Every construction project for your facility requires a series of decisions that can make or break your vision. For example, the flooring needs to match the purpose and use of the room. For a gym floor there are several options to consider, including VCT, hardwood, sheet vinyl, rubber and modular flooring systems. When evaluating your options, you may find that a modular sports floor system designed for indoor gymnasiums is the best option for your facility when considering budget, use, protection for your athletes, versatility, and durability of the surface.
Factors to Consider
When evaluating different flooring options, you will need to prioritize the features and benefits each system provides to ensure confidence in your decision. For example, many facility directors will evaluate safety features, aesthetics, the playability of the surface, and making sure the options fit into your budget in the short term and will hold up to use and environmental factors in the long term.
You may also want to review the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2772: Standard Specification for Athletic Performance Properties of Indoor Sports Floor Systems. This standard was developed to set minimum criteria for indoor athletic surfaces, covering shock absorption, vertical deformation, ball bounce, and sliding effect. Not all flooring surfaces found in gymnasiums today meet this standard. Be sure you choose a sports floor suitable for the kids and adults playing and learning at your facility.
Understanding Modular Sports Flooring
Modular sports flooring systems have a unique combination of safety factors, flexibility for use and installation, are
durable and have a low cost over the life of the floor when compared to other sport flooring options.
High-quality modular surfaces meet the standards set by ASTM F2772 for safety and performance for indoor sport surfaces. Furthermore, unlike other surfaces, modular floors have customizable shock absorption designed to provide the ideal balance of safety and sport performance for your facility. Modular floors also have a unique safety feature in addition to shock absorption, called lateral forgiveness. This feature, only available with modular sport systems, allows for slight movement between tiles to absorb the transition forces generated from sudden shifts in direction, reducing the risk of muscle and joint injuries.
Modular sport surfaces can also be a great economic choice in the short and long term for facilities. The upfront construction costs are kept lower compared to other options, as the interlocking tile design of modular sport floors allows for the surfaces to be installed more quickly than other surfaces. The entire flooring system can be installed in as little as a day or two making the surface ideal for renovation and minimizing downtime during installation. Furthermore, with guidance from the manufacturer or installer, maintenance can be handled in-house, and there is never a need to resurface or refinish for the life of the floor.
A combination of wood designs and solid colors makes for an endless array of design options when installing a modular sports flooring system. This allows for facilities to easily match community colors and themes while only needing to use paint for game lines and logos.
When to Choose Modular Sports Flooring
Modular sports surfaces are installed throughout many different facilities in communities all throughout North America, particularly elementary and private schools, parks and recreation facilities, and community facilities like the Boys & Girls Club.
When should you consider modular sports flooring? If your gymnasium is used for multi-use events such as a variety of different sports, hosting events, and more, modular surfaces can provide the versatility for different activities without compromising on performance or aesthetics. Also, due to their lower cost of ownership, modular surfaces are often chosen when budgetary concerns are a consideration as well. Frequently chosen during renovation, modular surfaces allow for lower construction costs with a quick turnaround, resulting in reduced downtime for your facility.
Modular surfaces can also be a great option for sport-specific applications in temporary installations, such as pay-for-play facilities where the space is often leased. This is because unlike most other flooring applications, modular surfaces can be removed and reinstalled in a new location when the lease at the current space is up without losing the full investment of your sport surface in the temporary space.
Choosing the right gymnasium floor involves considering various factors such as purpose, safety, performance, durability, budget, and aesthetics. Modular sports flooring stands out as a versatile, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly option that meets the needs of many facilities. Its ease of installation, durability, and customization options make it an excellent choice for modern gymnasiums.
By carefully evaluating your facility’s requirements and the benefits of modular sports flooring, you can make an informed decision that enhances the performance and longevity of your gym floor. RM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephanie Corrigan is director of brand and product marketing for Sport Court, which pioneered the concept of the modular outdoor game court in 1974. Today, Sport Court offers premium surfaces that are among the safest and most durable on the market. Visit www.sportcourt.com for more information.