Residential Flooring

Interlocking rubber tiles or 6ft x 4ft rubber mats at 10–20mm suit most spare-room gyms. Tiles are lighter to carry upstairs and can be laid one at a time, while large mats give fewer joins under a rack or bench. If you lift heavy and drop weights often, choose the thicker end of that range.

Yes, interlocking rubber tiles with drainage holes work well in wet rooms, around showers and beside hot tubs, because water passes through and away. They are loose-laid tiles, not a sealed floor covering, so they sit on top of an existing waterproof floor rather than replacing it. Lift them now and then to clean and dry the floor underneath.

Rubber left in place for a long time can mark or discolour some vinyl, laminate and lacquered wood, especially light-coloured floors. If you are laying rubber over a finished floor you want to keep, put a thin breathable layer underneath, such as a cotton sheet or hardboard, and lift the mats occasionally to check.

You can, but carpet lets mats shift and rock, which feels unstable under heavy lifts. Large 6ft x 4ft mats stay flatter on carpet than small tiles because their weight spreads across a wider area. For a permanent home gym, lifting the carpet and laying the mats on the floor below gives a firmer surface.

Interlocking EVA foam tiles are the usual choice for playrooms because they are soft, light and quick to lay or take up. The 10mm EVA tiles here come in packs and join edge to edge like a jigsaw. For climbing frames and outdoor play, rubber grass mats and safety tiles in the playground range are more suitable.

A rubber layer can reduce impact noise, such as footsteps and dropped items, travelling into the room below. The sound proof carpet underlay here is a plain rubber sheet in 3mm and 5mm thickness, sold for use under carpet. Thick rubber gym mats also dampen the thud of weights, though they will not stop airborne noise like music or voices.

A 6ft x 4ft rubber mat at 12mm weighs roughly 26kg to 30kg, and the 18mm versions weigh more. Two people make carrying one up stairs or through a narrow door much easier. If weight is a problem, interlocking tiles or EVA foam mats cover the same area in lighter pieces.

Interlocking rubber hot tub tiles with drainage holes are made for this job: the 12mm tiles let splashes drain away instead of pooling, and protect decking or paving under the tub. Artificial grass is another option around a hot tub on a lawn or patio. For harder outdoor surfaces, patio flooring compares tiles and mats for paving.

A rubber roll is better if you want the whole shed floor covered with no gaps for dirt to collect, as it can be cut to the exact size in one piece. Loose mats suit a shed where you only need protection under a bench, mower or bike, and they lift out easily when you want to sweep.

Yes, loose-laid rubber mats, interlocking tiles and EVA foam tiles can be lifted, stacked and laid again in a new home. Rolls can be rolled back up if they were not glued down. If you rent or expect to move, choosing tiles or mats over a glued-down roll keeps the flooring portable.