The most common home gym flooring type is rubber.
SBR rubber is unfortunately one of the highest off-gassing flooring types out there.
Another popular option, vinyl sheet, is also up there as one of the highest VOC floorings.
Rubber is very durable and can take a lot of weight, impact, and abuse, so it may be needed in some gyms.
I review “better” rubber flooring and alternative less toxic choices.
Rubber mats can be used only in high-impact areas, if necessary.
Let’s go through all the options for a home gyms flooring with low or 0-VOCs and with low or no toxicants of concern.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Marmoleum
Marmoleum, a natural linoleum sheet, can be used as gym flooring.
Marmoleum is made from linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, limestone, and dry pigments with a jute or polyester backing. It’s got a UV-cured sealer on top.
It has a light linseed odor, but it is otherwise a very safe and healthy flooring.
The product itself is soft like vinyl sheet. Andy from Green Design Center advises using the Forbo cork underlayment under the Marmoleum sheet to give it more cushioning and shock absorption in a home gym.
2. Flocked Flooring
Similar to carpet but better, flocked flooring is something in between a resilient flooring and a carpet. It’s a fuzzy floor that is very durable and washable.
Flotex by Forbo (pictured) is one of these hybrids between a carpet and resilient flooring.
This is a washable option that is ultra-low-VOC. It’s totally waterproof and very hygienic.
It’s made of solid vinyl reinforced base (which is low in odor and off-gassing, unlike vinyl sheet flooring) with a densely flocked surface of nylon 6.6. fibers.
It comes in both sheet form and tiles, both are glued down.
It’s a really good option for a gym. It’s durable to cope with high-traffic areas and heavy gym equipment – it has a wear class of 33 for commercial heavy use according to EN-ISO 10874.
It’s slip-resistant when wet and dry.
Though it’s not a “safety flooring”, it provides a surefooted and comfortable surface to exercise on and is ideal for areas where there is a chance of moisture from drink spillages or sweat.
3. Rubber Flooring
Summary: Synthetic rubber floors come in various types and thicknesses. SBR rubber in particular has fairly strong to very strong off-gassing levels. EPDM rubber is much better in terms of odor. Avoiding recycled SBR rubber reduces contaminants greatly.
I will go over which types of rubber are the best choices, if rubber is your top pick.
Rubber can sometimes be the only option under heavy weights and equipment, it could be used in some areas of the gym, but it should be minimized as much as possible if you want to have a ultra-low-VOC gym.
Recycled rubber might be marketed as “eco-friendly” because it’s recycled, but otherwise, recycled rubber flooring is higher in contaminants, more on that below. (There are better rubber floors).
Synthetic Versus Natural Rubber Flooring
Synthetic rubber is more durable than natural rubber latex.
I have seen brands that are part natural rubber and part synthetic, like Mondo Sport. I don’t believe any brands are 100% natural rubber.
Some brands are being deceptive.
What is Rubber Flooring Made of?
Rubber flooring can be made with recycled SBR rubber (most often tires), new rubber (synthetic or a synthetic/natural mix), and EPDM rubber.
Tarkett makes a rubber flooring where almost all ingredients are on the Declare label.
Rebonded Versus Vulcanized
Anything labeled rebonded rubber uses a polyurethane adhesive to hold the flooring together.
Polyurethane glue does have noticeable off-gassing, which I would consider quite high.
Vulcanized and virgin rubber are usually heat-pressed. Vulcanized is preferable from an off-gassing standpoint over polyurethane-bonded rubber.
Other Components
Some manufacturers use sulfur in their binding agents. And some rubber gym floors are mixed with vinyl, like the brand Roppe, which I do not consider an improvement.
A rubber and cork mix like those from Ecore can be quite good.
Flame retardants can be added. Tarkett lists their flame retardants as Huntitte, Hydromagnesite, and Aluminum Trihydrate.
The odor of SBR rubber flooring does go down, but slowly, and may never fully go away.
EPDM is lower in odor than SBR.
The Lowest VOC Rubber Flooring:
Look for these attributes when choosing a better rubber floor
- 95% EPDM is much better than a majority SBR rubber floor. (This floor – which can be used indoors – is 95% EPDM, it has a small percentage of recycled SBR, and is rebonded)
- Natural latex, or at least some natural latex in the mix, should result in lower off-gassing (Mondo Sport is an example)
- Virgin rubber is much better than post-consumer recycled (especially recycled tires, due to the contaminants present)
- Vulcanized rubber, not rebonded, is lower in off-gassing (the glues in rebonded flooring have more off-gassing)
- Calendared rubber as the top layer (on top of vulcanized) reduces off-gassing somewhat (Ecore Aurora is an example)
- Thinner rubber sheets are much preferable to thicker rubber (less to off-gas)
- Time does help rubber to off-gas. If you can air this out for a few weeks or a few months before installation that helps (though SBR rubber does not completely off-gas in a few months, and it is overall slow to off-gas)
- Greenguard Gold certification can be reached by some brands
VOCs/Off-gassing of Rubber Flooring
A study by California’s Public Health Institute revealed off-gassing of xylene, butylated hydroxytoluene, ethylbenzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde from recycled SBR rubber flooring.
Benzene and carbon disulfide were above the health threshold in one or two samples.
Some brands do meet GreenGuard Gold VOC levels (like Mondo) which is a fairly low level of off-gassing and makes it suitable for those who are not chemically sensitive.
Metals and Other Contaminants in Rubber Flooring
Toxic contaminants can be used in the manufacturing process and can be found in the final product.
Hazardous flame retardants, metals, VOCs including styrene, nano carbon black, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons are just a few (Source).
If you do go with a rubber flooring you can ask to see testing of heavy metals as well as PAH’s (polyaromatic hydrocarbons).
However, the Healthy Building Network does not find this testing to be comprehensive enough.
By 1990, mercury-containing rubber was discontinued, but you could still find it in older homes.
Recycled rubber can still be contaminated with other metals including lead.
Recycled rubber flooring may contain more contaminants than virgin rubber.
Many chemicals in the rubber, such as vulcanizing agents, accelerators, and plasticizers remain in recycled rubber, as well as contaminants it picked up in its life as vehicle tires.
The Healthy Building Network does not recommend the use of recycled tire flooring in interior applications, especially where children may come into direct contact with the flooring.
Seal in the Off-gassing and Contaminants of Rubber Flooring with Paint?
