Rubber Flooring

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• Rubber Flooring

Rubber Flooring

If you’re replacing a floor in your home, you have various choices for materials: hardwood, engineered wood, various manufactured surfaces, vinyl, carpeting, ceramic tile ... However, for some special purposes, a rubber floor might be appropriate. If you have a special area at home for weight training or other gym equipment, a rubber floor might be your best choice. A multi-purpose garage might benefit from a rubber floor, or an infant’s room, especially if your infant is just learning to walk. Even a busy kitchen area may be suitable. Other rooms where you might consider a rubber floor might be a mud room or bathroom.

One of the primary benefits of a rubber floor is that it is extremely springy, making it very comfortable for walking, standing, and working while standing. Rubber floors can often be found in hospitals, retail businesses, professional kitchens, and other places where people are routinely on their feet. The shock-absorbing properties of rubber reduce strain on your legs and feet, making working while standing easier on your body over long periods of time. The same shock-absorbing properties reduce injuries if you (or an infant) should fall down, and helps protect your subfloor if you drop a heavy object such as a barbell.

Because rubber is nonconductive, rubber flooring can control static electricity. Companies that produce electronic components often install rubber floors in their manufacturing facilities, since static can damage these components. If you have delicate and expensive electronic equipment in your home that is sensitive to static, you might consider rubber flooring to protect your equipment.

Rubber floors are also resistant to bacteria, and are thus often used in operating rooms in hospitals and other areas where there is high risk of transmitting disease, as well as in "clean rooms" such as laboratories where people work with bacteria. You are unlikely to encounter these kinds of situations in your own home.

Rubber flooring is sold in two basic forms: tiles and sheets. Rubber tiles are easier to install, but because there are seams, water and other liquids may seep in between these seams. Sheets, on the other hand, have no seams and thus protect your subfloor from moisture, but sheet flooring is more difficult to install. Whether tiles or sheets, you may have a choice of patterns or solid colors. Usually, sheets look better with a pattern, whereas tiles look better in solid colors, which will appear perfectly matched when laid in place.

Rubber floors can also have different surfaces. Most rubber floors installed in homes are smooth, but if the floor is damp, there can sometimes be problems with traction. Rubber floors installed in work spaces are often textured, either with small round bumps (round stud flooring) or diamond-shaped bumps (diamond grip flooring).

Installing a rubber floor is not as difficult as installing other types of floors. The subfloor should be thoroughly cleaned, free of debris, and dry; any spilled wax, paint, grease, or other material should be removed. If you are installing on concrete, for instance in a garage, you may wish to have the floor tested to ensure that there is no residual moisture.

Loose-lay tiles should be adhered with carpet tape, whereas interlocking tiles can simply be locked together without the need for tape or glue. Some manufacturers sell rubber tiles that are connected with hidden connector pins between the tiles. Still other kinds of tiles require glue; make sure you get full instructions from your dealer. Glue-down tiles for the home generally require an acrylic-based or epoxy-based rubber flooring adhesive. If you are using carpet tape or glue to install your floor, lay out all the tiles first to ensure that they fit properly (laying your first tile in one corner of the room), and then lift the tiles one by one to affix the tape or glue. Once your floor is in place, you can roll a 100-pound floor roller over the tiles to firmly adhere them to the subfloor.

Installing rubber sheeting requires more careful measurement. First, measure the dimensions of the room or space where the rubber is to be laid, and, using a sharp utility knife, cut your rubber sheet so that it is about 1 inch longer and broader than the space. After you move the rubber sheet to the room, trim it back to fit. Roll your floor back up, and apply a moisture-cured urethane adhesive over the subfloor, using a notched trowel. Unroll the rubber over the adhesive, and press down with a 100-pound floor roller to eliminate air bubbles and affix your rubber firmly to the subfloor. You can remove excess glue from the surface of your floor as necessary with a clean, damp sponge.

Once installed, many manufacturers recommend sealing your rubber floor; be sure to follow precise instructions and use only those products that are specifically recommended for your floor, or you may damage the floor. Routine maintenance is fairly easy; keep your rubber floor clear of dust and grit by regularly sweeping and damp-mopping. Never use steel wool or an abrasive scouring pad, and never use cleaning products containing acetone or turpentine. Also, colored cleaning pads may stain your floor.

With proper care, your rubber floor should last a long time.

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