3 Ways To Increase Profits Installing Wood Gym Floors Posted: May 2019 Posted by: Mats Inc.

Installing a hardwood gymnasium floor is a big job for you and a gigantic investment for your customer. Hardwood athletic floor systems withstand years of sports activity, foot traffic and general wear with the proper maintenance and preventative measures.

With daily mopping, annual screening and recoating, and the occasional surface refinishing, maintenance is a hefty chore and a significant expense.

Experienced Athletic Directors and Facilities Managers know that protecting their wood sports flooring is in the best interest of their athletes, budgets and themselves.

Keeping the surface clean, dry and dimple-free goes a long way in protecting athletes from injury and preventing major repairs.

So, how do you increase profits when installing hardwood gymnasium flooring? You help prevent the problems that start after the installation is finished with matting.

GYM ENTRANCE MATS

First and most importantly, keep dirt out; it’s the enemy. We discussed entrances at length in our last article so we’ll keep this brief. Mats should be placed in doorways leading into gymnasiums to eliminate dirt and moisture from shoes. It is also a great opportunity to show team spirit with the team mascot and school logo inlaid right into the mat.

COURTSIDE RUNNERS

Courtside cover mats are a cost-effective way to protect the hardwood court from dimples and scuffs that can be caused by the teams’ sideline chairs during the game. The runners also enhance the safety of the athletes by absorbing drink spills and moisture, and thereby reducing the risk of slips and falls. Again, this is another area you can offer to incorporate inlaid designs and promote school pride.

GYM FLOOR COVER

While hardwood courts are designed for athletics, a school’s gymnasium is commonly used for more than basketball and other sports activities. It is likely to become the host for non-sports events like conferences, award ceremonies and graduations. And these occasions are often accompanied by street shoes, high heels, tables, chairs, miscellaneous other furniture, drinks and food. Using a gym floor cover during non-sporting activities will protect the flooring from spills, scuffing, scraping, denting and dirt.

Pro Shield is a carpet-like gymnasium floor cover made up of giant sized tiles that measure approximately 2’ x 4’ and 6mm thick. The tiles are produced from 100% solution-dyed polypropylene, which means they are a highly durable material that is easy to clean and stain resistant. The rigid backing keeps the tiles flat and the flooring underneath clean. Prices are per tile so you can order the specific number they want, and the color options are blue, anthracite and gray. Depending on frequency of use, tiles have a 15-20+ year lifespan. This is at least 5x longer than the plastic or vinyl coated polyester types of gym floor coverings. A wheel cart is used for the storage and transportation of Pro Shield tiles. One person can manage installation and removal but it goes faster with a partner. Tiles are installed by placing them side by side across the floor and there are no other accessories needed. When it’s time to pack up, facilities personnel can vacuum the tiles and stack them back onto the wheeled cart.

PROFIT

It is always best to protect the hardwood gym floor from day one. Whenever possible, have the protective covering conversation before you quote the flooring installation. After a large capital investment, there just may not be budget funds available – this year. If you have a conversation up front, at least you have planted the seed so they will know that they can come to you when they have the funding in the next year or two.

The great thing about these solutions is you just have to take the order and the profits, and there is no additional work required.

Mats Inc. can provide you with durable and attractive gym floor covering options. Be sure to visit the logo matting and Pro Shield product pages to see features, specifications, photos & technical documentation or to request a sample.

Categories: Sports and Fitness Flooring