Mad Matter, Inc. ^TM

"Our Mats Will Floor You"

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    Which flooring is the best type of flooring for a home gym.  Are rubber mats the best way to go or perhaps Interlocking Tiles - or maybe rolled rubber flooring?  There are many options on the market today.  Following is a brief overview of a few of the more popular home gym flooring products on the market with a discussion of some of the pro's and cons.

Rubber Mats

    Rubber Mats were initially designed for the animal husbandry industry (horses, cows, etc.) to help protect livestock from the cold ground and from slips and falls.  As a result, these rubber mats are quite durable - after all - they are required to withstand the abuse of 1,000 pound animals as they stomp around with their sharp hooves.

    Rubber Mats generally consist of a very dense rubber that is 3/8 ", 1/2" or 3/4" thick.  These mats are solid black in color.  Rubber mats for weight rooms are also available in thinner gauges but their uses are usually for under machines.  If you are planning on using free weights with very heavy weights for squat racks or have free weight drop zones, it is recommended that the 3/4" thick mats be used.  The price differential is not that great between the 1/2" and 3/4" so it is better to go with the heavier weight goods.

    Regardless of which thickness of matting you go with, you may wish to stay away from the mats that consist of 100% recycled rubber.  They tend to emit an odor that becomes quite strong - especially in an enclosed area like a gym.  If the mats are going in a garage setting where there is plenty of ventilation, you may be able to use the mats with a high concentration of recycled rubber and save a few dollars.

Interlocking Tiles

    Interlocking Tiles are usually made from a crumb rubber material with a color fleck.  The interlocking tiles are cut from rubber rolled flooring like puzzle pieces.  These interlocking tiles are usually 3/8" or 1/2" in thickness.  One of the strong reasons to use an interlocking tile is that it is easier to install, pick up and move, etc.  And should one part of the floor become damaged, you can simply remove the tile or tiles that are damaged and replace them with new tiles rather than ordering an entire floor.

    The tiles are available in a solid black, but it is generally recommended to use color flecks in a 10% or 20% mixture to hide footprints and dirts.  Solid black flooring really shows white dirts like hand chalk, foot prints, lint, etc.

Rubber Roll Flooring

    Rubber Roll Flooring offers the ability to cover large areas quickly.  The rolls are usually 4' wide and can come in lengths up to 70' or 80'.  Rubber Roll Flooring is available in 1/8", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2" Thicknesses.  In a nutshell, the thinner gauge matting should be glued down to help prevent tearing.  These mats are great for rooms where you need a durable product but want to dress it up.  The color flecks really add to the aesthetics of the room.  Another great feature of using rolled rubber flooring is that seams are almost invisible.  And it is simple to cut out any damaged flooring and replace it with a new piece.  The color flecks really hide any seams.

    As you may have surmised, thicker goods will hold up to the rigors of dumb bells, free weights and abuses associated with weight rooms. 

    These are a few suggestions for a home gym flooring.  Should you have any further questions or particular concerns, please visit us online at  http://www.madmatterinc.com/ .  We look forward to the opportunity to help you find the gym flooring that is right for you.