Gym Flooring Options: Polished Concrete Floors
When it comes to designing a gym, whether at home or for commercial purposes, there are a lot of considerations. However, while gym equipment, machinery and other elements are important, gym flooring is one aspect that should not be overlooked.
Having the right flooring for your gym or exercise studio is critical for functionality, hygienic and even aesthetic reasons. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best gym flooring option: Polished concrete.
From serving as a strong underlay for rubber mats – a staple of the commercial gym industry – to the versatility in design that polished concrete offers, there are many reasons why this choice of flooring is the best option.
Why Polished Concrete Floors are Ideal for Commercial and Home Gyms
1. Heavy-Duty Use
Commercial gym flooring, in particular, is subject to heavy weights, high foot traffic and intense activity. Even a home gym flooring needs to be able to weather more usage than many other areas of the home.
Polished concrete has the durability and hardiness to take on intense workouts, be subject to heavy machinery and see a ton of usage without suffering damage and degradation.
2. Rubber Mat Compatibility
The best flooring for Pilates studios, yoga rooms and gyms is one that is compatible with the various equipment used during the exercise.
Rubber mats, for example, are widely used in home and commercial gyms, and can be easily laid over specific workout zones, such as stretching areas or weightlifting spots.
With a polished concrete flooring, you can maintain all the benefits of the material whilst utilising its flexibility as necessary to create different workout out areas throughout the gym space.
3. Longevity
Commercial gym flooring, outdoor gym flooring and even home gyms can be expensive to maintain if the right material isn’t used.
Concrete is not just extremely durable but easy to maintain ensuring that it will function and look as good as new for many, many years to come. This long-term cost-effective solution will save gym owners and home gym enthusiasts time, money and effort. More on this in a moment.
4. Aesthetic Appeal
Polished concrete flooring is not just functional, it is fashionable. The sleek, modern and minimalist appearance both enhances the overall visual appeal of a gym but also provides a highly customisable template for ongoing design choices.
Polished concrete comes in a range of colours, patterns and finishes so you can perfectly match your commercial gym branding or the interior design aesthetic of the rest of your home. Plus, concrete works very well with adhesive logos so you can add decal branding or signs as necessary.
5. Enhance Lighting
Another lesser recognised but important benefit of polished concrete as gym flooring is its reflective properties.
Well finished and smooth concrete helps to reflect the lighting above it creating a brighter, lighter and generally more inviting space.
6. Easy Maintenance
Gym floors can be subject to a wide variety of elements. From sweaty gym-goers to spilled water bottles and energy drinks, your flooring needs to be easy to keep clean.
With concrete, all you need to do is some simple sweeping and damp mopping to ensure the flooring looks, feels and functions its best. Plus, the non-porousness of polished concrete makes it more resistant to stains and other visual blemishes.
In the event that the concrete flooring does require minimal repair work or maintenance, it is often possible to keep the gym open whilst it is becoming operational again.
7. Hypoallergenic
Hygienic flooring and materials are a must when it comes to a gym. But polished concrete gym flooring goes one step beyond.
Being hypoallergenic, the smooth and hard material does not trap dust, allergens or mould. These irritants can upset individuals with allergies or asthma. Polished concrete, however, positively contributes to a healthier environment and better overall wellbeing for all gym attendees.
8. Cost Effectiveness
We briefly covered this benefit above, but it is important to bear in mind not just installation costs of any gym flooring under consideration but the longer term maintenance and repair costs.
Polished concrete may not be the cheapest option of flooring for your gym, but it still boasts lower installation costs compared to other premium flooring options. Plus, if you are thinking longer term, the minimised likelihood of repairs and replacement means that you will benefit from reduced costs over the life of your gym and flooring.
Using Polished Concrete for Home Gyms
Home gym flooring is unique in many ways. On the one hand, like commercial gym flooring, it needs to be suitable for various workout equipment and higher-than-usual activity. Similarly, it may need additional protective flooring, compatibility with rubber mat usage, easy to clean and so on…
Polished concrete ticks all these boxes and more. In fact, concrete is becoming more and more common elsewhere in the home as well for many of the same reasons as it is becoming popular in commercial and industry spaces.
Critically, the flexibility in concrete aesthetic makes it easy to match with the rest of your interior design aesthetic. Plus, if you are putting together gym flooring for your garage, the versatility of concrete makes it highly practical for multi-purpose spaces.
Using Polished Concrete for Pilates Studios
Like commercial gyms, polished concrete is the best flooring for Pilates studios. This smooth, ultra-clean surface offers an ideal surface on which to safely and securely place exercise equipment and rubber matting.
Concrete’s stability allows for optimal balance during Pilates sessions and its inherent thermal properties make maintaining a comfortable temperature in the studio more practical and energy efficient.
As with gym flooring, offering your Pilates class attendees a workout environment free from allergens, dirt, dust, mould and unprofessional blemishes is important for their wellbeing and experience. That’s why polished concrete is ideal for Pilates studio flooring.
Contact Designer Floors to explore the Perfect Gym Flooring For Your Needs
In summary, if you’re looking for the right option of commercial gym flooring or even gym flooring for the home, polished concrete is the way to go.
This versatile, aesthetically pleasing, durable, hypoallergenic and cost-effective solution makes it functional and fashionable in every way.
If you would like to know more about why polished concrete is the right choice for your gym or Pilates studio, would like to arrange a free custom quote, or just want to know more about who the team at Designer Floors is and what we do, contact us today.