When surfacing an outdoor area, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is that outdoor floors can be fixed or removable in the case of tiles. The second is outdoor areas can get wet, so the material has to be fully waterproof.
The right kind of outdoor sports flooring for your use case depends on what you intend to use the floor for and when you will use it.
Outdoor weight training
If you run outdoor weight training sessions or an outdoor gym (this has become common with the coronavirus pandemic) then you can use rubber interlocking floor tiles around free weight and bench areas to protect the floor.
The floor will need to be flat for this to work since bumps and raises in the ground will push the tiles up and cause a tripping hazard.
An alternative to tiles is rubber matting. This is very similar to the stuff you find in playgrounds. It is spongy and laid in rolls. It conforms to the floor better because it’s thinner and it is better for covering large spaces.
Pilates and yoga classes
If you intend to run outdoor pilates and yoga classes, do you need a surface at all? This is hardly strenuous exercise and concrete is fine. If you do need a floor, then you can just use yoga mats to provide convenience to the sessions.
If you need a surface to cover an area for pilates and yoga, you can use rubber floor tiles on flat ground and rubber matting on uneven ground.
Outdoor sprinting and track
Outdoor running tracks used to be made from concrete or asphalt, but new surfaces are made from synthetic rubber. The track is created using a mix of rubber particles bound with polyurethane, with it laid onto an asphalt or concrete base.
The rubber surfacing is best for outdoor sprinting because it is forgiving and softer than a hard surface. The best running tracks in the world are made in this way.
Football
Football is best served by artificial grass. You may know it better as AstroTurf (although this is a brand name). Artificial grass is so good these days that it plays like real grass, needing no maintenance or upkeep even after several months of play.
We ‘loose lay’ artificial grass in most applications, which enables you to exchange the artificial turf for real turf in the future if you wish.
Footballers love playing on 3G pitches because they don’t get mucky and can concentrate on the game. Various thicknesses are available, from 8mm to 20mm. Most football grounds opt for an 8mm to 12mm turf.
