Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before Installing Hardwood Sports Flooring
Hardwood flooring is common in sporting fields and home gyms. It favored for its many benefits and its ability to enhance playability and performance. Hardwood sports flooring is also durable, and not many people can resist its appeal. Like in other types of sports flooring, there are multiple aspects to keep in mind when installing hardwood flooring. And asking yourself some important questions will help determine if hardwood flooring is the most suitable choice.
- What sporting activities/events will I hold?
There are various sporting activities, and the intended use of the facility is a critical consideration. Different sports require varying levels of traction, resilience, shock absorption, and resistance. Ball bounce and uniformity are also crucial, and all these help minimize injuries and enhance player comfort.
Hardwood sports flooring is common in basketball and volleyball courts and is the conventional choice for gymnasium flooring. Similarly, maple flooring is ideal for recreation centers, dance floors, and racquetball courts. To choose the most suitable fitness wood flooring, consider the sporting activities and other equipment that you’ll use.
- Which is the most suitable floor system?
Different flooring systems suit different facilities. For instance, a traditional floating floor is ideal for many uses and functionalities. On the other hand, anchored resilient floors may feature steel and other synthetic materials like pins and clips to enhance stability, expansion, and contraction.
Floating floors are also popular; they feature no fasteners and are very economical. Portable flooring is yet another choice. It’s ideal for stadiums, and you can remove or replace it as required.
- What’s the level of humidity in the building?
If installing wooden sports flooring in your home gym, the most critical consideration would be the moisture levels. Wood flooring is vulnerable to moisture and will be significantly affected by moisture levels in the building.
Your hardwood flooring will expand due to high humidity levels, and you may need to install an air conditioning system. Also, if the humidity levels keep on fluctuating, the flooring should be installed with this in mind.
- What maple grade do I need?
The wood grade doesn’t affect sporting performance and athlete comfort, and it’s typically for aesthetic purposes. If you fancy that monochromatic look, go for first-grade maple flooring. It offers better reflection, thanks to its clear surface and lighter colors.
However, if you want more variation in the colors and patterns, second-grade maple suits you best. It’s prevalent in sporting facilities and is common in gymnasium flooring. For a more rustic appearance and cheaper costs, choose third-grade maple.
- What’s the best finish for my flooring?
With hardwood sports flooring, you can choose an oil-based or water-based finish. However, some places have restrictions and discourage the use of oil-based finishes. Water-based finish emits no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and reduces the risk of penalization after each application.
A quick wrap up
Hardwood flooring is standard in most sporting arenas. It offers excellent traction and shock absorption and improves athlete performance. To install such flooring in your sprits field or home gym, purchase from top manufactures and ask yourself the questions mentioned above before installing. This helps determine whether it’s all you need.