Product Guide: How To Get More From Your Floor
Value is a word heard often. Yet despite its prevalence, in many instances it can be under-appreciated. When it comes to indoor sports flooring, understanding what it means, what it represents, where it comes from and how to get it, can make all the difference in the long term success of your facility.
Value in sports surfacing implies the selection of a long lasting quality product that best suits you, your athletes, your facility, and your budget. The best product is the one that is most appropriate, and determining what is most appropriate calls for thorough research and understanding. With a wide range of sports flooring systems to choose from, understanding the benefits and limitations of each product will allow you to make an educated decision.
Key steps in selecting the right sports floor:
- Determine expected sport use and levels of skill
- Conduct a thorough technical examination of your facility
- Cost analysis should include installation and expected maintenance
- Consult with a product neutral industry expert for unbiased advice
- Select the most appropriate product option
With Tarkett Sports’ complete line of hardwood, vinyl, polyurethane, linoleum and rubber sports flooring, you will be introduced to all the options and each of their distinct values. By working with you, Tarkett Sports ensures that you obtain the right product, through a consultative and educational approach to sports flooring.
ClutchCourt
Value for hardwood sports flooring is generated through the long life cycle of the system and the high level of satisfaction and performance for the athletes who play on it. Tarkett Sports looks to increase the value offered to the customer through innovative CoreCushion pads, pre-finished CourtReady wood, expertise in installation and the security of an industry leading warranty. Despite being the natural choice for competitive basketball, hardwood systems do have limitations. The product, which requires specific atmospheric conditions to succeed, can be costly upfront compared to synthetics while calling for a more demanding maintenance schedule.
Omnisports
Value for vinyl sports flooring is most often associated with its multi-purpose properties, its greatly reduced need for maintenance and its ease of installation. With several subsurface thicknesses to choose from, you can customize the level of performance of the product that is available in several colors including realistic wood looking patterns. Being a synthetic surface, the atmospheric conditions required for success are substantially less demanding than a wood system. Tarkett Sports increases the value offering of vinyl with its industry leading Third Party Insured Warranty, indentation resistance, sanitized treatment and easy to maintain open pore surface texture. The unique dimensions of the product reduce the amount of seams needed which helps to cut down on installation costs while promoting stability within the system. As a result, the customer receives a long lasting, dimensionally stable and affordable multi-purpose system. The limitations of vinyl revolve around its inability to withstand roller skates and overly heavy point loads typically associated with bleachers. Should bleachers be needed, additional reinforcement can be installed beneath the surface.
Resicore
Value for polyurethane sports flooring comes as a result of the system’s ultra durable and long lasting properties that can easily withstand bleacher weights. The product is naturally seamless and self leveling, contributing to a smooth finished product that can be configured as an indoor running track if needed. With a variety of recycled rubber pads to choose from, you can customize the performance levels of the product that is often found in large fieldhouses. Tarkett Sports enhances the value offering with its industry leading 25 colors, warranty and mercury-free composition. The limitations of polyurethane can be attributed to the product’s complex installation process. Only specialized and experienced polyurethane installers can ensure that you receive a surface that performs as intended.
EcoPure
Value for linoleum sports flooring literally grows on trees! Consisting almost entirely of natural materials such as linseed oil, cork, wood powder, rosin, and limestone, EcoPure sports surfacing is the most environmentally friendly sports surface on the market. In addition to its green properties, Tarkett Sports has dramatically increased the product’s proposition of value by incorporating an award winning ultra-durable XF finish and a never before seen shock absorbent foam backing for sports. Together these benefits make for a long lasting and absorbent eco-friendly product that reduces the need for maintenance. The product is available in several colors, requires no re-waxing or re-stripping and is backed by the most reliable and protective warranty in the industry. Limitations of the product come in to play during installation, as the rolls must be handled and installed with care. On the performance side, for those seeking high shock absorption levels found normally in a wood system, linoleum may not present itself as the best option unless combined with a subsurface shock absorbing enhancement.
Dropzone
Value for rubber sports flooring is predominantly associated with its use as a weight room flooring option. As a non-porous and ultra indentation resistant sports flooring option, rubber flooring helps to protect your floor and your weights while requiring minimal maintenance. Tarkett Sports enhances the value of rubber sports flooring by introducing a wide range of systems and colors to choose from. The limitations of the product revolve around its surface friction levels which are suitable for stationary weight training but not recommended for intense running and stopping.
Value is something we all want and need. In order to maximize the potential for obtaining it, careful planning and education are required. When it comes to sports flooring, consulting with a customer-oriented industry expert who thoroughly understands the intricacies of each option will help put you, your facility, your athletes and your finances in position for long term success.
