LVT Gym Flooring

Getting your gym flooring right will save you a lot of time and potentially money. Making sure that the subfloor is protected, users have a high-quality flooring and the look and feel is right for your gym sounds simple, but is often overlooked.

Choosing The Right Gym Flooring

Before you jump in and just buy an LVT floor, you must consider what the area will be used for in terms of what gym equipment and what type of exercising. This could save you a huge amount of money and inconvenience at a later stage is the floor is unsuitable.

Look at what flooring currently exists in the gym (if any) and also look at the subfloor. Whether it's concrete or wood, laid as a solid slab or "floating" on beams, this will sometimes steer you in one direction or another in terms of what you can use the area for.

You may need to look at some repair and prep work before you install the gym floor. Whether that is a concrete leveller or new wood beams to level up the floor.

What Are LVT Tiles?

Luxury vinyl tiles offer a range of finishes and 'looks'. If you want a wood finish, then this is also possible. Made from multiple layers of PVC vinyl, they are then mixed with a number of other compounds.

The multiple layers are then compressed and suspended in a liquid compound before being dried. The top layer is often then finished to look like wood or stone.

The Benefits of LVT Flooring Tiles

Affordable

Although LVT tiles do vary in price according to the manufacturer, it is possible to get very affordable LVT tiles that look like wood or stone, but don’t cost as much.

Fits In With Your Home Flooring

If you have a home gym within the heart of your home then LVT tiles can look like flooring you have elsewhere in your home. For example, if you have wooden flooring throughout then LVT tiles that are wooden in appearance will look identical to what you already have. People will not know the difference. This can be a great advantage if you are creating a home gym in a reception room that has to serve other purposes. LVT tiles also don’t just mimic the look of wood but also marble, stone and slate.

Waterproof

LVT withstands moisture brilliantly so is a great choice in a gym as they offer good slip resistance.  When exposed to moisture LVT doesn’t, like wood, warp or split. It is also resistant to mould and mildew so is a great choice for a home gym in a basement that may not get much air.

Can Be Installed On Any Flat Surface

You can install LVT tiles on top of other tiles, on plywood and also on concrete. All you need is a primer that helps the adhesive to bind to the existing floor as well as to the LVT tile you are laying.

Again a good choice for a home gym as you may not have to remove the existing surface. LVT tiles are also generally seen as easy to install.

Tough

LVT tiles are frequently installed in retail units and commercial gyms as they can withstand very heavy foot traffic. For this reason they are great in home gyms as they will easily support heavy equipment and exercise.

Easy to Clean

Vinyl is very easy to clean and generally requires very little maintenance other than a quick hoover or wipeover with a brush.

Comfortable

LVT tiles are warm and offer temperature insulation. They are also thicker than traditional vinyl so are quiet underfoot, great for a home gym.

The Disadvantages of LVT Tiles?

The main disadvantage of LVT tiles is that they do not absorb as much shock as say rubber tiles. So, if you want to use your home gym for high-impact work outs this may not be the best flooring for you. In addition, whilst they can be laid over other surfaces the floor must be even so you may have prep work to do before installation.

LVT can also be difficult to remove once they have been glued to the floor, so again this may not be for you if you think the positioning of your home gym may change in the short term.