How To Install Rubber Flooring on Concrete
19 April, 2024
Can you lay rubber flooring over concrete? Absolutely!
A flat concrete surface is one of the best types of subfloor to install rubber flooring, providing a sturdy and long-lasting foundation.
If you consider installing rubber flooring over concrete, stay with us. This guide explains how to install rubber flooring on concrete and provides some tried-and-true tips to help you extend the lifespan of your rubber flooring.
The Benefits of Installing Rubber Flooring on Concrete
If you’re hesitating about installing rubber flooring in your home gym, play area, basement, clinic, or store, consider the numerous advantages it brings to these spaces.
Let’s explore the key benefits of rubber flooring installation on concrete.
Durability
The number one benefit of rubber flooring is its outstanding durability. This material is a common choice for gyms, hospitals, and schools due to its remarkable resistance to wear and tear. The physical properties of rubber and concrete allow the surface to endure heavy equipment, thick foot traffic, and incidental impacts.
Safety
Rubber flooring is second to none when it comes to safety. It offers exceptional traction and slip resistance, ensuring better protection from falls than most other flooring materials. Moreover, rubber is renowned for its outstanding shock-absorption properties, comparable to those of carpet, which minimize the risk of injury from falls.
Minimal Maintenance
Another indisputable benefit of laying rubber flooring over concrete is that it’s pretty easy to maintain — in most cases, you can get away with sweeping and damp mopping to maintain its cleanliness. Even if stubborn stains occur, it’s easy to remove them from a rubber floor with the help of a soapy solution.
Materials and Tools
Before you start the process of installing rubber flooring, make sure you have all the necessary materials and tools:
- Rubber tiles, sheets, or rolls
- Adhesive
- Measuring tape
- Chalk line
- Utility knife
- Trowel
- Straight edge
- Level
- Pressure roller
- Broom and dustpan
- Bucket, mop, and nylon brush
- Safety equipment (gloves, safety glasses)
- Concrete patch (if needed)
- Tape (if required)
Sound Absorption
Rubber has natural sound-absorbing properties, which help to effectively reduce noise levels, creating a quieter environment in high-traffic areas such as schools, gyms, or offices. Rubber flooring can go a long way toward lessening noise transmission between stories in multi-floor buildings.
Versatility
Rubber flooring comes in various forms, including tiles, sheets, and rolls. You can find rubber flooring in every possible color, pattern, and texture, allowing for a broad range of design options. In addition, rubber flooring can be used in diverse settings, both residential and commercial.
Preparation of Concrete Surface
Start by thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming the concrete surface to remove dust and debris. After that, mop the surface with a mild detergent, scrubbing stubborn stains with the nylon brush as needed.
Once clean and dry, patch all the cracks and holes in the concrete with a suitable concrete patch, allowing it to dry completely before moving to the next stage.
Next, it’s essential to check if there’s moisture within or underneath the concrete surface — it can cause mold growth. For this, perform a plastic sheet test. Place a plastic sheet (approximately 2×2 feet) tightly against the concrete surface, sealing all edges with masking tape, and leave it for 24-48 hours. Check for condensation or moisture droplets on the underside of the plastic. If moisture is present, consider applying a full-spread adhesive to make the subfloor waterproof.
Also, the surface must be even. Use a level to identify uneven areas, and if there are any, level the subfloor by applying a self-leveling compound.
Finally, let the rubber flooring acclimate in the installation area for at least 24 hours if stored in a different environment.
Rubber Flooring Installation
So, how can you put rubber flooring over concrete? Let’s see!
Before You Start
Lay the rolls, sheets, or tiles out before applying the adhesive. Make necessary cuts so that they fit into the room using a utility knife and a straight edge. Once you’ve laid them out the way you intend, gather them back.
Choosing the Right Adhesive
So, how to make rubber flooring stick to concrete? It’s recommended to consult the manufacturer’s recommendations for the specific rubber flooring you’ve chosen.
Polyurethane adhesives, or urethane or wood glue, are considered the most effective adhesives for installing rubber flooring over concrete, strongly bonding rubber flooring to the subfloor.
Alternatively, you can use heavy-duty double-sided tape to stick rubber rolls, sheets, or tiles to the concrete subfloor; however, this won’t ensure a long-lasting effect.
Set the Flooring on the Adhesive
Use a chalk line to mark guidelines for laying the rubber flooring. This helps ensure straight lines.
With the help of a trowel, evenly apply adhesive to the concrete surface. As a rule of thumb, don’t spread more glue than can be covered by rolls, sheets, or tiles within 15 minutes.
Repeat this step until you cover the entire floor. Remember to remove any glue leak immediately.
Check for Gaps
Now, inspect the installed flooring for any gaps or misalignments, making adjustments immediately.
Go Over the Floor With a Roller
After the rubber flooring is in place but before the adhesive has completely hardened, use a roller to firmly press and bond the rubber to the subfloor and eliminate air pockets. Wait to walk on the surface until the adhesive hardens completely.
Maintenance Tips
Rubber flooring is an excellent option that provides comfort underfoot, exceptional durability, and slip resistance. It’s important to understand how to clean and maintain your rubber flooring so that it lasts for long. Here are some key steps to take to ensure proper maintenance of your rubber flooring.
- Keep in mind that rubber’s resilience tends to increase over time, meaning it gets more resistant to stains, wear and tear as it ages. Given that, make sure your rubber floor receives special care during the first 6-8 months upon installation.
- Depending on the foot traffic level within your space, establish a cleaning routine. Regularly remove dust and debris using a broom or vacuum cleaner. Clean your rubber floor with a PH-neutral detergent as needed. For this, use a mop or a floor-cleaning machine.
- Cotton mops can leave lint fibers behind, making rubber floors look untidy, so consider investing in a quality nylon mop.
- In case of heavy dirt, clean the rubber flooring using a brush and a suitable PH-neutral detergent. Remember to thoroughly rinse that area.
- You can use a mild alcohol and water solution to disinfect your rubber flooring.
- Ensure you use all cleaning products strictly following the manufacturer’s instructions — otherwise, you may damage the flooring.
- It’s recommended to cover all surfaces meeting the rubber flooring with felt pads. This will help you avoid markings and tears when equipment or furniture is moved on the rubber.
- You might want to condition the rubber floor periodically to restore its original shine. In addition to daily cleaning, condition the surface once a month using a rubber floor conditioner or a solution of fabric softener and water.
Installing a rubber floor over a concrete base is one of the best ways to ensure safe, durable, and low-maintenance flooring. Moreover, with proper preparation and the necessary materials and tools at hand, it’s easy to do on your own.