It’s difficult to seal in rubber because most paints and sealers don’t stick well to it. Especially if it has a rough surface.
I tried sealing rubber flooring samples with shellac but the shellac did pull away from the rubber with time so I would not count on sealing it.
Mitigate the Off-gassing in Rubber Flooring/Rubber Mats:
- Air + heat + time – rubber takes a long time to off-gas in my experience. Even a year outside was not nearly enough for me for SBR. However, this is still the main way to off-gas any material. Just don’t leave it in the sun too long, as rubber breaks down in the sun.
- Wash it down with a) a mix of water and vinegar, or b) lemon juice, or c) peppermint oil on a damp cloth, or soak it if possible (if it’s a smaller mat) in a mix of water and baking soda, or water and dish soap.
- If you need to do something immediately, encase it or put down foil, charcoal, zeolite, or cat litter on top of it.
4. EVA Foam
High-density EVA foam is soft, cushiony, and provides good shock resistance.
It works well for those doing floor-based workouts.
But it’s not ideal for heavy weights or equipment, as those can leave dents over time. And it’s not glued down, so it may not work for intense workouts.
But it is cheap, easy, and fast to install. You can easily add a workout area to a room that has wood, vinyl, or another hard surface.
EVA is generally a safer plastic in terms of off-gassing. After some airing out the levels will be extremely low in most brands.
However EVA often contains formamide and phthalates.
Flooringinc mats are the only ones I know of that are tested to show no formamide though they have a Prop 65 warning for phthalates.
Well-liked brands on Amazon include Macro Giant Eva Foam Exercise Mats which claim to be formamide-free and are certified CPSIA, ASTM F963, EN71, and JFSL which cumulatively test for phthalates and heavy metals to European and Japanese standards for kids products and food contact products.
This does not mean they are definitely 100% free of phthalates and metals but they have major restrictions so they would have to use an alternative plasticizer.
Wesellmats claims to be phthalate-free and are tested per CPSIA standards.
7/8ths or 1-inch foam tiles are usually used in gyms.
5. Artificial Turf
Artificial turf is usually used outside but it could also be used for interior workout rooms
Only some types of artificial turf are made for very intense workouts. Consult with a gym flooring vendor to choose the right kind of turf for your needs.
Types of Artificial Turf for Gyms
Some turf comes without a backing. It could be EVA foam (see the EVA foam section), polyethylene, or polypropylene.
These three I would consider safe.
Some types have a polyurethane backing (which has some off-gassing) and the most robust type is SBR rubber which takes us back to the rubber section of this article (and is my least favorite type).
The top “grass” layer is made from either polypropylene, nylon, or polyethylene.
I consider these all safe plastics in terms of off-gasssing.
However, lead can be added to the plastic, it can have added anti-microbials, and/or flame retardants which I would want to avoid.
They can also contain PFAS as a byproduct of the manufacturing.
The infill layer is often crumb rubber which contains metals (including lead), VOCs, plasticizers, black carbon, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Safe infill materials include sand, cork, zeolite, walnut shells, or coconut husks. (And some types don’t require infill).
Plastic Backing
Without a padding, the turf usually has a simple polyethylene or polypropylene backing like these floors from Rubber Flooring Inc. – Performance Turf, Launch Turf (and others).
(Though the samples I got have picked up the odor of rubber, probably from nearby inventory).
EVA Foam Tile Backing
Sorbus Mats are EVA foam tiles. They are durable enough to withstand foot traffic and are considered waterproof (though the seams of EVA foam are not waterproof!)
This type of turf is like the EVA tiles in the section above.
EVA foam is the base, which provides cushioning, and polyethylene “grass” makes up the top layer.
They don’t say if they are free of lead, biocides, and flame retardants. And the best EVA should be listed as formamide-free and phthalate-free.
If you are using this for traction and resistance, the foam tiles are not suitable. Glue-down turf would be used instead.
Brands that are free of chemicals of concern:
PolyTurf (makes Fitness & CrossFit Synthetic Turf) – Lead-free and they offer a polypropylene cushion.
Bella Turf, Canada (Indoor Gym Turf – durable enough for weighted sleds) – it has a polyurethane foam cushion and natural sand infill. Certified lead-free, it contains no detectable traces of lead and heavy metals. This line is also free of biocides, flame retardants, and PFAS.
More brands are here in my dedicated article on artificial turf.
6. Wood Flooring
Real solid wood is used in many professional workout spaces as well as home gyms.
Maple is typically used because it’s both dense and has some shock absorbency.
To add more shock absorption without the flex, cork underlayment might be specified under solid wood flooring.
Extra dense grades of foam can work under wood floors, but they are not as durable as cork, says Rubber Flooring Inc.
Rubber is also used as an underlayment under wood gym floors in professional settings (though see the above section on concerns with rubber, it’s one of the highest off-gassing materials in a home).
Consult with a gym flooring expert for commercial and professional spaces.
The downsides of using wood are that it can scratch and splinter if heavy weights are dropped and the durable water-resistant coatings can make it slippery when wet.
Wood can be ideal for aerobic exercise, kickboxing, and dance.
7. Cork Tile
Cork is known as an eco-friendly flooring because it’s made of renewable bark.
It can be a healthy option.
Cork is usually pressed with a polyurethane or formaldehyde glue which do off-gas VOCs. However, some brands are 0-VOC like Forna cork tiles.
Its natural shock-resistant and cushiony characteristics mean it works well for high-intensity workouts and weight training.
Gym flooring experts recommend glue-down cork tiles over floating cork flooring to provide support for heavy loads.
However, cork is not a super durable material in some ways. Dragging equipment on either type can tear or scratch the surface and heavy equipment will leave dents.
8. Carpet
You can use carpet in a home gym.
I like low-VOC brands.
A low-pile commercial-grade carpet is recommended in gyms for traction and stability.
Not many low-VOC carpet brands fit this requirement.
Synthetic Carpet
FLOR carpet tiles are low-VOC and could work in some home gyms. This brand does have a backing that provides a little bit of cushioning, but not as much as the typical carpet pad.
Carpet tiles are taped down and may not provide enough stability for some workouts.
Natural Carpet
Wool carpet, which is discussed in more detail in the carpet post, holds up very well to foot traffic but not to objects dragged across it.
A low pile wool may work for a home gym, depending on which types of workouts you do.
Of course for some people, carpet will not fit the requirement of being easily cleanable and super hygienic, but it can work in some types of home gyms.
