Rubber Flooring – Colors and Designs

A variety of colors and designs are now offered for rubber flooring. You can choose solid-colored rubber flooring or something more complex in design.
Solid: In addition to a wide range of colors, some manufacturers will even give you the option of customizing the color to the desired shade you want. Note that a solid color that may be available in sheet form may not be available in tile, and vice versa.
Flecked or Speckled: Flecked rubber floors consist of a solid color spotted with a contrary color on top. The non-directional arrangement of the dots creates a unique and colorful look.
Marble: Some manufacturers make rubber sheets and tiles that imitate certain marble types. This gives you flooring that looks almost like real marble for less cost.
Patterns: Rubber floors can be individualized with a custom design or logo. This makes rubber floors a popular option for businesses that want to display their company insignia. This feature is also popularly used in health facilities that wish to define certain spaces with bold colors for disabled residents.

Rubber Flooring – Installation Types

Rubber floors are available in several different installation forms – of course, this differs depending on the manufacturer. While some installations may be easier for a do-it-yourself (DIY) project, others may require the help of an installation professional. The following installation alternatives offer quite different ways to have your rubber floor laid.
Interlock: Interlocking rubber flooring can be installed over many existing surfaces and can be used in medium to large commercial areas (such as gymnasiums). In addition, interlock rubber has grooves on all sides that lock together for easier installation. Interlock typically does not require adhesive, glue or double-sided tape.
Glue-Down: Glue-down rubber tends to be more durable than other rubber types as it can handle heavy wear and tear with less movement.
Loose Lay: Loose lay involves connecting rubber tiles (generally 3/8 inches thick) with carpet tape (double-sided tape). The subfloor, over which the tiles are being installed, must be clean and smooth. Considered to be a quicker alternative to glue down.

Rubber Flooring – Tiles and Sheets

Most manufacturers offer rubber floors in two forms: rubber tiles or rubber sheets. The kind that is most suitable for you depends upon the room where you're installing, the desired floor strength, and most importantly, whether you plan on installing the floor yourself.
Rubber sheets: Rubber sheets come in one continuous piece and generally have fewer seams than rubber tiles. Since more precision is needed to cut the rubber sheets to fit a certain space, a professional installer is usually recommended for this floor type.
Rubber tiles: Rubber tiles can be easier to install than rubber sheets because they come in smaller, individual pieces that can be moved and adjusted with less difficulty. One of the drawbacks of rubber tiles is that they typically have more seams than rubber sheets, which can loosen and lift up over time if exposed to standing water or other liquids.