Selecting The Best Athletic Floor Surface
By: Chris Wedge
Among the components in your school's athletic facilities, the most important piece of equipment is the flooring. This athletic and recreational floor will typically be over 7,000 square feet in order to host at least one full basketball court and have a boundary area.
In addition to sports activities, the litany of other possible activities is substantial, including community meetings, assemblies, food service events, and physical education classes.
With this many activities possible, how does the leadership of the school decide what is the best floor surface to use?
The two main categories of choices are either wood or synthetic, and there are subsets to each of these categories. This is an important decision, namely because the product should last a minimum of 25 years and potentially more than 75 years.
The biggest question that must be answered first is whether this floor is primarily a sports floor or a non-sports floor. Consider the following questions:
Who will be using this floor?
Who uses the floor, or, better yet, what type of shoes do the users wear? Any floor, but especially a wood sports floor, will receive lesser wear from soft-soled, non-marking type shoes. If the majority of days the floor will experience non-sports shoes, this must be considered. The use of walk-on mats at entry areas can help minimize the introduction of dirt and debris to the floor.
Also considered in this question are the age and athletic experience of the user. There is the tendency to believe that younger kids do not warrant or need a performance floor, since they are used to running on concrete and asphalt. Sealed concrete, carpet, and vinyl composition tile become the choices.
This is a huge mistake in mindset due to the lesser soft-tissue and bone strength development in younger athletes. Indeed, they may be the athletes that need the most safety, performance, and cushioning.
Compare that to the needs of an adult basketball league. For reasons of accumulated wear and tear on the body, a cushioned sports floor is much appreciated.
What activities will be performed on the surface and how often will the facility be used in an average year?
This is a key question and one that must be answered objectively. Often, the choice is being made for a new facility that has no history and therefore an incomplete picture as to the possibility of events. Many times, a gym that was designed for sports only becomes a meeting space and multi-purpose area for the school.
Will the facility host events that serve food on a regular basis? Where there is food, there are spills, so there must be wet cleaning. If the floor will host many and routine food service events, strong consideration away from a wood surface must be given, as water and wood do not mix.
Will the facility host events where dress shoes and women's high-heeled shoes are commonly worn? Also, will the floor host events that use tables and chairs? A greater degree of wear and tear from the plastic and metal contacts from the legs can be expected.
If these two situations exist, greater care for any type of sports surface is necessary. An effort should be made to purchase tables and chairs with soft contact "feet" and to keep them maintained.
Also consider that floor covering products exist that can protect and dress up the floor. There are several options, including thin rollout vinyl sheets, thicker heavier plastic tiles, and temporary carpet rolls.
Are there unique site considerations for the school gym?
Is the floor below grade? What is the climate at the location, and will an HVAC system be used in the space?
Since most synthetic floors are adhered to the concrete slab, these can be more susceptible to moisture coming through the slab. Moisture migration can cause bonding issues of the floor material to the slab resulting in "blistering" or "bubbling."
Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning that it will gain and release moisture from exposure to varying humidity levels in the air. This gain and release results in size expansion and contraction of the wood. This necessitates a certain year-round control of the temperature and humidity levels in the gym.
At a minimum, the anticipated highs and lows of temperature and humidity need to be predicted in the space for a safe installation. Finally, was the concrete slab area that receives the sports floor recessed appropriately with the surrounding surfaces? Most synthetics will be near ½" thick, whereas most wood floor assemblies will be just over 2" thick.
It is best to consult with proven manufacturers and reliable contractors who have several installations and good references to help in the decision process. Comprehensive information can be found at www.maplefloor.org.
Chris Wedge is the Southern Regional Manager for Aacer Flooring, www.aacerflooring.com.