9. Vinyl Plank
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is a very popular flooring in residential construction right now.
It’s easy to install and relatively inexpensive.
It’s also very low in off-gassing (some brands are 0-VOC) unlike vinyl sheet (resilient) flooring which is relatively high in VOCs (and is definitely a product I would avoid in a healthy home).
LVP brands like CoreTec Plus have a cork backing attached, giving it some shock absorption that most vinyl is lacking. (The vinyl top layer of LVP is not as soft as the vinyl in vinyl sheet).
While there is a little bit of off-gassing from the cork backing, it is mostly blocked by the vinyl, so it is still something I would consider in a gym, at least for those who are not extremely sensitive.
It’s not repairable when it’s scratched or dented, but it could work for some gym types.
Vinyl plank off-gasses very low or no VOCs, gives off some plasticizers (all the brands I have seen are phthalate-free now and use DOTP plasticizer), and can contain metals (virgin vinyl is preferable).
My article on vinyl plank goes more into depth on LVP, what’s in it, and which brands I like best.
10. Non-Vinyl Sheet Flooring
Sheet flooring is also called resilient flooring.
The most common type of resilient flooring is vinyl sheet. Vinyl sheet is high in off-gassing – one of the highest off-gassing flooring types.
The following brands give the same look, feel, and performance as conventional sheet vinyl floors without the high VOCs.
UPO by Kahrs makes three really great healthy options. Xpression and Zero Tile are made of safe plastics – TPE, and polyolefin (polyethylene and/or polypropylene). It contains no plasticizers and no PVC.
Quartz tile, their stiffer flooring has a base of the mineral quartz and PVC, with no phthalates and no DHEP. It’s virtually odorless, even lower odor than LVP. But it is a rather hard flooring, too hard for most gyms.
Another new option in the commercial category is Shaw Contract’s bio-based polyurethane. It’s made of 90% natural oils (but not linseed) and minerals. It’s almost odorless. The backing contains polyethylene and fiberglass.
Another very similar brand is Wineo Purline Organic Flooring.
Wineo also makes a thicker click-together floor (X-Core Connect) with a polyurethane top layer and a thick cushy EVA underlayment.
These polyurethane sheet floors are excellent in my opinion, with almost no off-gassing and no plasticizers (except in the EVA layer) they are far superior health-wise to vinyl sheet.
These floors are all glue-down (apart from the Wineo click).
Underlayment might be added in gyms, consult with your contractor and the companies for technical advice.
11. Portable Mats
If you use a hard surface floor like wood or LVP you can always add exercise mats as area mats.
You may also want to put mats down under equipment to protect the floor in those areas.
I would avoid latex, synthetic SBR rubber, and PVC in equipment and exercise mats.
Non-Toxic Equipment Mats
A good non-toxic mat for under treadmills, ellipticals, and other exercise equipment is this one made of NBR rubber which is a material very low in odor and VOCs.
If you prefer EVA foam for your equipment mat (also extremely low odor/low VOC), this Marcy mat comes recommended. Though we don’t know if it’s free of phthalates and formamide.
Be careful with products that are made from “PER foam” – PER foam is a non-specific term that likely means PVC.
Some brands of PVC might claim “odorless” but that term is very subjective. Neither PVC nor latex would be considered odorless to me.
I avoid PVC and SBR rubber.
Non-Toxic Yoga Mats
TPE
There are 6 types of TPE and some types can be close to odorless. Most yoga mats are TPE-S (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene).
TPE yoga mats can contain phthalates, however, so look for ones that claim to be phthalate-free.
Here is one that is super large (and phthalate-free), more of a general exercise mat.
In an email, GreaterGoods claimed their TPE yoga mats are phthalate-free. I own this one.
Most brands of TPE yoga mats did not respond to my questions about phthalates, indicating possible confirmation of the use of this endocrine disrupter.
NBR
My second choice is NBR rubber yoga mats, I have had one, and they usually are extremely low odor.
They can be very low in cost, but they are my second choice because are not the most durable option.
They are likely to be better than TPE for highly chemically sensitive folks.
It’s not 100% clear if NBR rubber is always free of phthalates.
Natural Rubber and Cork
The natural options like rubber (natural latex) and cork (made with latex or polyurethane glues and usually backed with TPE) usually smell of off-gassing fairly significantly.
Cork can take more than a year to off-gas if pressed with polyurethane adhesives.
If you want to go with natural materials, Jade Yoga mat was tested by the Ecology Center and it did turn out to be made of only natural latex (not PVC or synthetic rubbers).
I avoid PVC and synthetic rubber.
Non-Toxic Gymnastics Mats
Most gymnastics mats have a PVC cover over a foam insert.
I avoid PVC and would opt for a polyurethane (PU) covered mat instead.
PU material, often referred to as vegan leather, is extremely low in odor (and will be odorless with just a little bit of time).
It is virtually VOC-free and is made without plasticizers, including phthalates.
The Giantex Gymnastics Mat is also made of PU and non-toxic polyethylene and has mostly positive reviews.
This option from Amazon is made with PU on the outside and a non-toxic, non-off-gassing polyethylene foam on the inside. It has very mixed reviews, however.
PS. For non-toxic weights, see this post!
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!
LKW
What is the best mat to use in our home gym to lay over a small section of our engineered hardwoods that will not mess up the floor underneath the mat since we will eventually turn it back into a bedroom. We only want the mat under the rack (115 lbs) and the weight tree (51 lbs with 230 lbs of weight)? We prefer the least toxic and it will not be permanent. Thanks so much!
DKI
I have tried a cork yoga mat from Scoria (cork with a FSC natural rubber base) and did not find it smelly out of the box (it is also not shipped rolled up in plastic, which was nice). Does fine on engineered wood floor.
I am thinking about getting cork tiles from Yoloha — they are the only company that sells interlocking cork tiles — 100% cork, no backing. I have noticed people use them for gym floors, and in a couple of reviews people said it did not smell. Will report back if I get them, just wanted to share that as an option for folks set on cork that do not want to install flooring.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
the question is always whats the binder in the cork. i just got a cork yoga mat as well, it did smell so i have not listed it. but i would want to know the binder in those cork tiles.
DKI
Thanks. I didn’t ask Yoloha because the tiles are $$$ (more per sq ft than Kahrs engineered wood flooring!)
