Photo courtesy of Covington Flooring Co., Inc.

By Mary Helen Sprecher

That starts with a checklist that takes into account what needs to be done on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, as well as what is needed in the longer term, such as seasonal and annual work.

After all, installers note, problems with flooring are more often traceable to improper care of the system than to the system itself.

Sports facilities commonly found in gyms can be divided into two categories: wood flooring and synthetic flooring. Each has a different set of care criteria. Overall, though, both benefit from preventive care and vigilance. Expert tips include the following:

Photo courtesy of Covington Flooring Co., Inc.

Communicate with the installer or flooring manufacturer: Having a good working relationship with the company that installed the floor, as well as the manufacturer of the surface, is the foundational building block of a good facility. Make sure all contact information is easily accessible.

Ensure proper maintenance training: School administrations can change; and maintenance staff can retire, take other jobs, or pass the baton to new workers. Flooring installers and manufacturers recommend creating a hard copy of the maintenance checklist and having all contact information available in case new workers have questions. Additionally, pros recommend keeping a maintenance logbook for warranty compliance purposes, and supplying cleaning products that coincide with all recommendations.

Photo courtesy of Jaypro Sports, LLC

Place rubber matting at entryways and exits: Mats trap grit and moisture that might otherwise make its way onto the surface. Have multiple sets of mats available, and make sure each entrance to the gym is protected. Mats should be cleaned regularly. There are professional services that do mat-cleaning work; alternatively, mats can be hung up and hosed off until all water runs clean, then allowed to dry completely before being stored. Additional pro tips include:

Use only heavy-duty mats with a carpeted walking surface and a waterproof backing; this will ensure that wetness or mud do not soak through the mat and infiltrate the floor.

Never use one mat for the entire sports season; a mat that is so dirty that it brings new grit onto the floor defeats the purpose entirely. Do not put mats back in place until they have fully dried. Never leave a gym entrance unprotected without a mat; both athletes and spectators should be walking over these mats as they make their way into and out of the gym or arena. Keep spectator traffic to the perimeter of the gym. Inspect mats periodically to make sure the backing has not cracked or become degraded in any way; discard damaged mats.

Photo courtesy of GMB Architecture + Engineering

Daily inspection: Walk the gym each day, looking for stains, debris, marks or other problems. Follow the installer’ s recommendations on how to address these problems without damaging the surface. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas that will show wear first.

Daily sweeping: Following inspections, the surface should be dry-mopped or swept with a soft broom to collect any loose debris on the floor( dust, dirt, popcorn, gum wrappers and so on). After each pass, shake the mop or broom outside or over a plastic sheet placed outside the door to avoid reintroducing debris to the surface.

Require non-marking court shoes of all athletes: Running shoes, cross trainers and other athletic footwear with black soles can leave marks on the surface.

Use floor covers to protect the surface when the gym hosts non-athletic events: Events such as assemblies, concerts, dances, community meetings, fundraisers, and elections will bring in wearers with street shoes. Research options carefully since not all covers will afford the same level of floor protection. In cases where furniture or staging equipment will be placed on the surface, use floor protectors that go under the legs of tables, chairs, etc.

Photo courtesy of Robert Cohen Co., LLC

Protect the floor from heavy equipment: Move heavy equipment( like scissor lifts) only with protective pathways made of plywood sheets or other material, and use wheeled dollies with non-marking tires if smaller pieces of equipment must be brought across the floor.

Do not drag anything across the floor: This includes portable goals, net poles for volleyball or badminton, etc.

Playing lines should always be professionally applied: If new sports are being added, communicate with the flooring installer, who can discuss the installation of new lines. The use of tape, and even of products that are marketed as temporary, can deface a sports surface.

Bleacher use: Whether telescoping or permanently affixed, bleachers will put stress on the surface. The manufacturer or installer can discuss ways to keep these problems to a minimum.

Photo courtesy of Court Builders of the Rockies

The above maintenance recommendations are the same for both wood and synthetic

flooring. Now it is time to address each specific surface. For wood flooring, add the next few steps to the checklist:

Screen and recoat: The frequency of this work should be determined by the manufacturer and / or installer, and should include an in-person inspection prior to having work undertaken. In this work, the current topcoat is abraded and a new finish layer applied. This restores traction, renders micro-scratches invisible and extends the life of the floor.

Full sanding: This is required, on an average, every eight to 12 years( depending on foot traffic and recoating consistency). The process includes removing game lines and

finish down to the bare wood, adding a new finish and new lines. It is a more significant investment; however, it brings the floor back to like-new condition.

Products and practices to avoid: Part of a successful maintenance plan is to educate staff and end users about not just the correct types of work to be undertaken but the practices that should not be used. DO NOT USE: Wax or acrylic-based cleaners. Oil soaps, vinegar, or products to enhance shine. Heavy-duty wet mopping, buckets of water and steam cleaners. Household furniture dusting sprays. Auto-scrubbers, steam cleaners, power washers and other cleaning equipment.

Check with the installer and manufacturer prior to using any equipment.

Photo courtesy of Covington Flooring Co., Inc.

Synthetic surfaces can take multiple forms, with maintenance needs differing according to the specific surface. The most commonly used in sports are as follows:

Polyurethane( pad and pour) systems: These are integrated systems that include a rubber base topped with a poured liquid polyurethane wear layer, followed by a sealed finish coat.

Vinyl flooring( sheet or roll goods): These are multi-layered synthetic PVC or vinyl rolls with a cushioned foam under layer and an outer layer durable enough to stand up to repeated play occasions. Seams are heat-welded together to create one continuous playing surface.

Modular interlocking tiles: High-impact-resistant tiles made of polymers( such as polypropylene) that snap together to create a continuous playing surface. Care for these systems will depend upon the flooring beneath them. Discuss with the installer.

Overall, while synthetic floors are less sensitive than wood, extreme temperature swings, standing water and prolonged humidity exposure still matter, particularly for surfaces with seams and edges.

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In addition to the preventive and daily steps recommended for both wood and synthetic surfaces, installers say the following should be on the radar:

Don’ t use excess water or flood the floor, which can lead to subsurface issues that cause the floor to fail.

Ask the installer about periodic professional deep cleaning or recoating. The frequency of this work will depend upon the foot traffic the surface receives.

Use only chemicals recommended by the manufacturer. Specific products are often recommended, depending upon the type of surface. The use of harsh or unapproved cleaning chemicals, degreasers, solvents, citrus cleaners and abrasive scrubbers can dull the surface.

Considering use of an auto-scrubber? Consult the floor installer and manufacturer for recommendations on all aspects of this type of cleaning, including type of scrubber, type of pads, cleaner, frequency of cleaning, etc.

Mary Helen Sprecher wrote this article on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association( ASBA). For more information on indoor sports surfaces, ASBA recommends“ Courts & Recreational Surfaces: Construction and Maintenance Manual” and“ Indoor Wood Sports Surfacing: Installation & Maintenance Manual.” To order either publication, visit www. sportsbuilders. org.