Gym floor covers are an essential investment for any gymnasium or athletic facility, offering protection for expensive flooring during events and non-sporting activities. Court Armor Vinyl is a tried-and-true vinyl tarp proven effective in protection against shoes, chairs, spills, and more. To ensure these covers remain functional and long-lasting, it is important to follow proper procedures for usage, maintenance, and storage to get the most out of your Court Armor Vinyl gym floor cover.
How to Use Vinyl Gym Floor Covers
Using Court Armor vinyl gym floor covers is straightforward but requires diligent handling when it comes to proper usage. Proper usage includes:
- Preparation: Before laying the covers, make sure the gym floor is clean. Sweep or mop the floor to remove any dust, debris, or moisture. This step prevents dirt from scratching the gym floor or becoming trapped beneath the cover.
- Installation: Roll out the vinyl covers using specialized racks. For most gymnasiums, it takes two people around 20-30 minutes to install or remove the cover. Start by rolling the Court Armor Vinyl Rack into place, making sure to lock the casters and set the stabilizer arms. Begin deploying the vinyl cover by pulling it off the rack in at a steady pace. Once the first section is installed, raise the stabilizers, unlock the casters, and move the vinyl rack into its new position. The rack should be lined up so that the new vinyl section covers the previous section by about a foot. Continue until you’ve completely covered the intended area of protection.
- Maintenance: Proper maintenance is key to extending the life of Court Armor Vinyl gym covers. While in use, ensure that the cover is regularly cleaned, especially in high-traffic areas, to prevent dirt buildup. This will maintain the cover’s protective qualities and extend its lifespan. When the cover is deployed, clean it daily. Vacuum to remove dirt and debris, especially in areas that see the most foot traffic. For more persistent dirt, lightly mop the surface with a neutral-pH cleaner. Before storage, both the gym floor and the cover itself should be cleaned to avoid dust and dirt being trapped during storage. Make sure no moisture remains on the cover before storing, as dampness can lead to mold or mildew.
- Storage: Proper storage is crucial to maintaining the integrity of vinyl gym covers. The Facility Armor Vinyl Rack makes storage incredibly easy and should only take about 20-30 minutes with two people. Start with one section and load it onto the storage rack, using the clips to secure it to the metal core. Make sure that the cover is dry and clean before rolling on to the rack to avoid moisture damage and mildew. Store the rolled covers in a dry, well-ventilated area. Moist or damp storage spaces can lead to mold growth and reduce the longevity of the cover. Ensure nothing heavy is placed on or against the rolled-up cover. Heavy loads can create lumps that will affect the cover’s ability to lay flat, potentially causing damage to the gym floor.
By following these steps for using, maintaining, and storing vinyl gym floor covers, gym owners and facility managers can ensure that their floors remain protected and that the covers last for years. Proper care and attention can prevent costly damage to both the covers and the gym floor itself, making this investment a valuable one for any facility.