8 Reasons Why Rubber Flooring Is The Ideal Flooring Solution

Rubber flooring is fast becoming popular for homes.

Rubber flooring is a one-of-its-kind eco-friendly flooring alternative. 

As you have seen in earlier blogs, environmentally friendly housing is the latest vogue in America. 

That is for good. 

You see, our conventional houses use highly unsustainable materials. 

Thankfully, green building materials are now readily available, offering sustainable housing solutions. 

When it comes to indoor space, flooring is the most critical aspect of your interior decor.

Done right, and it can immensely beautify your home. 

However, traditional flooring can keep your home from being eco-friendly. For example, your entire carpet area gets covered by the floor, and the ecological impact it causes can be huge. 

Consider, for instance, hardwood flooring. It gets trees chopped and forests cleared. 

You don’t want such flooring options for your home. Do you?

Rubber Flooring as an Eco-Friendly Option

You may think of cork or linoleum floors when we talk of eco-friendly flooring. 

But did you know rubber can be an excellent eco-friendly flooring choice?

Let’s see how.

Recycled tires are excellent flooring materials

Rubber flooring can be made from recycled tires.

It is a great way to save the ecology. The tires that would otherwise end up in dump yards are recycled to make elegant rubber tiles and carpets for your home. 

For every recycled rubber floor, you’re preventing scrap tires from accumulating and polluting the environment. 

Tires are sturdy and impact resistant. The same applies to rubber floors made from discarded tires. 

Meaning you’re sure to have a long-lasting flooring solution.

Natural rubber is the most sustainable solution

A rubber floor made of natural rubber is another great sustainable option that you can consider.

Natural rubber is made from the latex of rubber trees. These are white fluids obtained from rubber tree bark. Trees aren’t chopped to get latex, and zero environmental damage is caused.

Rubber trees have a lifespan of over 100 years. That means latex can be obtained from the same tree for over a century.

Interesting, isn’t it?

Don’t go for synthetic rubber

You should know that not all rubber floors are eco-friendly. 

For instance, synthetic rubber is made using petroleum products. These are non-biodegradable and harmful to the ecology. 

So, synthetic rubber flooring can not be considered ecologically sound. 

Flooring materials made from petrochemicals are not advised as they can off-gas and shed toxic microfibers, which will significantly pollute your indoor air quality. 

Also, synthetic rubber is not recyclable, which means, like other synthetic rubber materials, your rubber floor will end up in the landfills once discarded.

8 Reasons to go for Rubber Flooring

Rubber isn’t new to us. Latex from rubber trees has been sourced for the last 3500 years.

However, the use of rubber for flooring is relatively modern. 

You may have seen rubber flooring at fitness centers or sports complexes. 

Rubber floors are widely used in commercial and industrial settings.

Interestingly, they’re making their way to residential spaces with more people installing them in their kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, etc. 

Rubber offers you a sustainable and eco-friendly substitute for flooring materials like hardwood or vinyl. But it isn’t limited to that. 

There are many other reasons why rubber floors find resonance in residential spaces. 

Let’s see them in detail. 

1. Rubber flooring materials are highly durable

Rubber floors are highly durable and long-lasting. They can easily last you for 50 years. 

Since rubber is non-porous, it repels water and other liquids. Water causes significant damage to your flooring, especially if your floor is made of materials like hardwood or bamboo. 

Rubber being naturally water-resistant, remains immune from rotting and decaying. 

Also, rubber is stain-resistant, which means your floor will not decay or degrade over time.

For instance, if you were to have a garage inspection, you would get to know that major signs of problems are wear and tear or deterioration. We can possibly see rubber flooring as one of the solutions go for.

Rubber has a natural elasticity, which adds to its sturdiness and durability. 

You can have a heavy footfall on your rubber flooring without any wear or tear. 

Rubber floors are impact resistant, meaning they can withstand heavyweight and intense force, among others. That’s precisely the reason why they are so commonly used in gyms, playgrounds, etc. 

A good quality rubber floor, and you won’t have to look back on flooring for the next many decades. 

You can compare the lifespan of a rubber floor with its conventional counterparts. The average longevity of vinyl and hardwood floors is between 10 and 20 years. 

Any top-notch rubber floor will easily outlast these materials. 

Amazing, right?

2. Rubber floors are cost-efficient

Rubber flooring costs way less than traditional flooring materials like hardwood. 

You get rubber floor tiles for prices lower than $2 per square foot. These are suitable for your home gym, basement, or garage. 

However, you need attractive and elegant-looking rubber floors for your kitchen, living room, etc. 

A decent rubber floor can cost you between $3 and $8 on average for a square foot.

These are way cheaper than hardwood flooring, which has an average cost ranging between $6 and $15. The cost of premium hardwood ranges from $12 to $23 for every square foot, making it way more expensive.

You should also factor in an additional $2 per square foot labor cost. 

DIY is not possible with hardwood or vinyl flooring as these are skill-intensive projects and require professional installation.  

On the other hand, Rubber floors are easy DIY projects, and you stand to save on labor costs. 

There you have it, a low-cost alternative to conventional flooring. 

3. Rubber flooring is easy to maintain

Rubber floors are the easiest to maintain. You need nothing but a damp mop to clean your flooring. 

Also, they are easily cleaned by a vacuum cleaner. 

Rubber flooring materials are stain-resistant, so they don’t quickly lose color. 

You can still polish your floor with water-soluble wax to add extra resistance to discoloration and damage. Wax finishes are removed and reapplied regularly to increase the durability of rubber. 

You see, it is so simple to maintain your rubber flooring.