I ended up getting their Aura cork yoga mats because the plant foam on the bottom is safe for LVP and I needed something asap that wasn’t rubber / latex. The mats definitely have a smell; my guess is the smell is from the plant foam. Rolled up they do not really smell, but unrolled they do; I have 2 unrolled in a room for my dog and you can smell it as soon as you can walk in. It is not strong, but noticeable. The mats themselves seem to be good quality.
I should mention that the Scoria mat does have a rubber smell from the backing (natural rubber is used), but I have to get pretty close to it to smell it; it’s not really detectable to me when I am standing on the mat. The cork layer itself doesn’t smell to me. I don’t smell the mat at all when it is rolled up when I walk into the room where I keep it. However I am not really that sensitive to rubber smells.
jen
Hi Corinne, great post. Do you any concerns with corrugated polypropyrene?
robf
do you have any issues with melamine …looking at a gym matt with it in it https://ultraslide.com/products/ultraslide-8
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I have not looked at that type of gym mat before so I’m not sure
rob
thanks for the many answers on this topic. one more question. Does this cause you any concern in reading (from another blog) ” Although TPE does not contain PVC, it is a synthetic material with no specific composition. According to Leafscore, it could be made from rubber, plastic, a mixture of the two, or from something else entirely. I’m skipping yoga mats made from this material.”
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
updated that section of the article now
rob
Hi Corinne, are there any exceptions to PVC no fly zone? I found this
Made from certified OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 PVC (Class 1: Articles for babies & toddlers)
Free of phthalates and harmful substances
https://www.manduka.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopYzeFbWSscuV8ps-zyrahX_Huq3a-4CfZ24FjVCm73htKTLM3I
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
recycled plastic is something I avoid if I can, but you can check the level of phthalate contamination from recycled plastic allowed by OEKO Tex. It could also have off-gassing, as most (but not all) flexible PVC does.
rob
hi Corinne, how can they claim to be 99% latex free if they are rubber? Does that mean this is TPE?
Natural Materials | Natural non-Amazon tree rubber
No matter where you are in your yoga journey, Manduka has just what you need. The company carries mats for beginners all the way to those doing performance-minded hot yoga. (Not sure which mat is best for you? Manduka has a quiz to guide you!) Biodegradable and 99 percent latex-free, these made-for-good mats will keep you cool and comfortable in any session.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
You would have to ask them if they mean they have removed the latex proteins that people react to or it’s not made of natural latex but a different rubber.
Caitlin McFarlane
What was bout epoxy flooring?
Caitlin McFarlane
What about* epoxy?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I don’t talk about epoxy flooring on the blog because the two part reaction can be risky, and usually they block moisture in the slab which I also personally would not do. However there are some 0 VOC formulas that some people may want to check out and also some are more breathable
bill marceau
Hi. I purchased 5/8 Inch Thick Evolution Rubber Interlocking Floor Tiles for my small home gym. Upon unboxing I immediately noticed the heavy rubber smell and placed them outside to air out, sprayed vinegar and simple green solution on them multiple times and left them there for about 3 weeks. I then installed them inside, when my VOC levels spiked immediately (monitored through air quality app)….so rather than un-installing them I bought a window fan that was set to exhaust the room 24/7, which worked well but also made it difficult to moderate the humidity and temp levels inside the rest of my home. After 2 months of this I tried removing the fan and closing the window (ending the constant room ventilation) and my VOC levels have spiked again, and very oddly have a max-spike of around 6500ppb around 6pm each day, which I can only attribute to the room warming up to it’s highest temp at that time, which releases a burst of VOC’s?? Is there ANYTHING I can do to either trap the VOC’s being released inside my home (with the windows closed)….or do I simply need to wait out this off-gassing? It appears my tiles are made from recycled tires…..so the worst offender from an off-gassing standpoint – but I’d love any recommendation or guidance you can share.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
see the article on mitigating offgassing
bill
can I get a link I see a few on your site?
Tina Mortimer
Hello. My husband wants to install these foam mats in our basement gym. I’m not clear what they’re made out of (rubber? PVC?). Have you come across this brand? Any insight you could offer would be greatly appreciated!
https://www.samsclub.com/p/norsk-rhino-tec-6pk-reversible-flooring/prod26190339
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
looks like EVA, see section on EVA in the post
Kerry
Darn it. I just went to purchase the Flooringinc EVA foam interlocking tiles and they don’t appear to ship to Canada. It’s unfortunate as 2 of their 3’x3′ mats would have done the trick for under my treadmill on top of a cut-to-size piece of MDF sealed with the AFM safe seal. Any other suggestions on well made EVA foam that is formamide free?? I know you say in the article that you do not, but perhaps you know of another now since the time of writing.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
just added another brand
Chris M.
I read this entire post and I still don’t have a solution. I have a home gym that has horse stall mats from tractor supply. I want to get rid of them (especially with 1 year old now) and get something else but the problem is it has to be at least half an inch thick and durable for 500+ pounds being dropped onto it. I feel like rubber is the only good option for this but there is no 0 toxin or VOC rubber. Any other alternatives that are not rubber but similar for very heavy weight? Or if rubber is my only choice, would you recommend a specific one that is LEAST harmful? Thank you!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
rubber is the only option in some gyms depending on the exercise, i mention which ones are less bad
Lauren Myers
I am looking for a good mat for my home gym. Is this virgin rubber a good option?
https://amarcoproducts.com/products/sport-weight-room-flooring/virgin-rubber-gym-tile/pt-100-virgin-rubber-gym-tile#features
Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i talk about the problems with rubber in the post
Caleb
Per Corrine’s recommendation, I bought 1 inch MMA mats from FlooringInc.com. I unboxed them and laid them out in my garage for two weeks. They are now inside my home and are very low odor and I have had no reactions to them. Thanks Corinne!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
nice! good to know
Roop
Hi! Thanks for all the info. I see the comments about polypropylene not off gassing, but are there any other concerns of it from a health standpoint as a gym floor in a garage. It seems to allow for breathability of concrete. My concern is since it is a microplastic found in a lot of material that can be dangerous to our health – would it carry those same concerns as a garage floor. Kids would be sitting, rolling, playing on it.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I’m not concerned with it in that application
Roop
Thank you
Roop
maybe im paranoid but I was looking at some research that microplastics can be absorbed through the skin – would it not be the case in this situation?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
from abrasion over time small particles of plastic will be released into the dust/air (not sure how easy or fast it is to start to break down like that) but just touching the solid plastic is not a problem.
