Ice rink arenas experience heavy foot traffic, from hockey players walking on their skates to guests filtering in with winter boots. Hockey arena flooring needs to withstand skate blades, sudden changes in temperature and humidity, reduce the chance of slips, and provide a comfortable path to walk on.
Once you step off that ice, the flooring needs to match your needs, no matter the footwear. From walkways to changing rooms, entrances and support areas, the flooring around your rink is just as important for players and spectators as the ice itself. And while there are many options for hockey rink flooring, it’s tough to beat the benefits of rubber.
Why Choose Rubber Flooring for Ice Rinks?
Rubber flooring has plenty of benefits across an array of different areas and facilities, but its list of pros for hockey arenas is particularly hefty.
Not only is it incredibly versatile in colour, texture and style, but it’s also durable enough for heavy use, resilient, slip- and spike-resistant for skate traffic, and cushioned for the comfort of every user.
Rubber flooring also offers sound and impact absorption and is eco-friendly and easy to maintain, making it a sound investment for arenas of all sizes.
Even better is its ease of installation and customization. With options ranging from rubber rolls and mats to portable interlocking tiles, rubber flooring can be tailored to different areas throughout an arena.
Where Can Rubber Flooring Be Used Around an Ice Rink?
We’ve established why rubber flooring works; now we need to look at what type of rubber flooring is best for your arena. The reality is that it depends on the space you want to tackle. From walkways and change rooms to entrances and multi-purpose areas, different parts of your ice rink may have different flooring needs. Area size, foot and skate traffic, and whether you need permanent or portable flooring can all help determine the best option.
Walkways, Hallways and Support Areas: Rubber Rolls
Rubber rolls can cover a large area efficiently and are easy to install. For hockey arenas with transitional spaces between the ice rink and locker rooms, rubber rolls can be an effective way to cover larger areas.
With fewer seams than tiles or mats, they can help reduce tripping hazards and are available in customized lengths and various thicknesses to suit different spaces.
Change Rooms, Bench Areas and Entrances: Rubber Mats
Rubber mats are a smart choice for smaller spaces like bench areas and change rooms, as well as busy areas like entrances. They provide a cushioned, slip-resistant surface for skate blades while helping reduce vibration and noise.
Rubber rolls and mats are also available in different speckled colours, offering a fun way to coordinate flooring with the home team’s colours or the arena’s overall aesthetic.
Multi-Purpose and Meeting Spaces: Interlocking Rubber Tiles
Interlocking rubber tiles are an ideal choice when you need portable flooring. Many large ice rink arenas use individual rooms and spaces for other purposes, such as meetings, kids’ birthday parties, dance workshops or fitness classes.
Portable rubber tiles are easy to install over an existing floor and just as easy to take apart and put into storage when they’re no longer needed.
FAQs About Rubber Flooring for Ice Rinks
Can You Walk on Rubber Flooring With Ice Skates?
Yes. Rubber provides a cushioned surface for skate blades and can provide extra protection compared with hard surfaces such as concrete.
Where Should Rubber Flooring Be Used in an Ice Arena?
Rubber flooring can be used throughout walkways, hallways, change and locker rooms, bench areas, entrances, spectator zones and other support spaces surrounding the rink. It provides a durable surface for the areas around the ice rather than replacing the ice surface itself.
What Type of Rubber Flooring Is Best for an Ice Arena?
There isn’t one best option. Rolls suit larger areas and transitional spaces; mats work well in smaller targeted areas; while interlocking tiles provide portability for multi-purpose spaces.
Find Rubber Flooring for Your Ice Arena
Rubber delivers extra protection for skates where blades can be damaged on hard surfaces like concrete. Due to the temperature and moisture levels in hockey rink arenas, reducing the risk of slippery floors and injury is the priority. When it comes to safety, durability, and versatility, rubber flooring for ice rinks and hockey arenas is a smart choice!
Contact Perfect Surfaces today to learn more about rubber flooring options for your facility and to receive a quote.
