What to Look for in Gym Wall Padding

In 2021, more than 3.2 million people visited the emergency room for treatment for sports and recreational injuries, according to the National Safety Council. Obviously, these injuries have a variety of causes, and there’s no one magic bullet that could have prevented all of them. However, thinking about what you can do to protect the people who use your space and reduce your liability is always smart. There’s no doubt that installing quality wall padding in your gym is a great decision. Do you know what to look for in gym wall padding?

What to Look for in Gym Wall Padding

Installing gym wall pads offers several advantages. For starters, quality pads can provide cushioning from hard surfaces, making the space safer for athletes. The presence of the pads can also protect walls from scuffs, cracks, and other harm. In addition, the wall padding can have a sound-dampening effect that is often highly desirable in gyms. Plus, it allows you to customize your décor with cool colors and designs.

Gymnasium wall padding has amazing potential, but to make the most of it, you need to choose a top-notch product. When you’re shopping for the best, what should you be looking for?

Wood Backing

A wood panel or backer board provides structural support for the wall padding panel. It lends additional strength to the safety barrier and helps prevent sagging as the panel ages. It does add weight, so wood backing may be left off certain specialty padding panels like the ones designed for doors.

Foam

Foam is the heart of gym wall pads. Attached to the backer board with adhesives, it’s what provides the cushioning power for these pads. The amount of cushioning depends on the type of foam used. Polyurethane-based foams are a popular pick. Their open cell structure delivers a softer feel. However, polyethylene-based foams are also available. These foams have a closed-cell structure that delivers a firmer feel and greater protection against harsher impacts. Ideally, you’ll want a product with at least two inches of quality foam.

Fire Resistance

When a fire breaks out, every second matters. Installing mats made of fire-retardant materials can deny the flames fuel. This can help buy precious time that allows people to either extinguish the fire or evacuate the area.

Cover

Foam is great at absorbing shocks, but it’s not the most attractive material. Topping it with a vinyl cover adds aesthetic opportunities and enhances its durability. With a vinyl cover, you can choose the color you want and add a design or logo for a clean, customized look. A quality vinyl cover also protects against abrasions, tears, and punctures. Selecting a better material here will result in greater longevity for your wall pads. In addition, many vinyl covers are treated with an antibacterial compound to protect against mold, mildew, and similar bacteria. This type of protection can certainly come in handy in the sweaty, humid environment that’s commonly found in gymnasiums.

Cut Outs and Customization

If you’re planning to order wall padding for your gym, take a walk around. Look closely at the areas where you hope to install the padding. Will the installation be straightforward? Or, will there be obstacles in the way? Are there columns, electrical outlets, doors, fire extinguishers, windows, or other items interrupting the flow of where you plan to place your gym wall pads? That’s an incredibly common scenario. It’s also one that’s best handled by a professional who can deliver top-notch products that are precisely measured and cut to fit around these items.

Gym wall padding is an effective and affordable way to shield athletes, decrease injuries, and protect your facility from liability issues. It’s also an excellent way to add color and character to your gym. When you’re ready to take your game space up a notch, New England Courts can help. We offer residential and commercial athletic surfaces for both indoor and outdoor use, and we’ve been designing, building, and testing our own products since 1974. Whether you’re interested in an athletic surface for basketball, volleyball, roller hockey, tennis, futsal, or even bocce ball, our knowledgeable team can help. To learn more, please give us a call at 603-944-1184 or send us a message online. We look forward to hearing from you!