The traditional surface for sports hall flooring is solid timber (usually Maple) with several coats of clear lacquer. This was probably the floor your childhood school sports hall had, and many sports halls today still make use of it.
In recent years, a new contender has surfaced in the form of polyurethane. Polyurethane offers outstanding longevity and is more cost-effective than hardwood so it could be a better choice.
Which is right for you? Let’s take a look.
Timber flooring
Timber is extremely long-lasting and beautiful to look at. It is the purist’s choice, offering unbeatable quality and prestige.
While there are hundreds of manufacturers of timber flooring for sports halls, Robbins Sports Surfaces is the most famous modern manufacturer. 15 of the NBA’s Arenas and 22 of its training and practice facilities use Robbins timber flooring.
Robbins flooring is FSC-certified and Rainforest Alliance-certified, so it is 100% sustainable and eco-friendly. For sports halls that need to double up as a hard court, timber is by far the most desirable playing surface available today.
Polyurethane flooring
Polyurethane is considerably cheaper than timber sports hall flooring and it also can be laid over existing floors in many cases.
The beauty of polyurethane is it offers the same performance as wood but also a more adjustable performance, with different densities available. Sports halls need a hard floor, so you ideally want a rigid polyurethane (high density).
Whether your sports hall will be used for sports, games, assemblies, exhibitions, exams or storage, you can count on a polyurethane floor to do the job. It is low maintenance and easy to resurface in the future when necessary.
Which is right for my sports hall?
Polyurethane will satisfy the majority of people who want a hard playing surface with optimal ball bounce. Timber is a more premium product, but whether or not the extra cost is worth it depends on you.
For school halls and leisure centres, polyurethane flooring will be a great choice. For dedicated basketball and hard courts, timber flooring is the preferred option with players. If you are unsure which to choose, we can provide photos of our recent projects to show you your options. You can also find case studies of our recent work here.
How To Soundproof a Sports Hall?
Acoustic panels are a great way to make sure that no sounds can bounce around in your sports hall, but hanging curtains on parallel walls and windows is the most efficient technique.
Soundproofing a sports hall may seem like an impossible feat, but it’s actually quite simple. Sound can be canceled out by installing acoustic panels to the walls and ceilings of your venue with high ceilings for optimal absorption properties in order to reduce reverberation accordingly so that you do not have any annoying sound bouncing. Hanging heavy curtains on parallel sides will also help absorb some sounds while being less efficient than using more environmentally friendly options such as acoustic banners instead!
Soundproofing Walls
Sports halls come in different sizes, and some may be less than ideal for sound absorption. Sports hall walls are usually made from painted cinderblock – the perfect platform for acoustic panels! Acoustic paneling can make your empty space into an echo-free zone with increased reverberation reduction; plus they’re easy to install yourself. Once installed these lightweight surfaces significantly reduce echoes.
Soundproofing Ceiling
If your sports hall has a high exposed ceiling, we can hang acoustic panels from the ceiling. This will not only help to reduce reverberation but also looks great! These are invisible until you look up and most people won’t even know they are there as they’re so discreet in design. Ceiling acoustic panels are also available for flat ceilings. These are mounted to the ceiling and can be removed without damaging it.
Design and Colour
Acoustic panels are available in a wide range of colors, styles and finish options. Most people choose to have their acoustic panels installed in the same color as their walls so they blend right into place but you could go for something more eye catching like white on blue or black on yellow! Our team will help recommend which is best suited for how big an area needs soundproofing- we’ve got everything from tiny spaces all way up through large rooms.
Other Ways To Soundproof a Sports Hall
