially if you’re installing a cumbersome rubber roll or a mat.

If you want more portable gym flooring, consider something lighter like Impact Rubber Tiles.

Smell

Some rubber products smell stronger than others, depending on the type of raw material used or how the flooring was made. Virgin rubber doesn’t really have an odor, so it’s great for those with sensitives.

When you first get your flooring, the smell will be the strongest. However, after initial installation and continued proper ventilation, the smell will dissipate.

You can also mop a few times with a mild soap and water cleaning solution like Dawn or Tide, and then keep the room well-ventilated or leave the flooring outside to dry. This should alleviate the smell.