Choosing the right flooring for cardio and indoor cycling areas

The cardio room is one of the largest areas of the gym and choosing the perfect floor for this area can be tricky. You need a floor to withstand the weight of the cardio machines, that doesn’t mark easily and that also avoids the displacement caused by their continuous use… And all that, combined with a style aligned with the design of your fitness facility.

So, how to get the best floor for cardio and indoor cycling areas? Here we show you all the available options and the pros and cons of each one.

4 TYPES OF FLOORING FOR CARDIO AND INDOOR CYCLING AREAS

1. VINYL

Vinyl is a quite cheap solution if you are looking for an inexpensive nice aesthetic, as you can easily find a stone or timber look. It is resistant to mold and humidity, and this is why it is usually used in gyms located in basements or on ground floors.

In terms of cleaning, chemical products can be used to remove sweat, which is especially interesting in cardio areas.

On the other hand, it punctures and tears very easily, so it is not such a good idea to have it under your equipment.

👉🏽 To sum up:

PROS:
- Easy to clean.
- Resistant to moisture and chemicals.
- Different design options.

CONS:
- Punctures and marks.
- Does not absorb impacts.
- Does not prevent machinery from shifting with continued use.

If you choose vinyl flooring for your cardio areas and you move or replace machinery, you may have to change the floor.

2. TURF

Artificial turf is becoming more and more popular in gyms: it is fashionable and gives a different touch to fitness facilities. It reduces the risk of injury, does not slip, and is resistant to pulling and pushing with various accessories. In addition, it does not dent or crack and is easy to maintain with regular cleaning.

However, this type of flooring solution is more suitable for functional training areas than for cardio areas. The machinery will eventually mark the turf and, if you decide to move the machines around, it will show where they were before.

Bottom line:

👉🏽 PROS:

- Visually appealing with an outdoor touch.
- Recommended for athletes who want to practice sprints without risk of injury.
- Allows for sled work, plyometrics, or cross-training.

👉🏽 CONS:

- - More expensive option.
  - Not really adapted to cardio zones.
  - Marks with heavy machinery.
  - Does not prevent machinery from shifting with use.

Better use artificial turf in your functional training areas, cross-training or outdoor spaces.

3. CARPET

In some countries, carpet is one of the most popular choices for cardio and other common areas in the gym. It is easy to maintain, non-slip and inexpensive.

However, it is not at all a recommended option for gyms, as it absorbs liquids (such as sweat or water) and becomes marked if weight falls on it or machinery is dragged across it.

👉🏽 PROS:

- Economical and versatile.
- Non-slip and comfortable.

👉🏽 CONS:

- Very low shock absorption.
- Permeable, generating bad smells and humidity.
- Deforms over time
- Marked by machines

This is definitely not the option you are looking for in your cardio or indoor cycling area.

4. RUBBER

Rubber flooring is the most used solution in gyms as it is it’s tough, cost-effective, and easy to install. It is also shock absorbent with anti-slip properties to maximize safety when using weights, cardio machinery, and other exercise equipment. This is the reason why it has become not only the most popular but also the most appropriate for gym clubs.

Once you choose rubber flooring… Recycled or virgin rubber?

1. RECYCLED RUBBER

👉🏽PROS: Most gym floors are made from recycled rubber. Although it is a strong material, it can tear and break easily because it is composed of particles that come from tires.

👉🏽CONS: This type of material can produce transfers, i.e. leaves black stains on the hands or clothes of the user. In addition, it is a porous material that absorbs sweat and other liquids, causing bad odors and poor hygiene after a few weeks.

2. VIRGIN RUBBER

👉🏽PROS: Virgin rubber is a material manufactured especially for use in gyms. It is waterproof, non-porous, non-staining, and much more resistant to any kind of impact.

👉🏽 CONS: It may look more expensive, but at the end of the day it is more durable and resistant, so you won’t need to change it every year.

Its cost-effectiveness and resistance make virgin rubber the best flooring solution for your cardio or indoor cycling room.

And now… Rolls or tiles?

Depending on the type of floor, you can find it available in both rolls and tiles.

1. ROLLS

👉🏽PROS

Easy to install

👉🏽CONS

They tend to be glued down, you have to make cuts which can cause a large loss of material and you won’t be able to move the floor if necessary.

2. TILES

Tiles are the most practical solution because they are easy to install, easy to maintain and easy to clean. Especially those ones with an interlocking system (like puzzle pieces).

Plus, you can always move that floor elsewhere if you decide to make changes to your installations over time or replace any tiles without having to change the entire floor.

In a nutshell:

👉🏽 PROS

- - Easy to install and move.
  - Hygienic and easy to clean.
  - Durable, non-marking.
  - Shock absorbing.
  - Isolates noise and vibration.

👉🏽 CONS

- - Higher price than other options.

THE MOST COMPETITIVE FLOOR FOR YOUR CARDIO AREAS

At Pavigym we have been innovating for years in flooring for gyms and as a result, we have launched our PERFORMANCE+. It has everything you need of a flooring solution for a cardio area:

Virgin rubber flooring
Tiles with an interlocking system
High resistance to fire (Bfl certificate)
Hygienic
Easy to clean
Resistant and durable
Non-marking
Prevents machines from unintentional shifting during continuous use

Performance+ is available in over 10 colors so you can customize your cardio and indoor cycling spaces with your corporate colors (and even add your logo or custom branding). Competitively priced, this floor is an investment that will pay for itself very quickly.

Find out what PERFORMANCE+ can do for you.

Would you like a personalized quote? We’ll prepare it for you!