Kelly Kluck
What is your opinion on Gorilla mats? Do they fit your nontoxic criteria? Thank you so much for your help!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I mention them in the arctile
Helen
Hi Corinne, thank you for all your work. I re-read this and cannot find anything about the Gorilla mats and I am also wondering about them. Would you please share your thoughts! I’d very much appreciate it.
Damian Motlo
Hi Corinne! I found your page after doing a non toxic gym flooring search. Tried to book a 15 minute email via your site but nothing was available, and I searched all the way up to November. Would love to book an email session with you, or I can ask a question here if need be. Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I dont do stand alone 15 min consults
Cher
Hello Corinne,
Thank you very much for this post and for your website in general. I’m considering Marmoleum for my yoga/workout room in my home, but as I dug into the Forbo marmoleum, I see that it’s finished with Topshield2 which contains polyurethane foams and other *stuff*. https://hpdrepository.hpd-collaborative.org/repository/HPDs/publish_74_Marmoleum_Sheet_with_Topshield2.pdf
Can you comment on the use of Topshield2 as a finisher?
Cher
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i think the part where it says foam is not supposed to say that, it’s a polyurethane coating, CAS 9009-54-5. I have no problem with that coating
Cher
OK, I did a little more digging and found this on ECOS Paint’s website:
Polyurethane Coating Risks
According to Sweden’s Dampness in Buildings and Health study, children with bedroom PGE concentrations in the top 25% (of the study participants) had a 100% higher likelihood of having asthma, a 150% higher likelihood of having eczema, and a 320% higher likelihood of having rhinitis. With this in mind, these toxins can come with unpleasant side effects like coughing, vomiting, shortness of breath, and headaches.
Is there a difference in PGE concentrations between different polyurethane coatings?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
that study was done in 2001-2002, lots of changed since then. There are 0-VOC polyurethane coatings, and most current water based options are are very fast to offgas, Marmoleum’s coating is UV cured so it should not have any offgassing by the time it gets to you.
Jp
Hi Corinne,
I am looking for safe flooring for kitchen and bathroom that is “shock absorption”. My son has seizure and i worry especially about the bathroom floor. This new remodeling will also be for me and my husband to age in place. Do you have any suggestions please?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
see the article on non toxic bathroom flooring
Sonia
Thank you for this article!
There’s a convenient brand I’m interested in, Dollamur Flexi-Roll mats. They’re made of polyethylene 680g/m3. Hopefully they aren’t toxic!
All the best,
Sonia
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i wouldnt use a mat with vinyl surface
MICHAEL APPLEGATE
We’ve used your site to find the right flooring for our home, so thank you! Now I need your help finding the right floor for my home gym. I only need a 6 feet by 4 feet mat for a 170-lb power cage. I want a mat that doesn’t need to be glued and is as non-toxic as possible. Do you have a link to the best product for this? If so, I will buy it right now.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I can’t specify flooring for different kinds of exercises, it’s beyond my expertise. This article is very comprehensive though and so should cover all exercise types though it’s shorter on the portable mats section.
JR
Aside from those who might be allergic to natural virgin rubber what are your thoughts on vulcanized virgin rubber not the synthetic material like SBR?
It seems like sourcing this kind of material in the U.S. is difficult.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i mention vulcanized rubber in the post, this is SBR rubber though. virgin just means it’s not recycled. I did not see any flooring that is only natural latex rubber.
Theresa
The exercise equipment mats are mostly unavailable and/or too small. I’m looking for a larger size mat for under a rower, minimum 8.2 feet by 2.6 feet (250 cm by 80 cm). I did find one EVA foam mat large enough though much thicker than the standard one sold by the rower manufacturer (concept 2) but at $232 it wouldn’t be my first choice if other options more in line with this type of item exist. Would you think a yoga mat of TPE be durable enough, as this one would meet the size requirement: https://www.amazon.com/CAMBIVO-Exercise-Fitness-Pilates-Workout/dp/B086C1TV2B
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
yes that should be good in terms of material safety. I dont know about durability
Damian Motlo
Did you ever find a bigger sized gym flooring Theresa? This is the predicament I’m in. I have a garage gym where I see my clients and the mats I have are quality but terrible from a health perspective. They have bene offgassing for at least a year now. They are 4′ x 6″ which is the larger sections many gyms needs for surface area, as well as durability….but, I don’t even want to know what chemicals are in these ones. Have you found a durable and clean matting for gas by chance?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
See the section on yoga/exercise/equipment mats there are some large ones there.
Cherie
Is this better in TPE? It’s still not specifically for shoes, but I don’t know what else to do as I still want to roll it up afterwards and not do the EVA blocks you puzzle piece together.
https://www.amazon.com/Hatha-Large-6x4x1-Non-Slip-Exercise/dp/B0C7KCHLGN/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=1GKYQBZTO60FJ&keywords=large%2Bnbr%2Bexercise%2Bmat&qid=1705519556&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=large%2Bnbr%2Bexercise%2Bmat%2Csporting%2C77&sr=1-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
Corinne Segura
that looks good
Cherie
So this by Activegear would be a no-go, correct?
Our eco-friendly Premium Exercise Mats are latex-free, phthalate-free, silicone-free, and toxin-free. They’re made of premium high density, non-toxic 16P free natural rubber and PER foam. Our exercise mats are tested to ensure they have no odor, no smell, no phthalates, no latex, no silicone, and no toxins.
I’m looking for a larger mat that I could roll out and use like 6 to 8 feet long, and not like the puzzle piece blocks you have to put together as I cannot easily tear it down and put it away.
Corinne Segura
natural rubber is latex and PER usually means PVC vinyl
Cherie
What about this brand, this is what it says on their website: Sensu
Odorless: Goodbye smelly, unhealthy PVC. And hello odorless, non-toxic 16P-ECO!
https://sensu.co/products/large-exercise-mat-6-x-4-x-8-5mm
On Amazon it says:
A SAFER TRAINING MAT – Goodbye smelly, unhealthy PVC. And hello odorless, non-toxic 16P-ECO! Not only is it a non-slip mat for all excersize, but it’s free from the 16 types of Harmful Phthalates and is also kid safe!
Corinne Segura
Im not sure what the is, it sounds like PVC
Sherry Elliott
I have been considering a 8×6 floor mat by Active gear. Is all their information legit, echo friendly/clean? Do you sell of reccomend any? I saw one under my chemical-free house it was a 10×6 for $189.95 and I cannot find it anywhere now. Any advice would be appreciated.
