Gyms at schools and athletic facilities often use wood as their preferred flooring material. Whether you’re the athletic director or a trainer, it pays to know the right floor maintenance strategies when you’re working with wood. Here are three tips to consider.

3 Ways to Maintain Your Gym’s Wood Flooring

1. Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals

Strong bleach-based cleaners may seem like a good choice for getting the grime off your gym floor. However, they can actually cause the floor to lose its color or even begin chipping. When you clean the floor, use a mild detergent instead.

Solvent-based cleaners need to be mixed with water to work properly. Since oils and sweat from athlete perspiration will end up on your gym floor, a good mixture of water and cleaner is necessary to break them down.

2. Set Policies & Enforce Them

If scuffs and marks don’t get on the floor, you won’t have to worry about getting them off. Make sure anyone who walks on the floor knows the rules.

For example, they should wear rubber-soled shoes. Also, ensure that any chairs or tables placed on the floor have soft covers over the portions of their legs that touch the floor. Finally, use protective mats for the floor, especially if you’re placing cones or nets for athletic activities. 

3. Consider the Climate

Even if no one walks on the wood floor, it can still get damaged by the climate. Both the temperature and the humidity need to be at certain levels, or the floor could begin buckling and lifting up. Proper floor maintenance also includes keeping track of your gym’s ventilation settings.

Keep the temperature between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity between 30% and 50%. It’s okay to shut off the ventilation system for short periods of time (24 hours or less), but never leave it off for extended periods. 

Whether you need help with floor maintenance or a new flooring installation, contact Carolina Wood Floors in Winston-Salem, NC. With over 25 years of experience, they’re a top provider of hardwood floors and offer the best quality. To get in touch, visit them online or call (336) 7650-0680.