Gym floors sometimes need reinforcing so they can be used safely. The key to solid reinforcement is assessing the maximum load bearing capability required. The last thing you want is a gym floor that isn’t up to the job.

There are a few ways to reinforce a gym floor which we’ll look at below. If you need advice, feel free to reach out to us.

Boarding

The most common way to reinforce a gym floor is by boarding it. Boarding a gym floor means installing plywood boarding over the subfloor, so that any load spreads across the plywood boarding and not the subfloor.

Boarding is made from ¾” plywood screwed down into place on floorboards or glued into place on concrete. The boarding is a temporary installation and can be removed when the flooring system needs replacing.

Floating floor

Floating floors create an air gap between the subfloor and gym floor. The floating floor is designed to bear heavy loads safely. These floors are usually made with concrete in a pour in place system that reduces build time.

Another type of floating floor is a dry build, where the floating floor is built from plywood, engineered timber and cement particleboard. Dry systems are used when a lightweight floor is needed, such as in apartment blocks.

Bridging

Bridging refers to braces fixed between the floor to distribute loads over more than one joist. It is applicable to wooden structures where there is access to the floor build, helping to reinforce the floor for a gym conversion.

Bridging is only relevant in buildings with timber floor builds. Buildings built from steel do not typically  require bridging for gyms. In wood structures, bridging stiffens the floor, which prevents movement and uneven load distribution.

Reinforcing with layers

Once you have a suitable subfloor, the flooring system above it needs to be carefully specified based on the maximum load it is expected to receive. Most gyms require a multi-layer flooring system that will absorb impacts.

EPDM rubber and EVA foam are the most common gym flooring materials, used in various densities and thicknesses. EVA foam is suitable for yoga and non-intensive training, while EPDM rubber is suitable for heavy-duty work.

Most gyms should use a combination of flooring for different zones. Squishy flooring that compresses is ideal for yoga and martial arts zones, while stiff flooring like EPDM matting is better for your machine zones and free weight areas.