JILL C ROBINSON
Are the Flooringinc mats considered “breathable,” ie safe re: mold-avoidance over concrete garage floor (which is dry)? Are they generally tolerated by MCS people? Kind of excited about this option but wondering about outgassing/odor. Same question for Amorim cork please. Thanks for your detailed research! Hope to hear from you soon, as I’d like to get my project started. Thanks.
Corinne Segura
EVA is not breathabla and neither is Amorim Wise because of the binder. There is some cork the is breathable but that will require a vapor barrier underneath. Once you put a plastic or rubber mat down you will almost certainly see condensation under it after a while so that is actually a good test and you will see it’s not as dry as it looks. Blocking moisture there will likely cause problems.
jen
Hi- I am intersted in gym mats for under equipment in a home gym. WE have tile floors. Most of your links are expired. Any suggestions?
Also, we have mandolo mats- should I throw them out? thanks
Corinne
only one of the equipment mat links is expired and that’s because I can’t find a replacement for it. the other links work.
jen
If I want a bigger size, is the key to just get EVA foam? I am looking for under a
weight rack. I am happy to use your affilaite link if you want to post a bigger one?
Melinda
I stumbled across your post after researching online. We just installed rubbing flooring to our home gym, only for me to realize afterwards that is potentially harmful (I know, I know, it wasn’t ground breaking information but I didn’t think about it enough until after we purchased it). Now, I am really anxious as we have two little ones and I don’t see the point of having a new home gym if I’m too scared to go in there!
My question is, what is the risk of keeping this floor as an underlay, and adding something like vinyl on top? or hardwood? Is the risk still there or is it smarter to remove it completely? Looking at our most affordable options. Thanks in advance
Corinne
if you’re not sensitive to it, I would add ventilation to the room like this https://iaq.na.panasonic.com/erv/whispercomfort-60
Nicole
Hi I am in the same boat as Melinda. We installed rubber horse stall mats in the garage 1 year ago for a home gym and now I am anxious about the toxicity. We do not seem to be sensitive to it, but we now have a child I don’t want near the mats or the garage in general! The link for the ventilation system you recommended is not working. Do you have another link/rec? Thank you so much!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
i updated that link. there are two parts to rubber concerns the offgassing and the chemicals that leach out.
Nicole
So the venting wouldn’t help with the chemical leaching I’m assuming? Would replacing it be our best bet?
Robert
I tried rubber mats in my home gym and even after a few months I am still sensitive to the smell. I am thinking of just using sheets of plywood and coating them in polyurethane. Are there any polyurethane wood or floor coatings you would recommend as for having low VOCs?
Corinne
yeah rubber really smells. there is a post on floor sealers with polyurethanes.
Paul
Thanks Corinne.
Question – it seems like your top choice is the marmoleum with cork underlayer. But that cork is also glued with polyurethane so is there still any advantage to that over straight cork tiles?
Corinne
There is cork underlayment that is not made with a polyurethane glue. As for the glues needed between layers talk to Andy Pace from “GDC Building for Health”
Amy Wh
I’m having a wheelchair conversion done on my vehicle, and looking for something to ask them to use for the flooring in the interior channel of the vehicle where my mobility scooter will roll into. They typically use a rubberized vinyl mat. Do you think the Crostice or Marcy mats would work for this? It looks like they come in sizes big enough and I’m sure could be cut down to size, but not sure if they are heavy duty enough. Thank you for your research!! It is invaluable!
Corinne
It depends on what type of vehicle. I don’t know if they work. But in terms of being replacements for vinyl mats, I think that NBR rubber or EVA is the way to go. If it’s a van they also make portable flooring cut out for van sizes from these materials.
Mindy-Gail
Awesome post, Corinne!
I am looking to cover the tile floors in my studio apartment that is a rental. It is so old & disgusting and never get clean and would rather have something on top that is easy to clean and can just lay over it. They will not replace it until I move it, so I am stuck with it.
I was looking into rubber flooring rolls and from the great information here regarding the best non-toxic option. I can’t stand strong chemical smells and want the lowest voc and offgassing that is possible.
It seems that NBR rubber mats would be the best choice to lay on the floors. I did some searching online, but don’t seem to be finding what I am looking for. Can I get the NBR rubber as a roll or only as mats. I also don’t want to spend so much because this is a rental and don’t plan to glue it down, just have it lay over the existing tile.
I did look at Rubber-Cal brand on Home Depot website and the product only says rubber, but not NBR rubber. This was the one recommended to me: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubber-Cal-Diamond-Plate-4-ft-x-6-ft-Black-Rubber-Flooring-24-sq-ft-03-206-W100-06/301919682
Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions and ideas.
Mindy-Gail
Corinne
I mention NBR mats in the exercise mat section.
Mindy-Gail
Yes, I saw that section, but when went on Amazon, it isn’t available. I need a roll that can put down on top of the tile floor, that is why asked you if you know if Rubber-Cal is NBR rubber, as it only says rubber on the link shared with you.
Thank You
Corinne
it looks like SBR but you’ll have to ask them
Anacleta
Hi Corinne,
We are considering Swisstrax floating tiles for our garage concrete floor, which don’t require glue or moisture barrier, and are said to be made of a Polypropylene copolymer material. Your articles describe polypropylene to be very safe. Is “polypropylene copolymers” just as safe? And do you happen to have any knowledge of Swisstrax products?
JILL C ROBINSON
I just saw this a year later! I installed in my garage and love them. Breathable. No smell. Do it!
Ali
Hi,
Very informative post. Was wondering if you had any suggestions for the thicker gymnastics mats. I’m looking for something to put under a climbing wall/ceiling monkey bars in the kids playroom.
Corinne
did you check out the ones in the post?
Ali
I did. Those are the thinner 2” ones. I was actually looking for something more like the 4” landing mats.
Corinne
Ah ok, I’m not sure if those come in 4 inch but I would look for those same materials
Jennifer Campana
Hello Corinne! Great information, thank you.
Would you be concerned about moisture/mold build up when using LVP over a concrete basement floor for a gym?
Thank you,
Jennifer
Corinne
Yes I definitely would, though it is the norm to use it over slabs.
Jennifer Campana
So is there any material that you would not be concerned about with mold/moisture in this situation?
Corinne
It really depends on the moisture content in the concrete and if it’s taking on water from below and the sides. If it’s taking on water then it’s drying to the inside and it can be a problem to block that moisture in my experience. Breathable flooring materials are best (either to not risk it or if you know it’s drying inward).
