MellkarRubber flooring for gyms
A gym does not have one floor, it has three or four. The free-weight area, the machine floor, the functional training zone and the circulation routes punish the material in different ways, and specifying the same thing everywhere is the fastest way to overspend in some zones and fall short in others.
Which material
Indoors, the answer is almost always recycled SBR. It dominates the gym, weights and CrossFit flooring market for a cost reason no manufacturer ignores: it comes from shredding end-of-life tyres, pressed with a polyurethane binder and cured in a mould.
Its natural colour is black or grey. It takes pigment, with a short palette and limited colour stability, but under a roof that stops mattering because there is no ultraviolet radiation to punish it.
EPDM comes in when sunlight is involved — outdoor training areas, terraces, courtyards — or when colour is part of the design. It costs around 57 % more per kilo.
Which thickness
Thickness is set by impact energy, not by foot traffic.
- Free weights and Olympic lifting. This is where load drops from height. It is the thickest part of the installation and not the place to save: an inadequate floor transmits impact to the slab and cracks it.
- Machine floor. High static load, no impact. It needs firmness more than cushioning; too soft a floor lets machines walk.
- Functional and circulation. Continuous traffic, low impact. Abrasion resistance is what matters.
Actual thicknesses depend on the system and the manufacturer. Ask each supplier for their recommendation per zone in writing, because it is a figure they take responsibility for.
Which format
Tiles — modular, replaced one at a time when damaged, installed without building work. The sensible option where the floor will wear unevenly.
Rolls — fewer seams, a more continuous look, faster installation across large open areas. Replacing a damaged section is more awkward.
Poured in place — a continuous seamless surface that adapts to irregular shapes. Requires a specialist installer.
What to require in a quote
Two quotes for the same product can differ by 40 % without either one lying, simply because they are not quoting the same thing. To compare them, each must specify:
- Rubber type, and whether virgin or recycled
- Thickness by zone
- Format and piece dimensions
- Density
- Colour with reference
- Quantity in square metres, with estimated waste
- Lead time
- Delivery terms
- Whether installation and adhesive are included, or material only
Without lead time and density, a quote cannot be used to decide.