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10 Rubber Flooring Pros and Cons: What You Should Know

Thinking about building a home gym and wondering if rubber flooring is the right choice for your space? You probably know that it’s the gold standard in gym flooring, but maybe you’re concerned about potential drawbacks.

This guide can help! We’re taking an in-depth look at rubber surfaces to find all the benefits and some important considerations. Discover the top ten rubber flooring pros and cons to help you make a smart shopping decision. 

What is Rubber Gym Flooring?

1/2" Rubber Gym Tiles

Rubber floors are extremely versatile and durable, making them the ideal fitness surface. Whether you’re making a workout room or improving a commercial gym, you can find the right flooring for your requirements.

Most rubber floors are made from materials like recycled vehicle tires. This makes the flooring extremely durable and low maintenance. It also comes with several DIY-friendly options. You can choose from interlocking tiles, rolls, mats, and sheets to fit your space. 

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Pros of Rubber Gym Flooring

Check out these advantages of rubber that make it so popular!

Slip Resistant

5/8" Evolution Rubber Tiles

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

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In addition to being slip-resistant, rubber 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. 

Incredibly Durable

1" Monster Rubber Tiles

Rubber floors are built with durability in mind. 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 

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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

Women working out together in a commercial gym

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.

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Easy Installation

8mm Precut Rubber Rolls

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. 

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Related Content >> Rubber Floor Tiles Guide

Cons of Rubber Gym Flooring

Here are a few considerations to think about when choosing rubber over other gym surfaces. 

Style

1" Monster Rubber Tiles

Recommended: 1″ Monster Rubber Tiles

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

Confetti 3/8" Heavy Duty Rubber Rolls

Recommended: Confetti 3/8″ Heavy Duty Rubber Rolls

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

Impact Rubber Tiles

Recommended: Impact Rubber Tiles

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

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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.

Related Content >> How to Clean Rubber Gym Flooring

Conclusion

Those are the biggest advantages and drawbacks of rubber flooring. Now that you know the top pros and cons, you’ll have a better idea if this is the right gym flooring for you. 

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About Chelsi Hewitt

Chelsi Hewitt

Chelsi Hewitt is a Phoenix-area content marketing professional. She joined Flooring Inc. to teach people about flooring, interior design, home trends, and more.

2 Comments on “10 Rubber Flooring Pros and Cons: What You Should Know

  1. With the various rubber flooring options out there, what would you recommend providing the best value, i.e. rubber rolls, tiles, recycled rubber, EPDM, etc?

    • Hi, Tery!

      Thanks for your question. The best value in rubber flooring would be rubber rolls. They are the cheapest rubber flooring option per square foot.

      I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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