Pool Deck—6 Reasons You Should Use Rubber Flooring
Having a pool can be a lot of fun—but there are also a lot of responsibilities! For example, you have to maintain the water health by providing the proper chlorine treatment, and you can’t forget about keeping your filter system in tip-top shape! If you live in cooler climates, a heater is an absolute necessity, unless you want to brave ice-cold waters. Whatever the case may be, your pool deck is not something you should ignore. Although many pools already have decking, such as tile or concrete, you may want something that’s softer and offers more slip-resistance. But you can’t just use any outside flooring; you need to find something that is going to be durable and reliable. We recommend you use rubberized weather mats because they are specifically designed to stand up against harsh weather conditions, such as constant rain and consistently wet environments. With a wide variety of options available, we’re more than certain you’ll find the right pool mats to use in your home or public facility.
But if you’re still not convinced, check out these 6 reasons why you should use rubber flooring around your pool!
- Slip Resistant
Pool safety should be the most important priority for any pool owner. There are a number of things you should have readily available, like a life-ring, an extension pole, and a study fence (especially if you have little children or pets). Even the surfacing around your pool should have added safety qualities! Because of its great natural grip and impressive friction surface (even when wet), rubber is the ideal flooring material for areas that experience continuous safety concerns. By using rubber mats, which will often offer a raised design, you’ll be adding much needed traction and grip around a very wet and often time’s slippery environment.
- Water Resistant
Considering that this is a very wet atmosphere, you definitely don’t want to use fabric mats, like cotton, cotton-blends, or silk. These kinds of materials will soak up moisture, and if not properly dried can quickly develop a bad smell and start to rot. Rubber is the perfect material for a pool deck because of its natural resistance to water. Solid rubber mats are non-permeable, which means that water won’t go through them, and with a number of styles that sport drainage holes and trenches you can effectively channel water away from underfoot.
- Durability
Rubber is a long-lasting and durable material, that’s why it’s so often used in outside flooring. Because pool mats also have to be weather mats, rubber is the ideal material to use. Rubber flooring is often made from reclaimed and recycled tires, which offers some insight into why this product is so tough. Vehicle tires are manufactured to endure corrosive sunlight, ozone, extreme moisture, and a number of other abrasive environments and situations, which is a true testament to this products durability.
- Maintenance
With a pool needing so much upkeep already, your pool deck flooring can be one less thing to worry about! Weather mats are designed to stand up to a number of abrasive situations with minimal amounts of care, and that translates to minor maintenance. Often times, rubber flooring doesn’t need much more than a broom and mop. In the case of pool mats, really all you’ll ever need to do is brush off debris—although if more thorough cleaning is ever required, this outside flooring is very easy to install and remove and will stand up to scrubbing and mild commercial cleaners.
- Installation and Replacement
Every pool is different, and problem areas are unique to every public facility or home. Some areas may require only a few singular pool mats in order to diminish smaller hazards. While others pools might have larger and more slippery hallways and walkways, which require extended flooring. If you are looking to cover longer sections of floor, there are rubber runners (available in custom sizes), and if you’re looking to cover a wider area then the use of interlocking tiles may be ideal for you. Whatever the case may be, installing your pool deck flooring doesn’t have to be a headache! Very little technical knowledge is necessary.
If you have any questions about weather mats or rubber flooring, let us know! Our product specialists are available Monday through Friday from 6AM to 5PM, Pacific Standard Time at 1.866.378.5679.
