Gym Floor Covers

Spookie Halloween Gym Story

2007-03-15T14:34:00.000-04:00

Not frightened enough this Halloween? Listen to the scary story, children...

Two years ago...

The Halloween eve flood that swept through Manoa also soaked the University of Hawai'i athletic department, drenching offices and locker rooms, and forcing the shutdown of one gymnasium and the partial closure of the nearby 3,000-stall parking structure.

Workers and volunteers were busy cleaning damage at the UH athletic department. UH officials said practices will have to be rescheduled because of flood damage to the second-floor Gym 2.

"This is the worst I've ever seen," said Teri Wilhelm Chang, UH assistant athletic director for facilities, who has been at the university since 1979. "We've had heavy storms and rains — and leaks in the gym — but never like this. It's totally unbelievable."

Gym 2 — the second-floor practice site of the UH men's and women's basketball teams — was drenched with a foot of water, mud and debris. The floor has begun to warp, and officials closed the gymnasium indefinitely for safety reasons.

Chang said damage estimates are not complete, but she said two years ago the university replaced the wood floor at Gym 2 at a cost of more than $250,000.

Ouch!

And here's the scary pictures:

UH Football equipment managers Marissa Bonilla, left, and Dawn Kaneshiro, right, sweep up a layer of dried mud from the termite eaten floor of Klum Gym. Although sports events are no longer held there it is used for recreation amd some classes.

UH athletic equipment staff members Kyle Tateishi, left, and Byron Tabangcura, right, are obscured by a swirl of dust as they sweep up a layer of dried mud from the termite eaten floor of Klum Gym. Both are students. Although sports events are no longer held there it is used for recreation amd some classes.

Floor Damage is Scary!

Lisa

Top 10 Silliest Ways to Get Injured in Your Gym

2006-09-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

Gyms seem to be relatively safe places. These indoor artificial islands for what Mother Nature has intended for us to do –run, jump, fight, and climb– have replaced the jungles of real islands. Whether we are going to the gym frequently or not, we expect to walk out the front doors without any complaints other than the normal soreness brought on by a hard workout.

Unfortunately, some of us do get gym injuries, ranging from muscle strains, tendonitis and bursitis to fractured bones, concussions and broken teeth. There’s absolutely no fun in getting injured and not being able to keep doing what you love, but some of the ways we get injured are quite odd. These ways are silly because, if some thought had been put into it beforehand, the injuries could have been easily avoided.

Here is a brief description of the Top 10 Silliest Gym Injuries and how you can prevent them.

10. Undernutrition and over exercise.

So, one of my friends, let’s call her Maggie, decided to make a present for her boyfriend while he was away on a business trip. Nothing less than loosing 20 pounds and entering back into the “pretty slim girls” category. What’s the fastest way? That’s right, minimum food and maximum exercise! On the third day of her boot camp, Maggie made a swan dive from the stationary bicycle and cracked her jaw after hitting the floor. Yeah, there was a moment of silence in the gym. In the hospital Maggie was diagnosed with starvation. She fainted because her body wasn’t getting enough energy from lack of food, so her brain “turned off” to use fewer resources.

When exercising, make sure you have a balanced diet, enough calories, iron, calcium, protein and fiber. Here’s a good article on weight loss nutrition and diet recommendation: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportsnutrition/a/123004a.htm

9. Drop a heavy weight on yourself

There’s nothing more amusing in co-ed gyms than when men try to impress the ladies (ok, and other men too) with heavy weight lifting. The funny part is when men overestimate their abilities and try too much without proper training and supervision. Usually, when you see one of these, it’s a show stopper in the gym. Everyone watches this potential hero, if not directly, then through a mirror. He walks around the weight bar and assembles weight plates for half an hour; his buddies get around in a circle, exchange a few short words and get serious and silent. Then four of them lift the bar on the stand, and our hero gets comfy on the bench. He breaths loud, grabs the bar, lifts, sweats, turns red and… drops the weight on his chest. Then his eyes become so huge and expressive. And you hear the manly groan of the squeezed man. And then everyone rushes to help him.

Actually, the worst case scenario would be if this guy was lifting weights without any supervision from his buddies. If you drop a heavy weight on your chest, and there’s no one to help you, well, you can die.

Always, always make sure you do heavy weight lifting together with a friend who can help you. And for added silliness, do not bump into weight trees or racks, and don’t drop anything heavy on your feet.