JILL C ROBINSON
Can you please give an example of the best and least toxic breathable materials? I want to convert my garage that is concrete (and dry) to a gym. Thanks!
Corinne Segura
a garage is riskier than a basement as there are no vapor barriers under a garage slab generally. while newer basements do have vapor barriers under them. Breathable flooring is polished concrete, tiles. I would only put down rubber or other plastic exercise mats while working out then roll them back up.
Allison Marsh
Hi Corinne – thank you so much for all the invaluable information you’ve provided here. You mention that Roppe rubber tiles are mixed with vinyl which is not an improvement in your view. Roppe now produces a rubber tile mixed with cork that is GreeguardvGold certified and does not contain any Red List chemicals. I’m wondering if this product would be an acceptable option for you? We are starting a basement reno and our daughter has a genetic mutation that makes her more susceptible to developing various cancers so we’re trying our best to choose the healthiest options but it can be overwhelming to say the least. Any information you could provide would be appreciated. The link to their Greenguard certificate is here: https://roppe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GREENGUARD-Gold-Certification_Rubber-Tile.pdf
Corin Aurelio
Hi Corinne,
Thank you so much for sharing a ray of options for non-toxic gym mats. I am currently making my garage into my workout space and really only be using a small section of the space for weight training / HITT workouts. What exercise mats or brands do you recommend for a garage setting?
Corinne
the same ones this post, but I would roll it up after using because they will block the moisture that is trying to dry up, assuming the floor is still concrete.
Corin Aurelio
Ok thank you for the suggestion.
Christine Moorman
Hi Corrine,
Thank you for this post. It is very hard to study this carefully based on the information provided by companies. We need better information! I need a big mat for a room and am looking at this one: https://bit.ly/3RVcIPe It say 16P free natural rubber and PER foam. I know you do not like the latter. Thoughts? Better alterative. I have carpet that I am covering for exercise. Thank you!
Corinne
It’s similar to the Gorilla Mat that I mention in the post.
bella
Thank you so much for this post. it’s just what i was looking for because i research all my purchases. i have read this twice now but still I’m a unclear in EVA interlocking mats. Are these okay or only the one from flooringjnx that’s is linked? If i buy another brand from
Amazon or walmart and air it out, is it safe?
Corinne
The vast majority have formamide in them, I didn’t find any other brands that could say formamide free.
Nate
Hi Corinne!
thank you so much for your super informative article! I’m wondering if you have any guidance on fire resistant mats that are relatively chemically safe for household use. I’d appreciate your help
Corinne
I haven’t looked at that, what is the purpose of the mats, where are they used?
Nate
Hi Corinne! Thank you for your reply! I’m looking for home gym mats (interlocking ideally) that are simply laid on top of hardwood floors without adhesive and go under and around heavy equipment (functional trainer, weights, rowing machine). Their function is to protect the hardwood floors underneath and provide some cushion for workouts. Ideally, these mats are fire resistant or at least fire retardant and non toxic. these are the closest I’ve found:
https://www.americanfloormats.com/premium-foam-tile-flooring/
I have also found rubber foams that are fire retardant but not sure if they are non toxic:
https://www.solrubber.com/Fire-Resistance-High-Density-Gym-Rubber-Flooring-pd6255056.html
and:
https://www.industrialathletic.com/collections/gym-flooring/products/ultra-mat-fire-retardant-1m2-20mm-1
I’d appreciate any recommendations you may have. Thank you so much!
Corinne
the ones I recommend are in the post, the EVA mats, the exercise mats and equipment mats
Travis
Hi Corinne, great info. I see you say for the most part, no to recycled rubber. We were looking at rubber rolls prior to finding your site, The one company we looked at was Gator Athletic Surfaces and their GatorPro rolls, their info sheet indicates Low VOC emissions – D-5116 <0,5MG/M2
Is this considered a lower end off gassing and any other elements to consider?
Thank you!
Travis
Corinne
That type of rubber is very smelly, it doesn’t matter the brand.
Tom C
Hi Corinne, Couldn’t figure you how to reach you so I’m trying this.
I have premium vinyl flooring in a room I’m going to convert to a home gym. All sources claim that installing rubber gym flooring over the premium vinyl will discolor it permanently. Can you either recommend a gym flooring type/brand or a permanent barrier I can place between the two materials to prevent this unwanted and damaging chemical reaction??
Corinne
That would be a question for the installer
Daniel Jones
An amazing post with great tips as always. Anyone will find your post useful. Keep up the good work.
Eli Richardson
It’s awesome that you talked about flooring options for a workout room! Recently, my wife and I decided we’d like to turn our garage into a gym space! We started to work out and want to have our own space at home, so we’ll be sure to read your tips very carefully! Thanks for the advice on how to get our garage’s makeover project started!
Laura
Based on your recommendations, I bought the 7/8 Judo mats from Flooring Inc (after returning my rubber mats from Home Depot). How long should I air them out before installing? Is 24 hours enough?
Corinne
24 hours is a good idea. I go based on my own sense of smell and sensitivities.
Jess
Which brands would you recommend for durable rubber flooring for squatrack and heavy weights. I am also in Canada and so a list of brands would be helpful as we don’t have all available here. Thanks!!
Jess
Maybe I am missing it in your post but the only brand mentioned is Mondo.
Shannon
I have an elliptical at home and I would like a non-toxic mat to place under it. What would you recommend? I checked into the marmoleum but it is quite expensive – $40 for a 12″ x 12″ size. It is not recommended to use carpet under them so I am stuck on what option would be best. Any help is appreciated!
Corinne
I just added two non-toxic options to the post for equipment mats.
Marion
Hi there. Inightful posting. I was looking at getting rubber flooring to cover an existing wood floor due to noise and vibrations coming from neighbor below.
Any suggestions in light of the VOCs and off gassing issues?
Thanks
Corinne
I wouldn’t use a rubber floor every myself. In terms of what you should use it depends on your needs, sensitivities, type of building, rules from management, if you are willing to tear up the floor, max height of the floor etc.
Will
Such a great article and very useful info for many out there.
Wondered if you would clarify what is the best outdoor gym material?
Couldn’t determine what was weatherable, least toxic, had wearing for dragging things such as sleds and medium weights.
