Types Of Wood Sports Flooring

2024-09-23

What is wood sports flooring?

Wood is the traditional material for sports court flooring with an unrivaled classic look. There are a variety of styles to choose from, from strip flooring to parquet, hardwood and engineered wood species.

If you want the classic look of oak, pine or maple and don't mind having the wood resurfaced with a fresh coat of paint in ten years time, then you should opt for a wood sports floor. Paint in halls has a lifespan of about ten years if used frequently.

Wooden sports flooring is ideal for gymnasiums, ballrooms and multi-purpose games areas, although it is mainly used in sports halls. It has a lifespan of more than twenty years and requires little maintenance throughout its lifespan. In addition, you can get high-performance wooden sports floors for specific sports such as basketball, volleyball, squash and badminton.

The performance of wood sports floors depends on the damping layer, which is available in shock-absorbing pads and anchoring designs. The damping pads are sandwiched between the wood layers and the anchoring design eliminates dead spots. The hard surface of wood provides unmatched resilience and reduces friction, making it ideal for indoor field hockey and futsal.

What is different about wood sports flooring?

When your foot hits a wooden sports floor, it sinks slightly. This is because the wood is mounted on pillars that act as a cushion. Wooden floors are installed directly on the solid subfloor of your home, so there is no cushioning.

Hardwood sports flooring is almost always made of maple because it has a Janka hardness rating of 1,450, which is higher than oak and walnut.

In addition, wood sports floors have at least two coats of polyurethane sealer, which is suitable for sports use. Gloss sealer is preferred because it enhances the hardwood, although satin sealer reduces glare.

The performance of a wood sports floor depends on the subfloor. A solid subfloor means a hard, non-resilient surface, while a resilient floor enhances comfort. Professional basketball courts always have air gaps to isolate impacts and absorb vibrations.

Types of Wood Sports Flooring

There are three main types of wood sports floors:

Engineered wood sports floors have a hardwood top layer and an engineered core layer, usually MDF or cheaper wood.
Hardwood sports floors are solid hardwood and are favored by professional sports leagues such as the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Sprung wood floors are built on a platform above the subfloor to isolate vibrations for a softer, more comfortable feel.

Performance of Different hardwood sports flooring

Wood sports flooring is more than just a hardwood top layer; they consist of multiple layers, and some flooring systems have mezzanine layers with foam and resilient shock pads. Ultimately, the right wood floor depends on the usage.

The performance of a wooden sports floor depends on whether it is installed on a solid surface or a platform and thus resilient.

The thickness of the wood floor also plays a crucial role in how it feels to use; thicker floors typically have higher energy return, which improves comfort. If you are looking for a specific product, please feel free to contact us for advice.

What kind of sports floor do you need?

If you are resurfacing a gymnasium or leisure center, polyurethane flooring is definitely the way to go. In many cases, there is no need to remove the existing floor and the surface can easily be used for over a decade.

For specific sports, it is important to provide a standardized surface. For soccer, it's a 3G court. For basketball, it's a hard court. If you're not sure which sports flooring is right for you, feel free to contact us for free advice.

How does sports flooring installation work?

Sports floors come in all shapes and sizes, but the installation of a sports floor is a structured process. The process works as follows:

Removal of the old flooring

If applicable, the old flooring will be removed. This could be old hardwood flooring, carpet, vinyl or tile. It depends on the previous use. It may even be old rubber gym flooring. Whatever it is, it will be removed and sent for recycling.

Subfloor Preparation

The best sports hardwood sports flooring installations use an underlayment. This is not the same kind of underlayment you would use for carpet, but a high-performance rubber or foam underlayment.

The underlayment is necessary to protect the subfloor from impact. The top surface will compress into the subfloor instead of the subfloor. The subfloor can be in two or three layers to suit the intended use, such as a deadlift area.