People are increasingly considering rubber flooring for gym, garage, basement, workshop floors and other high traffic areas or in areas where moisture is a genuine threat.
Indeed, rubber flooring (made from natural rubber with most of them containing about 10-50% recycled rubber) has so many attributes – durable, economic, fire-resistant, hygienic, soundproof and waterproof. Thus, it has come to acquire the status of one of the best floorings of the present times.
Speaking of times when rubber flooring was regarded a rather expensive flooring option it was used only for commercial purposes. Properties like eco-friendliness, low maintenance and natural resilience made rubber-flooring materials the ultimate choice for innumerable commercial applications.
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Hence, rubber floor sheets, tiles, etc. were used in amusement and fitness facilities like aerobic centers, cardio centers, ice-skating rinks, skiing areas and for other similar purposes.
Now that the durability-factor of rubber flooring materials has come to the fore (average life span of rubber floorings is around 15 years and with some care installations can give you service for nearly 30 years), they have made an entry into domestic spheres as a highly cost-effective flooring option.
No longer limited to players’ locker rooms, rubber flooring now enables you to tackle the persistent humidity problem in basements. The water rising from the ground and seeping through the sub-flooring as well as the adjoining walls does not affect rubber flooring.
This creates a watertight surface. With no moisture traces showing up, the basement looks airy, bright and gives a feeling of cozy warmth and freshness by doing away with the foul smell. Moreover, rubber flooring is a watertight option and so it is apt for places like your basement, where moisture has become a persistent problem.
With the transformation of the dark, stuffy basement complete and the many attributes of rubber flooring, you will now have access to some extra fit-to-used living space that you may utilize as per your need. Convert the basement to a home-gym, taking advantage of the resilience, impact resistance and sound absorbent features of rubber flooring. Hygiene and healthiness will never be a concern since cleaning rubber matting is easy. Simply mopping the surface with soap water gets your cleaning job done.
Rubber flooring has multiple applications beyond basements. The low maintenance and decent degree of cleanliness that rubber provides makes it ideal choice for your home-office or workshop. Being chemical, slip and stain resistant, it is simply unparalleled for garage floors. Use rubber matting on bar floors; have a mini tennis-court laid in your backward for your budding tennis star. In fact, with rubber flooring, you literally can go to any extent.
In case you are concerned about the looks, be sure that rubber-flooring materials irrespective of the variety like interlocking rubber flooring tiles or mats or rubber rolls, match their functions. You will get unique designs and coloring in them.
If you are still not certain whether or not to go for rubber flooring for the gym, garage or basement floor because you foresee a shift of base, you are yet to know the best thing about rubber floorings … rubber floorings are as easy to remove as it is to install! You will simply need to remove it and pack it with your other belongings when moving out of the house.
Do not waste a precious second! Go shopping for rubber flooring for your basement or wherever you want to install them!
by Manuel Kupka
