Why Is It Important to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Gymnasium or Sports Hall?
The flooring in sports facilities is both valuable and sensitive. To ensure it remains in good condition over time, it’s essential to select a surface that's suited to the types of sports and activities taking place—and to protect it from the wear and tear caused by constant foot traffic.
A sports hall may occasionally host non-sporting events, such as a flea market or trade show. In such cases, it's important to cover the floor properly to preserve it as much as possible.
What Criteria Should Be Considered When Choosing Sports Flooring?
To effectively protect the floor of your gymnasium, you need to select the right type of flooring—and that starts with choosing the right material.
For optimal protection, the flooring solution should meet several key criteria.
Indoor sports flooring must be highly resistant to impact and wear, while also ensuring the safety of athletes and users.
It’s also important to keep in mind that installing new flooring in a gym or sports facility can be a major undertaking. That’s why durability should be a top priority—so you don’t find yourself needing to replace it again in just a few years.
Finally, flooring for a gymnasium or sports hall must be certified and meet all applicable standards and regulations.
What Are the Different Types of Flooring Available for Gymnasiums?
In practice, there is a wide range of flooring options available for sports halls and gymnasiums. The cost of these various flooring solutions can vary significantly, and each one comes with its own unique set of characteristics.
Parquet Flooring
Widely regarded as a premium material, parquet offers good surface elasticity and is well-suited for sports like basketball. It is relatively versatile and durable. However, from an acoustic standpoint, it is not the most effective option. In addition, parquet does not tolerate moisture well and has a hard surface, making it less suitable for sports areas used by children.
More broadly, parquet is not ideal for sports that involve a high risk of falling. In these cases, a floor that offers better joint protection is highly recommended.
Another important consideration is that wood is a delicate material that requires consistent care. Parquet flooring demands more intensive maintenance—excessive water use should be avoided during cleaning, as wood is sensitive to humidity. The room’s temperature and humidity levels must also be regularly monitored by the facility management to prevent damage to the wood.
On top of these technical constraints, it's worth noting that parquet flooring tends to come with a high price tag.
PVC flooring also offers the advantage of being recyclable—making it an environmentally responsible choice at a time when sustainability is a top priority for communities and organizations alike.
Highly flexible, PVC flooring delivers consistent performance and is exceptionally easy to maintain on a daily basis. Compared to other flooring types, it’s relatively simple to install—whether in new builds or renovation projects. Its maintenance is equally straightforward, as it can be cleaned using a wide range of multipurpose products suitable for sports use.
From an aesthetic perspective, PVC gym flooring provides endless design possibilities, allowing for a highly customized finish. It’s even possible to create a completely bespoke design—tailored to represent a club, municipality, or brand identity.
In terms of cost, PVC sports flooring is undoubtedly one of the most budget-friendly options on the market.
For maximum versatility, consider product lines like Taraflex® Sport M Plus. This true 2-in-1 solution offers outstanding comfort and safety for athletic activities, while also accommodating non-sporting events—such as dances, cultural events, and community functions—without requiring additional floor protection.
This kind of multipurpose solution is increasingly in demand, as communities are seeing growing requests from local organizations and need to maximize the value of their existing facilities.
What Is the Most Durable Flooring for a Gymnasium?
As you’ve seen, flooring in a sports hall must be highly resistant to withstand frequent impact—while also offering enough flexibility to ensure user safety in the event of a fall.
In this context, PVC flooring stands out as the most suitable option for sports facilities, regardless of the type of sport being played.
The Taraflex® range was specifically designed to equip all types of sports venues—from multi-purpose halls to basketball courts and fitness studios.
Used in the Olympic Games since 1976, this PVC flooring delivers optimal performance for athletes of all levels. It provides exceptional comfort—especially in terms of footing and joint support—while also offering excellent protection in case of a fall. Its long-term maintenance is simple and cost-effective, thanks to the Triple-Action Protecsol® surface treatment, which gives it superior durability and stain resistance.
Highly versatile, Taraflex® is also suitable for non-sporting events and offers a guaranteed lifespan of up to 15 years.
A Wide Range of Options Available
To meet the needs of every activity and user, Gerflor offers a broad selection of Taraflex® flooring solutions in our catalogue.
Whether you're looking for flooring designed for competitive sports, early childhood settings, or inclusive handisport practice, you’re sure to find a product range that meets all your expectations!
