Rubber Gym Flooring Care & Maintenance

Rubber Gym Flooring Care & Maintenance

Our rubber gym flooring is designed for commercial use and built to last. Follow these guidelines to keep your flooring in top condition. Following them also keeps your flooring within our warranty terms.

Installation Tips

Before Installation:

  • Inspect all tiles before cutting, gluing or fitting them. Report any visible damage or size concerns before installation.

  • Allow flooring to acclimatise to room temperature for 24 hours before installation

  • Ensure the subfloor is clean, dry, and level

  • For permanent installation, use polyurethane adhesive suitable for rubber flooring

Layout:

  • Plan your layout before cutting any tiles or mats

  • Start from the centre of the room and work out towards the edges

  • Lay the tiles in a staggered brickwork pattern, keeping them fitted tightly together

  • Leave a small expansion gap (5-10mm) around the perimeter for temperature changes

  • Tiles can be cut with a sharp Stanley knife. A fresh, sharp blade makes it much easier.

For subfloors (carpet, LVT, underfloor heating), open edges and cutting in detail, see Laying Gym Flooring Over Carpet, LVT, Underfloor Heating or Outdoors. For working out thickness and quantities, see Which Flooring Thickness Do I Need and How Many Tiles?.

Installation Method by Thickness

10mm & 15mm – Lay-flat design (no connectors)
These thinner tiles are designed to be laid directly onto a flat subfloor. Adhesive can be used for permanent installations. Due to thickness limitations, these variants are not compatible with plastic connectors.

20mm, 30mm & 40mm – Connector-ready base
Tiles can be laid loose, as their weight helps keep them in place. However, plastic connectors are strongly recommended for easier installation and improved alignment across larger areas. Connectors are sold separately.

Tile Connectors (20mm, 30mm & 40mm)

Our Equipped Gym Interlocking Gym Flooring Tile Connectors are designed to securely link 20mm, 30mm, and 40mm rubber gym flooring tiles together, creating a tighter, more stable floor layout with fewer visible gaps.

Key benefits:

  • Prevents tiles shifting during use and temperature changes

  • Reduces visible gaps for a more seamless, professional finish

  • Push-fit design – no tools or adhesive required

  • Made from durable PE plastic

  • Compatible with 1m x 1m rubber gym tiles

How many connectors do I need?

  • We recommend 3–4 connectors per 1m x 1m tile

  • Use additional connectors in higher-impact areas or around heavy racks

  • Edge and corner connectors are available for a cleaner finish and to reduce trip hazards

Connectors fit into the underside recesses of the tiles to lock adjacent tiles together. They're not essential, but make installation significantly easier and improve long-term stability.

Purchase connectors here: https://www.equippedgym.co.uk/products/gym-flooring-tile-interlocking-connectors

For finishing open edges, see Edge Ramps, Corner Pieces and Adhesive.

Cleaning

Daily or as needed:

  • Sweep or vacuum to remove dust, dirt and debris. Use a soft-bristle broom, or a vacuum without a beater bar to avoid scuffing.

  • For cleaning and stains, including oil and sweat marks, use Dr. Schutz R1000 Daily Cleaner diluted with water: 25ml per 5 litres for routine cleaning, or 500ml per 5 litres for a heavier clean in high-traffic areas.

  • Apply with a flat microfibre mop. Our microfibre spray mop holds the diluted cleaner in its own bottle, so there's no bucket, and the swivel head gets around racks and into corners. Only put diluted R1000 in the bottle, never concentrate or boiling water.

  • Let the floor dry fully before training on it.

Keep water to a minimum:

  • Don't flood or soak the floor. Excess water gets into the gaps between tiles and can collect underneath, which can cause problems later.

  • Don't use string mops. They leave too much water behind and can drag and scratch the surface.

  • Wipe up any standing water straight away.

The Three-Stage Care System

For floors that take chalk, heavy traffic or have gone dull, Dr. Schutz make three products that work together. All three suit our SBR and white fleck tiles.

Step Product What it does How to use How often
1. Deep clean Clean & Strip Lifts embedded dirt, chalk and old coatings that routine cleaning can't shift Dilute to suit the dirt level, mop on, leave about 10 minutes, rinse with clean water, let dry fully. Covers 30–50m² per litre Home gyms every 9–12 months, commercial every 3–6 months
2. Protect Floor Mat An invisible matt coating that stops dirt and chalk embedding in the rubber and makes routine cleaning easier Mop two even coats onto a clean, dry floor, the second once the first is dry, same day. Cure overnight, no foot traffic for 12 hours. Covers up to 20m² per litre per coat Reapply every 9–12 months (home) or 3–6 months (commercial)
3. Maintain R1000 Daily Cleaner Routine cleaning that preserves the coating and improves slip resistance 25ml per 5 litres, flat microfibre mop Weekly, or as needed

Care packages

  • The Home Gym Care Package has 750ml of Clean & Strip, two 750ml bottles of Floor Mat, 750ml of R1000, the spray mop and three pads. The Floor Mat covers two coats across about 15m². For a bigger room, add one extra 750ml Floor Mat for every additional 15m² (so a 30m² gym needs two more bottles). The Clean & Strip and R1000 in the package are enough for a 30m² room.

  • The Commercial Care Package has the same three products in 5 litre sizes, enough Floor Mat for two coats across about 50m².

Test any product on a small, out-of-the-way area first. New tiles don't need a deep clean or coating before use; start with routine R1000 cleaning and add the coating once the floor has had some use.

What to Avoid

  • Harsh chemicals: bleach, ammonia, solvents, acidic cleaners, petroleum-based products and aggressive degreasers can damage rubber flooring and aren't covered by the warranty

  • Excess water: steam cleaning, pressure washing or soaking the floor

  • Abrasive tools: steel wool, stiff brushes or abrasive pads can scratch the surface

  • Dragging equipment: sharp feet and heavy kit dragged across the floor can gouge it

Protecting Your Flooring

Equipment:

  • Use equipment mats or protective pads under heavy racks, benches, and machines

  • Avoid dragging equipment across the floor – lift and place instead

Weights:

  • Our rubber flooring is designed to handle dropped weights, but repeated drops in the same spot can cause indentation over time

  • Consider using lifting platforms or crash pads for Olympic lifts

Sunlight:

  • Prolonged direct sunlight can cause rubber to fade over time

  • Use blinds or curtains in areas with intense sun exposure

Rubber Smell

New rubber flooring has a natural rubber smell when first unpacked. This is normal and fades naturally once the tiles are out of the packaging.

  • Unpack the tiles as soon as possible

  • Keep the room well ventilated, for example with windows and doors open

  • There's no need for any cleaning products to remove the smell

Repair & Replacement

Damaged Tiles:

  • Individual tiles can be replaced without removing the entire floor

  • Contact us with your order details to ensure colour and thickness match. Replacement tiles may vary slightly in shade or texture between batches.

Worn Areas:

  • High-traffic areas may show wear over time

  • Consider rotating mats or tiles periodically to distribute wear evenly

Need More Help?

If you have specific questions about installation or maintenance, contact our team. We're here to help you get the most out of your gym flooring.

Related articles

Gym Equipment Specifications and First-Use Notes Edge Ramps, Corner Pieces and Adhesive Product Warranty Laying Gym Flooring Over Carpet, LVT, Underfloor Heating or Outdoors Rubber Gym Flooring Technical Specifications