Not to mention, rubber flooring materials make it a lot easier to have routine home assessments since they can be easily removed and reinstalled.

However, you should never use strong detergents or other harsh cleaning agents to clean your rubber floor. 

These materials can harm and even damage the rubber. 

Even as rubber floors are resistant to staining, oil, grease, harsh cleaners, etc., can easily cause discoloration.

4. Rubber has natural sound-proofing properties

Your home is that tranquil space where you love to retreat and relax after a busy day at work. 

But noise can sometimes be a big problem. Especially if you live in a city, that constant noise from the traffic is sure to ruin your indoor experience. 

Rubber as a sound-proof material has the solution to this problem. 

Just as cork floors, rubber has natural noise reduction or retention properties. 

Homes with rubber flooring are generally quieter than homes with flooring materials like hardwood or concrete. 

That means with a rubber floor, you are sure to have a much better acoustic experience.

5. Rubber floors are comfortable and cozy

Rubber floors have a soft underfoot, the reason why you feel so comfortable walking or standing on them. 

Natural elasticity of rubber makes it much more comfortable than other floor materials. 

That is exactly why you often find rubber floors in gyms, playgrounds, sports rooms, etc.

The thicker rubber flooring material you get, the softer it will be. 

Also, some rubber floors have added cushion effect, which comes from additional fabric, foam, or cork, apart from primary rubber materials. 

You see, comfort is one of the factors why rubber floors are fast making their way to our homes. 

It can’t be more tiring than standing for long periods in the kitchen while cooking. With a rubber floor’s under-foot cushion, you turn that into a comfortable cooking experience.

Your kitchen utensils are less likely to break from falling on rubber.

Unlike concrete or tile floors, rubber remains warmer during cold months. You will surely love walking on a soft and warm floor in wintertime. 

That’s cozy indeed. Isn’t it?

6. Rubber floors are safe and convenient

Like cork flooring, rubber also has natural slip-resistant properties. Meaning you’re less likely to slip over a rubber floor. 

So, a lot of bathroom renovation experts suggest that it is a good idea to install them in the bathroom, among other wet or slippery areas. 

That isn’t the case with common flooring materials like concrete, tiles, or vinyl. 

Also, falling on hard floor surfaces can cause injuries, even serious ones. On the other hand, rubber floors’ cushioning prevents injuries when you trip or fall over them. 

Installing rubber floors in children’s or older residents’ rooms ensures added safety. 

There it is, a safe flooring solution. 

7. A rubber flooring is easy to install

Rubber flooring is relatively easy to install, unlike hardwood, concrete, or tile floors. This makes it a practical option for carports and garages, where quick installation matters.

You don’t need to be a flooring expert to install rubber floors. 

That makes rubber floors great DIY projects. You save labor costs and install flooring the fun way.

8. Rubber offers countless design options

When we talk of rubber flooring, it may evoke dull basement floors or plain gym floors.

But rubber floors aren’t necessarily dull. 

Modern rubber floors offer you the style and aesthetics of traditional floors. They are also customized to your liking. 

Rubber floors are available as tiles and sheets, allowing you to choose what serves you best. 

That’s interesting for sure, right?

DIY Rubber Flooring 

As you’ve seen, rubber floors are one of the easiest DIY projects. 

According to some estimates, professional flooring installation, on average, can cost you $6 to $10 per square foot. DIY flooring is sure to save this cost. 

Some rubber tiles have interlocking edges, while others have edge pins holding the tiles together. You can easily cut these tiles with a knife for installation. 

You also get glue-down rubber tiles. 

These are, however, more complicated to install and thus less DIY friendly. 

Even as most rubber flooring materials are moisture-resistant, if you are installing them in places like your basement, it’s good to have a vapor barrier. 

That will prevent any moisture from seeping in from underneath and protect the flooring from moisture damage.   

Installing rubber tiles in wet areas like your bathroom can indeed be tricky. 

No matter how resilient your tiles are, they can’t guarantee moisture resistance.

Rubber sheets fare better over tiles for wet areas like your bathroom. 

Overall, you can easily install rubber flooring without any expert help. 

There it is, an easy and simple DIY project. 

Rubber Flooring: Tiles vs. Sheets

You’re sure to be confused between rubber tiles and sheets while choosing rubber flooring.

Rubber sheets include all the benefits of rubber tiles. Manufacturers offer rubber tiles and sheets of similar colors, patterns, and finishes. 

You may get some rubber sheets at a bit lower price.

However, you should know that rubber sheets are complex DIY projects compared to rubber tiles. 

Cutting rubber sheets in exact sizes to fit the length and breadth of your floor can indeed be cumbersome. 

You can use rubber sheets for the bathroom floor and rubber tiles for others.

Conclusion

Rubber flooring is fast becoming a go-to residential flooring solution. 

Which is for good. 

With each recycled rubber floor, you are helping prevent scrap tires from being dumped. 

This ecologically sound characteristic is increasingly becoming synonymous with rubber floors.  

Likewise, floors made of natural rubber guarantee a sustainable alternative since natural rubber is obtained at zero cost to the environment. 

Environmentally friendly houses are the alternative to unsustainable conventional housing.

But that isn’t supposed to come at the cost of aesthetics. 

Eco-friendly houses include unique design concepts and added features, making your housing experience more pleasant.

The same applies to rubber floors which offer unmatched designs and customization options. 

However, it isn’t eco-friendliness alone that sets rubber flooring apart.  

There’s much more to the story. Rubber floors are cheaper, cozier, durable, and easier to install. 

The reason why we’ve compiled the benefits that you’re sure to unlock with rubber flooring.