Roop
Hi – Thank you for this article. We have rubber flooring in our garage that we need to get rid of. It’s about 400 sq feet, so not huge, but we need to make sure that it can handle some weight dropping but not very often (hopefully not ever). At the same time because it is in the garage there is the possibility for rain to come into the garage if there is heavy rain and the drain backs up. So it has to be something that can not get destroyed if water gets under it. Our kids deal with some allergies and we are trying to get rid of anything that has significant VOC emissions.
Any suggestions?
Roel
Hi! I am putting some flooring in a container which currenty has the standard container wooden hard floors. I can basically use any type of floor, but with my hands already full of eczema and with high histamine (as tested) I almost don’t need to mention I need to avoid as much offgassing etc. I was looking at rubber materials, but after reading up on it, clearly changed my mind. Now I am not sure what to use. I am also not in the USA so the brands listed in this article are not available here. What would you recommend? Carpet maybe? Real hardwood is too expensive I think ($70 per sq.m without sealing etc.). Perhaps an epoxy based floor? Please assist with your thoughts 🙂
Corinne
It depends on the climate and what you will use the container for. If you are heating the inside you wouldn’t want anything that is a vapor barrier over a wood subfloor. The post on floors for vans and trailers might have more ideas but the main flooring post goes over all options.
Pallavi
Very informative, thank you for putting this together. I wonder why you mention LVP as low on offgassing, where it is known to contain proven carcinogen and is not even safe to dispose, let alone install in home gym. Would like to know more. Thanks!
Corinne
I explain this in-depth in the post on flooring. It is low in offgassing of VOCs, that is a fact. Almost no brands use phthalates anymore. Almost all brands are virgin vinyl which is eliminating the contamination of metals and flame retardants. The information that I priovide is far more up to date than those sites and I am not a store that is trying to convince anyone to buy this or that.
It’s not a secret that LVP is not within my top 5-10 choices of flooring, but I provide unbiased opinions on what toxins are in materials. And in terms of health effects for the occupant, which is what my site is about, LVP is not a major concern based no the information we have about it right now.
It’s certainly better than rubber, that’s for sure.
here is the flooring post which goes into more detail
kiley
Hi Corrine,
What do you recommend for covering a dirt floor in a basement? The basement sealing company wants to use EPDM rubber, but also can use 12 mil polyethylene. Which would you choose? Are there any other choices? We are gutting our old farmhouse and remediating everything for mold. I’ve been mold sick for so long and my daughter is as well.
Thanks so much for this blog. It’s been so helpful!
Corinne
Definitely polyethylene.
Amy Goldberg
We purchased and had installed 30 days ago Traffic Master recycled rubber flooring from Home Depot. The off gassing initially was almost unbearable and now 30 days later it is still smelling off and on. I just called the contractor to remove it and maybe we can store it outside for a few months and try to reinstall it since it was so expensive. Do you think the strong odor is dangerous or just stinky?
Corinne
For me it would not be safe. Rubber and sheet vinyl are the highest offgassing floorings possible.
Deb
Can you tell me the specific name or item number at Home Depot? We are getting ready to buy traffic master Nike grind. Also, what did you replace it with? We are turning our office into a mini gym.
Corinne
Thanks for letting me know. That is probably due to formamide. I see most of them removed their formamide free labels and the prop 65 is likely for that. There is one on Amazon that is a kids mat with that claim and Flooringinc tests their mats for formamide. I updated the post.
Craig
I’m looking to create an 8′ x 8′ foot rubber tile area beneath the rack in my basement gym and have spent days now trying to find the least toxic option. It’s not easy for the average consumer. I’m leaning towards the Pavigym Motion tiles, which are virgin SBR rubber. That’s still a bunch of synthetic chemicals. It’s PVC free and “non-toxic” or so they claim. But it’s virtually impossible to get data.
What do you suggest for those who feel like maybe where overthinking this? I ready to stick with my concrete floor but that doesn’t seem wise.
Corinne
I reviewed quite a few brands I would go with one of the better ones mentioned in the post.
Dominic
Here is an analysis of the Pavi-Gym Endurance flooring: https://bit.ly/3BODqUb What do you think about the results? Pavi-Gym seems to be one of the best but most expensive options for rubber tiles on the market for me.
Dominic
Whats about Ivanko or Paviflex Monster, both use virgin SBR as far as I can see.
Kelly
Craig – what did you end up going with?
Heather
Have you researched non toxic gymnastics mats for home use?
Courtney Stewart
Thank you for the post – also currently looking for thoughts on safe gymnastics mats and also gymnastic air tracks.
Carly Swift
Curious… what would you use if you had to reseal a concrete floor in your basement with virtually no ventilation?
I’ve been looking at just sanding off the peeling paint and putting virgin rubber or EVA tiles or manoleum because I’m not sure I can find a resealant that does off gas … suggestions?
Corinne
There are some really good concrete sealers that I tested for this post
I would use rugs or EVA as area rugs. Rubber is far higher in offgassing than most concrete sealants.
Reza
Thank you so much. Now I have a better understanding of how rubbers can be different, health related.
Unfortunately most Gym mat sellers do not give details on the type of rubber material for us to select what we really need.
Do you think that 8mm rubber will work good enough for shock absorption of a 120 lb squat cage exercise equipment?
Thank you.
Corinne
I can’t advise on the technical specifications for gyms. The companies that sell the flooring might be able to.
Wanda
Thanks you so much for this information. As always, it’s so thorough and informative. You have been my go-to place for information throughout our house building process. Finding flooring for our gym has been the hardest search so far. I’ve resisted getting a rubber floor, but since we have heavy gym equipment, I’m realizing now, reluctantly, that I need to go this route. I’ve been looking for virgin rubber, but when you read the small print, most of them use recycled tires for the bottom and virgin rubber on top. Many companies also don’t sell outside the US (I am in Canada). I am hoping that Mondo gets back to me, that their Quebec headquarters aren’t in quarantine. *fingers crossed*
Corinne
Yes I believe Mondo is in business. Hope you find something. I had boxes and boxes of samples though clearly the age of the samples is also a factor.
Lauren
Hi Wanda,
I am also in the process of picking a floor for our home gym. I feel that rubber would be the best option but am worried about the toxins. Since you and I are on the same course, I was wondering what you finally picked? Do you mind sharing? Would love and feedback.
~Lauren
Jason B
Did you find out any information? I would like to use a squat rack but with 2 kids under 4 years old, I don’t one something that is harmful to them.
Jessie Gill
Hi which one did you go with?
Zaid
Did you ever find something in Canada?