With this mini guide, we aim to provide more details to help you choose the most suitable flooring for a multisport gym.
We will mainly focus on multipurpose sports facilities, including school gyms, multifunctional sports centers, and multipurpose courts.
Additionally, we will delve into the characteristics of the three most common types of flooring for multipurpose courts: wood, PVC, and vulcanized rubber.
Which sports will be played on the multisport flooring? Is there a primary discipline? Will the multipurpose court also host competitive events or non-sporting activities? How frequently? These are just some of the key questions to consider when installing sports surfaces in indoor facilities.
Given the variety of solutions available on the market, this approach helps narrow down options to find truly tailored multisport flooring without compromises.
It is also a long-term winning strategy to ensure a more durable multisport flooring. The useful life cycle is significantly influenced by the correct intended use.
A common situation, for example, is the desire to install sports parquet at all costs for its aesthetic appeal, without considering the higher wear of the surface during frequent non-sporting activities.
Another frequent scenario is being aware at the design stage that the multipurpose sports facility—by its very nature—might host sports and events not initially planned.
Fortunately, in this case too, there are tailored solutions, starting with vulcanized rubber flooring for multipurpose courts, which are the most versatile in terms of use.
Once the intended use is defined, let’s explore the most common materials used for multisport gym flooring.
In multipurpose sports facilities, wood flooring allows for various sports: basketball, volleyball, handball, futsal, and gymnastics. Available as a permanent or removable solution, this multisport flooring requires more maintenance than other surfaces.
It is also not recommended if the court is frequently used for non-sporting purposes due to the higher wear.
The most efficient systems for a multipurpose sports court are made of:
Solutions with multilayer panels are designed to ensure air circulation between layers and resistance to rising humidity, a common issue in many indoor sports facilities. This composition, compared to solid wood, also offers better dimensional stability and resistance to temperature variations.
The combination with elastic subfloors also allows defining the level of elasticity and performance parameters based on specific sports disciplines and the needs of the multipurpose court.
Among innovations in shock-absorbing solutions, an example is the Air Cell® Pads system by Mondo. Developed with the Biomechanical Institute of Valencia, it provides uniform elastic response throughout the court.
Pros of Wood Sports Flooring:
Cons:
For multipurpose courts, PVC flooring is ideal for volleyball as the main discipline. By choosing multisport flooring, PVC surfaces can also meet performance and safety standards for basketball, handball, futsal, and badminton.
Among indoor sports flooring options, it is undoubtedly a versatile and economical solution, available in a wide range of colors, either fixed or removable. PVC flooring is produced in rolls and does not require adhesion to the substrate. It can be installed using adhesive tapes on the court surface, making it easy to assemble or remove after training or competitions.
PVC floorings for multipurpose courts are usually made of a multilayer combination with different densities and biomechanical performance, designed for sports purposes: e.g., shock absorption with progressive deformation for faster response to medium and high-intensity impacts.
Combined with sublayers, they can meet elasticity and shock absorption needs, adhering to P1, P2, and P3 categories according to EN14904 standards.
Pros of PVC Sports Flooring:
Cons:
Vulcanized rubber multisport flooring can accommodate multiple sports: it is ideal for futsal, basketball, volleyball, and handball, and can also be used for tennis and running.
Undoubtedly, it is the best multisport flooring for durability, versatility, and maintaining biomechanical properties over time.
The vulcanization process itself makes rubber flooring resistant to the intensive and non-sporting use characteristic of multipurpose sports facilities, with an average lifespan exceeding 10 years.
Another significant advantage over other flooring types is its ease of maintenance, including extraordinary upkeep. Typically, vulcanized rubber multisport flooring requires only minor restoration over time.
The latest innovation in MONDO’s next-generation flooring is a protective surface treatment that:
For the curious, its name is PRO2 treatment.
Pros of Rubber Sports Flooring:
Cons:
Our mini guide ends here. For further insights, refer to the article dedicated to choosing multisport flooring for design and safety.
To create sports surfaces for gyms, Mondo provides its consultants and a range of solutions tailored to every scenario and need: CONTACT US FOR A QUOTATION.