FAQ

What do I need to do before the floor is installed?

For the best and safest floor installation all the conditions listed here need to be met before installation begins:

• All masonry is complete
• All painting, plaster, tile, and marble is complete
• All overhead work is complete (lighting, goals, etc.)
• The building is enclosed and weathertight
• Concrete sub-floors are at 1/8" and 10'
• Concrete floors are dry and clean
• A temperature of 65 °F has been maintained for one week
• Humidity is stabilized at between 35% and 50%
• Permanent heat, light, and ventilation are installed and currently operating

How do I maintain and clean the new floor?

Follow these six steps daily for proper maintenance:

1. Sweep the floor every day with a properly treated dust mop. If the floor is used heavily, sweep it up to three times per day.
2. Wipe up any spills or moisture on the floor surface.
3. Make sure the heating/ventilating/air conditioning system is functioning properly and set to maintain relative indoor humidities of between 35% and 50% year-round. In areas with consistent high or low outside humidity, a 15% fluctuation will not adversely affect the maple.
4. Remove heel marks using an approved floor cleaner applied with a soft cloth or dust mop.
5. Inspect floor for tightening or shrinkage. During wet weather, check for water leakage around doors and windows. Remove debris from expansion voids.
6. Always protect the floor when moving heavy portable equipment or lifts. Ensure portable equipment does NOT have crowned wheels or wheels that include center ridges remaining from the molding process. These types of wheels can create very significant point loads.

What is the difference between sanding the floor and refinishing the floor?

When a floor is sanded a minimum of three grits of sandpaper are used. All of the seal, paint, and finish are removed. Typically, a floor should be sanded every ten years. At this point, all lines and graphics will be repainted. Likewise whenever a floor is repaired, it should be re-sanded to maintain uniformity.

When a floor is refinished it is simply screened and tacked  then refinished with one or two coats of finish. Paint may be added at this time, but no paint will be removed. This should typically happen at least once a year.

Should I use tape on the floor?

We never recommend using tape of any kind of your finished maple gym floor. The likelihood of tape marring or even lifting the finish is high especially during the first 30-90 days after finish has been applied.  The usage of tape on a finished wood floor will void any warranty in place.

If temporary game lines are necessary, a water-based tempura paint in a light color that can be washed off with water after a short time is advised.

What do I do if the floor gets wet or flooded?

Do not overreact. Do not cut the floor. Remove the cove base around the floor and if possible turn on the air and/or set up fans to blow air on and under the floor.

Remember that wood is hygroscopic and will buckle, cup, or crown with too much water, but will generally settle down as it dries back out. This takes time, sometimes two to three weeks. Then call us so that we can assess whether or not patching is necessary.

Is a warranty on the floor offered?

We do offer a one-year warranty on installation and workmanship in addition to the one-year warranty offered by our manufacturer, Connor Sports Flooring. This warranty may be extended under certain circumstances.

If we installed your floor, we offer a Lifetime Warranty Program that will warrant your wood floor for up to 40 years, as long as Sports Floors, Inc. is the only company who works on that floor (example: screen and recoat, sand, patch).

What is the difference between oil-based polyurethane finish and water-based finish?

An oil-based polyurethane finish is the most common finish put on wood floors. It typically takes 48-72 hours to dry between coats and 30 days to fully cure.

Water-based finish dries within four to five hours of application, cutting down on the wait time. However, it costs almost three times as much as oil-based finish. It is also better to use on established wood floors instead of newly installed wood floors because it dries hard and can crack if the floor moves.

Is there a standard procedure for removing existing game lines?

If game lines need to be removed, the floor will need a full sand job.

Is there a standard maximum load that is recommended for Maple gym flooring?

Excessive loading like those resulting from the use of high point load scissor lifts can lead to surface degradation and/or weaken structural components leading to a system failure. Sports Floors, Inc. always recommends using multi-layer protection when loading a flooring system using any size lift in order to protect the integrity of the system and quality of the surface finish.

Example: MFMA recommends that when a lift (total weight, machine, operator, and load not to exceed 4,500 lbs) is used on the floor system that the floor should be protected with at least two layers of ¾” thick clean protective sheathing with overlapping seams. Protective material should include suitable clean sheathing and floor finish protections such as red rosin paper.

When operating equipment, wheels should not travel outside of the protected area whether the machine is stationary or being moved. DO not leave heavy loads on the floor overnight or for extended periods.

How long does it take to sand and paint a floor?

Depending on the size and age of your floor, a complete sand job typically takes three weeks to complete: one week to sand and seal, one week to paint and finish, and one week to dry.

How long does it take to install a new wood floor?

We typically need six to eight weeks to install a new wood floor and any thresholds or wall bases.

The schedule usually runs like this:

• Delivery of materials and installation of subfloor
• Acclimation of maple
• Installation of maple
• Sanding of floor
• Painting of floor
• Finishing of floor
• Accessory installation (if applicable)
• Allow a minimum of seven days cure time for a final coat of finish

What is DIN and is it important?

DIN stands for the Deutsches Institut für Normung. There are four tests which a floor must pass in order for the system to be considered DIN Certified. These are:

• Ball Deflection - This test measures the basketball's response off the sports floor system as compared to the ball's response off the concrete.
• Shock Absorption - This test measures the flooring system's ability to absorb impact forces normally absorbed by the athlete when landing on a hard surface such as concrete or asphalt.
• Vertical Deflection - This test measures the floor system's downward movement during impact of an athlete landing on the surface. This measurement is interdependent with area deflection criteria.
• Area Deflection - This test measures the floor system's ability to contain the deflected area under an athlete's impact, measuring within 20" of the impacted area. Also known as deformation control when combined with vertical deflection measurements.

Be aware which DIN stamp appears on a floor. The following DIN ratings are:

• DIN Certified: Passes all four Standards of DIN 18032 Part 2.
• DIN Compliant: Passes two of the four Standards of DIN 18032 Part 2, shock absorption and ball rebound.
• DIN Rated: This simply means that the floor has been tested, and says nothing about its certification or compliance.

DIN is important as an industry-standard performance testing scale. This ensures that you're always comparing apples to apples.