Synthetic sport court flooring, also known as rubber gym flooring, is a popular option for commercial sport courts like Pittsburgh gyms, schools, and other facilities and is commonly used for tracks, basketball courts, and flooring in weight rooms. Although this type of flooring looks great when it is first installed, over time it is subjected to a lot of heavy activity, resulting in scuff marks and dirt accumulation, creating a dull and worn appearance.
With regular cleaning and maintenance, you can keep your sport court flooring looking like new. At Sport Court of Pittsburgh, we have put together some tips on how you can keep your sport court flooring looking its best.
One of the most effective ways to maintain your sport court flooring is to clean it daily. The cleaning process should begin with you checking the floor or any sticky substance such as loose tape, candy, or gum. You can use a putty knife to remove these substances from the flooring.
After this has been completed, use a large microfiber dust mop designed for gym floors to sweep up dust and other small debris. After you’ve done this to the entire court, it’s time to mop. To properly mop your flooring, mix 2 ounces of floor cleaner per 1 gallon of cold water and use a mop head that is specifically designed for synthetic sport court floors.
Instead of a mop, you can also use an auto-scrubber. Put the cleaning solution in the scrubber and use a blue scrub pad to clean the entire floor.
Other rubber flooring maintenance tips include:
Practicing preventative maintenance is the key to keeping your rubber gym flooring looking great for years to come. Tips for preventative maintenance include:
There are two different environments that your court can exist in, low maintenance and high maintenance.
For a low-maintenance outdoor environment, you can clean your sport court with a broom or air blower to remove debris. A water broom can also be used. This should be done at least once a week, depending on how dirty your court is. Any residue or foreign debris can be hosed off.
Indoor courts in a low-maintenance environment need to be cleaned every two to four weeks based on how often it is used. This can be done using a walk-behind cleaning machine to remove any dirt, dust, and other debris. If there is heavy staining or spills, you can remove these with a wet scrubber or vacuum machine. If the court is textured, you can sweep away any loose debris and hose the court off if possible.
Courts in high-maintenance environments experience heavy airborne pollution, such as vehicle fumes, leaves, and dust. It is recommended that this debris be hosed off once a week to help reduce this buildup. If the surface is stained or dirty, you can use a light-duty wet scrubber or vacuum and a soft brush attachment.
Using a non-residual organic cleaner, you can get a deeper clean. Once the court has been lightly scrubbed, use a hose to remove any leftover cleaning solution for outdoor courts or a wet scrubber or vacuum for indoor courts.
If you have trees or plants that hang over your court, it is recommended that you trim them back, so they do not leave debris and staining on your court. Plant or tree contamination or areas where water pools can cause mold to grow. To remove mold, we recommend the following steps:
If food or drink is spilled on your sport court, be sure to clean the spill or food up immediately to prevent staining. If the food or drink has caused staining, you can use the same cleaning steps as mentioned above for mold or plant stains. You want to avoid using solvent thinners or scouring products on our Sport Court surfaces.
Bird or wildlife contamination should be removed using a non-residual organic cleaner and a stiff broom or brush, and a hose. Other droppings or worms should also be removed quickly by either scraping them off the court surface or pressure washing them off.
Chewing gum will require you to scrape it off the surface and use a cleaner o remove the sticky residue left behind. Shoe marks can be removed with a non-residual organic cleaner and a stiff brush. Be sure that players only wear white or non-marking soled athletic shoes while using the court. It is also crucial to have a mat where they can wipe their feet off before entering the court to keep debris away.
Once you’ve finished rinsing off your court, you can use a squeegee or sponge roller to remove the excess water and get back to your game!
Using these steps can increase the lifespan of your Sport Court, making it last longer.li>
Contact Sport Court of Pittsburgh, the premier commercial court installers in Pittsburgh, to learn more about how to maintain your sport court flooring or to learn more about your options for replacing your rubber gym flooring.
