What Goes Underneath Gym Flooring?

Essential Layers Beneath Gym Flooring Explained (Intro) 

Are you confused about what goes under your gym flooring? Or perhaps you made the wrong choice and can't determine your sub-flooring requirements? Understanding what to install beneath gym flooring is vital for prolonging its lifespan. Conversely, an incorrect choice could have undesirable effects on gym users.

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If your gym features an exposed wooden floor, it may lose load-bearing capacity. In this case, properly installing subflooring can protect against damage and enhance structural integrity. Before spending money, ensure that your chosen product is the most suitable for your flooring surface.

What Goes Underneath Gym Flooring?

The underlay forms the subfloor and serves as an intermediary between the flooring surface and the base floor. Your choice of underlay will depend on the type of base floor in your facility. The primary purpose of using subflooring is to prevent damage to the underlying surface. For instance, if you have a ceramic base floor and plan to lay rubber flooring, the subflooring material will act as a protective buffer. Therefore, installing a layer beneath the rubber flooring will safeguard your ceramic tiles against breaks or cracks.

Similarly, when dealing with a hardwood base floor, subflooring should be installed in the same way. In this instance, craft paper can be a surprisingly effective solution. If the rubber mats are black, they may stain the hardwood over time if liquid seeps through. Rubber can also react with the wood finish. Thus, a thin paper layer can prevent these issues.

Underlay for a concrete base floor significantly differs from that used for ceramic tiles. Let's explore the appropriate underlay (subfloor) for various base floor types.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are fragile and may not withstand the impacts of dropped weights and other gym activities. In this case, covering the base floor with an underlay prior to the installation of a flooring surface like rubber tiling is advisable. This approach cushions the impact and protects the ceramic tiles.

Concrete

Concrete is the most common base floor material. While it is more durable than ceramic tiles, it still requires a subfloor. A preferred underlay is a full-spread adhesive. Concrete floors generally face moisture issues more than impact problems. The primary function of the underlay is to prevent moisture movement into and out of your gym floor.

Hardwood

Despite declining in popularity, hardwood remains a common base floor material. What's the solution? Use craft paper as an underlay. While hardwood is often resistant to moisture and impacts, it is prone to staining from black rubber. To preserve the beauty of your hardwood base floor, a craft paper underlay is the best option.

Subflooring for Different Base Surfaces

Rubber Underlay for Concrete

Installing a rubber subfloor is an excellent choice for concrete base floors. This provides consistency and flatness to the concrete surface, serving as a long-lasting foundation that ensures the durability of the gym flooring. However, it's essential to consider the moisture retention level, as rubber can absorb ambient moisture.

Solution

You may need to use full-spread adhesive with this sub-flooring. This will act as a waterproof material, protecting both your base floor and gym floor from damage.

This also serves as an adhesive for the subflooring, preventing shifting and movement underneath, which can mitigate potential injuries.

Padded Underlay for Ceramic Tile

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Rubber gym flooring is ideal for use over ceramic tile as it minimizes impact. However, sub-flooring is necessary in this situation. Even high-quality ceramic tiles can be vulnerable when exposed to heavy foot traffic and weight-dropped impacts. A thicker flooring reduces the likelihood of tile breakage.

Solution

Utilize padding underlay to protect the tile from damage.

Craft Paper Underlay for Hardwood

Hardwood can be stylish and appealing for offices and homes. However, in a gym setting, it needs coverage. Rubber flooring is a preferred option, but it's essential to use a protective paper underlayment. This is crucial if your hardwood is of high quality and may need to be exposed for future use.

Solution

When using rubber flooring products, the recommended subflooring is craft paper underlayment. This will protect the hardwood from staining, as the paper layer absorbs and prevents color from seeping into the hardwood base floor. Consequently, if you decide to remove the rubber flooring, you will discover a well-maintained surface beneath.

While rubber flooring is suitable for indoor use, it is not ideal for covering outdoor wooden decks. For protecting a wooden deck, using modular perforated tiles is a better choice as they allow for proper drainage of accumulated water.

Interlocking Tile Underlay for Carpet

If you have a carpet base floor, laying rubber mats directly on top will not work effectively. The mats will shift and bunch, leading to an uneven surface. Additionally, rubber can damage the carpet, increasing costs in the long run.

Solution

Use interlocking vinyl tiles as a subflooring material that will provide grip to both the carpet and the surface material. Made from harder plastic, these tiles reduce the likelihood of bunching issues. The best option is to use 10 mm to 15 mm thick PVC tiles over the carpet.

Sterling Tile Underlay for Rooftops

Outdoor rooftop spaces have become popular for gyms. To avoid issues, efficient drainage is necessary, not only to promote evaporation but also to prevent mould growth. For a suitable surface for your rooftop gym, 2-inch-thick Sterling Roof Top Tiles are ideal, as they allow for rapid drainage while providing an additional layer of impact protection.

Durability for Gym Flooring and Base Floor 

Numerous factors influence the lifespan of your gym floor, including shock-absorption capabilities, interactions between the gym floor and base floor, gym activities, and machinery movements. All these contribute to shocks that the floor must absorb. The cushioning function of the subfloor (or underlay) safeguards both the gym flooring surface and the base floor.

Moreover, moisture seeping up from the ground can damage gym flooring. Without a subfloor or underlay, the gym floor could negatively interact with moisture, leading to mould growth, cracks, and signs of dampness. Ultimately, this may result in regular repairs or even costly full renovations.

Noise Reduction

Gyms can generate a lot of noise. For instance, the sounds of weights slamming onto the floor can be a significant drawback for members. An appropriate underlay paired with suitable flooring can significantly reduce unwanted noise.

Summary

Subflooring is as essential as gym flooring itself. Utilizing an underlay can enhance the overall quality of your gym floor and improve the experience for your members. Familiarizing yourself with the type of base floor present in your premises will help you choose the right underlay for the best results. From flat concrete floors to outdoor decks, numerous subflooring options are available to meet your needs.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and collaborators and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the professional fitness community.