Gymnasium Floors Key Terms

Be conversant with the terminology for gymnasium floors

A gymnasium floor is a specially prepared floor for gymnastic events. These floors are also known as exercise surfaces. The type of gymnastic event and its specific requirements determine the material for gymnasium floors.

If you want to set up a gymnasium floor for your personal use, you will need to understand some common terminology related to gymnasium floors. This guide covers some of the common terms that you will hear from gymnasium floors providers, including sprung floor, mat (gymnastics) and performance surface.

 

Sprung floor

A sprung floor is specially designed and prepared for absorbing shocks and is the best floor for indoor sports and dance. Modern sprung floors consist of foam backing or a rubber foot, which supports the movements of gymnasts and reduces their injuries.
Try: You can read through information on sprung floors at ArtsAlive.ca, an educational website by the National Arts Centre of Canada.

Plywood

Plywood is another popular material for gymnasium floors. It is a board made up of thin sheets of wood. Plywood manufacturers glue layers of wood together in a proper angle, which gives strength to plywood. Strong adhesives bond layers of wood under heat and pressure, which make plywood look like a composite material. Plywood is also known as engineered wood.
Try: You can refer to the basic information on plywood at BlueEgg.com, an online knowledge resource.

Wood floor finish

Wood floor finishes add to the beauty of wooden floor of a gymnasium and protect it from wear, dirt, stains and moisture. Wood floor finishes also give an attractive color and luster to the wooden gym floor. These finishes are available in a variety of types, such as paste wax, varnish, lacquer and shellac.
Try: You can read through detailed information on wood floor finishes and their types at Wood Floors Online, a reliable online knowledge resource.

Polyethylene tarp

A polyethylene tarp is one of the important accessories of a gymnasium floor. If the gymnasium floor is not coated with finish, you will need polyethylene tarps to cover the gymnasium floor when not in use to protect it from dirt and moisture.
Try: You can read through detailed information on polyethylene tarps at wiseGEEK.

Plank flooring

As the name indicates, plank flooring is made of solid wooden planks. Flooring planks are wide and very thick and designed for lifetime use. Generally wood flooring comes unfinished. After its installation, the flooring service providers sand and finish the plank flooring.
Try: You can read through information on plank flooring at PMEL (Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratories).

Rubber flooring

Rubber flooring is a very popular type of gymnasium flooring. It is resilient, durable and absorbs shocks. Moreover, rubber floorings have low maintenance costs and require no wax or sealers.
Try: You can read through detailed information on rubber flooring at Ironcompany.com, a leading supplier of fitness equipment.

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