Sportfloor

North West Rubber has been making premium vulcanized rubber flooring for over 50 years, and is the only manufacturer to offer both vulcanized virgin rubber and vulcanized recycled rubber flooring solutions.  Yet even as the industry and its technologies evolve, several common misconceptions about rubber flooring still exist. Below we will break down the 5 most common misconceptions and the truth about rubber flooring:

#1: Rubber Flooring Smells Bad

Quality rubber flooring goes through stringent testing during the engineering process to ensure that it passes indoor air quality standards. Although rubber flooring may initially have a discernible odor, it actually contains fewer VOCs (volatile organic compounds) than other common flooring materials such as plywood and carpet. Once installed, the new rubber flooring scent dissipates within a few days in a well-ventilated room.
In fact, our vulcanized virgin rubber products are FloorScore certified and are eligible for LEED credits for low emitting materials.

#2: Rubber is Bad for the Environment

Just like the sap used to make maple syrup, rubber is an extremely renewable resource and is highly recyclable. North West Rubber has diverted over 120 million end-of-life tires from landfills by transforming them into premium, innovative rubber products such as our vulcanized, 100% recycled rubber SportFloor Stamina flooring. Even our virgin rubber dual-layer flooring systems, SportFloor ReAction and ProXL, contain 60% recycled materials in their base layer. Our recycled rubber flooring products are eligible for LEED credits due to their high content of recycled material.
In addition, North West Rubber’s SportFloor manufacturing plant is ISO 14000 certified, complying with the high standards of the world’s most recognized environmental management certification. This certification assures that the manufacturer has controls in place that minimize negative operational impacts on the environment, and that it respects all applicable laws, regulations, and environmental requirements.

#3: Rubber Flooring is Only for Athletic Applications

Fitness facilities and skating rinks are not the only places that rubber flooring may be installed. A wide variety of facilities can benefit from rubber flooring due to its extreme durability, anti-microbial qualities, superior traction, and anti-fatigue properties that make this surface ideal for any facilities that experience high foot traffic and people on their feet for extended periods of time. Rubber flooring comes in a range of thicknesses to suit almost any application from 2mm for high-traffic, low impact requirements to 45mm for high traffic, high impact needs. There are also endless customization options available with virgin rubber - North West Rubber offers custom color matching to within +/-1 pantone shade. Rubber flooring can be customized to accent any space beyond a fitness facility or weight room and is ideal for hospitals, schools, retail spaces, physiotherapy and medical clinics, lobbies, commercial kitchens, and manufacturing facilities.

#4: Rubber flooring is expensive to maintain and wears out quickly

Rubber flooring, and in particular vulcanized rubber flooring, is actually very easy to clean and maintain. Its proven qualities of long-lasting durability means that it will not need to be replaced for many years. Once installed, vulcanized rubber flooring only requires a gentle mopping with a diluted low PH cleanser. This means that facilities do not need to invest in a multi-step, expensive cleaning routine with multiple cleaners and tools – plus the additional labour involved. In addition, vulcanized rubber floors will last a very long time. Vulcanized rubber floors are highly durable and resistant to wear and tear, especially when compared to similar-looking polyurethane bound rubber flooring which lasts between 5-10 years, whereas vulcanized rubber flooring will last from 10-15+ years, providing significantly lower lifetime costs of ownership.

#5: Rubber flooring is slippery

Rubber flooring provides some of the best traction amongst all flooring materials. There’s a reason why tires and the soles of your shoes are made from rubber! The dependable grip that rubber flooring provides greatly reduces the risk of slips and falls, and in the event that an accident occurs, the shock absorption provided by rubber flooring reduces impact force, and may lessen the chance of injury. In addition, vulcanized rubber has a uniform coefficient of friction, meaning that not only do the floors provide maximum traction, they also wear down at a consistent rate so the floor won’t have any bumps or divots to catch a toe on as time goes by.

Ultimately, vulcanized rubber flooring’s versatility and its long list of benefits such as traction, durability, and easy maintenance, make it a great option for a wide variety of applications.
For more information about North West Rubber and our expertise in vulcanized rubber flooring technology – visit: www.northwestrubber.com