Here’s your Top 10 Commandments for avoiding weight room injury: http://bodybuilding.about.com/od/injurypreventiontreatment/tp/trainingsafe.htm

8. Meditate or stretch in the active sports area

When I attended university, one of the gyms where I was exercising was built as a multi-level structure, i.e. the weight room was surrounded by the racing track, and part of the inside circle had no floor and was open to the basketball court on the level below. Gym mats for stretching were lying around everywhere in the corners. I’ll tell you what, it’s not a pleasant feeling when a ball lands on your head when your chakras are opening or your knee is behind your ear. Sudden impact on your stretched muscles when you don’t expect it can cause serious injuries.

Stretch in the safe place, away from the action, and meditate in a quiet place. It’s already hard enough to concentrate, even without all the distractions.
Here’s a great resource on stretching: http://www.cmcrossroads.com/bradapp/docs/rec/stretching/

7. Change weights on the exercise equipment while it’s in use

I don’t mean to endorse any products, but I love all those neat Nautilus machines in my gym. You can easily reach the weight stuck and add a few more “bricks”, or remove a few. Find your sweet spot and enjoy your workout.

Sometimes when you’re concentrating on your routine, you don’t pay much attention to all the safety warnings glued right in front of your eyes. Raise your hands if you haven’t had your fingers pinched at least once when you were trying to change the weight before all the weights were completely down. Honestly!

Even worse, have you ever tried helping your friend having all the best intentions: “Who does this exercise with only 20 pounds? Let me help you, Jenny. You need a few more. Ouch!”

So, be careful with machines when they’re in use. Don’t put your fingers in the wrong places, as your mama told you. Here, go back to the basics and start with learning how to wear a helmet: http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/sport_safety.html

6. Run counter to the common direction

As we go on, our injury reasons get sillier and sillier. Ever tried running in the opposite direction on the racing track? During the rush hour, when everyone is in the gym? I bet you can do a circle or two safely, then you’ll get hit by a big guy who didn’t see you because his eyes are sweaty, and then a dozen feet will run all over you, everyone will fall, and there will be screams, fights, lots of bruises.

Why do people need to run in the opposite direction? They get dizzy. Circular motion can cause more imbalance and giddiness readily or sooner than other movements since the brain cannot easily accommodate fast moving objects (as visualized by the eye).

Make sure you get plenty of fresh air and read this article on motion sickness: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_sickness. They say ginger tea might be a good idea.

5. Sit in a split without stretching

Stretching in the wrong place is bad, but no stretching at all is worse. Recently I attended a party at my friend’s house and met a cute guy named Matt. During our conversation he mentioned he used to be a full contact fighter and was really fond of martial arts when he was a teenager. Karate, Jujutsu, Tae Kwon Do, Shaolin. You get the idea. I asked him if he practiced any of these recently, and he told me a story. Last year, after several years outside of martial arts, Matt went to a gym and decided to go back to his childhood passion big time. He kicked air a few times, jumped a few times and then sat in a split. And pulled his groin! Say it with me: “Ouch!”

Of all the soft-tissue injuries the athlete can suffer, groin injuries are potentially the most debilitating and frustrating of all. Read this about groin injuries: http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprainsstrains/a/groinstrain.htm
Here’s a good advice for split training: http://www.body-fizzeek.co.uk/splits.htm

4. Running shoes accidents: wrong shoes, wet soles, untied shoelaces…

When you were little and watched cartoons about Tom and Jerry or Woody Woodpecker, weren’t all their trip-and-fall accidents just hilarious? Oh come on, I can’t believe you didn’t laugh your head off. You know what? We are adults now, but it’s still funny, even when you know it’s impolite to laugh (you giggle internally, we know it).

Be smart about your shoes, don’t let untied shoelaces send you into a floor slide or trap you in the exercise machine, and unclean wet soles to ground you on your fifth element. In the gym it’s even more embarrassing because you were just going to show everyone how well you bench press. Wrong shoes will definitely spoil your satisfaction from the workout routine (guaranteed by a certified shoe-aholic).

Here’s your running shoe prescription with shoe diagrams and pictures: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2005/0105/asplund.htm

3. Get on StairMaster/Treadmill while drunk/intoxicated

No, you’re not a Shaolin Drunken Master. Wait a second… Hmmm… Nope. You still think you are? What are you doing on the treadmill then?

Anyway, listen to the story kids. Back in the wonderful college days, a few buddies decided to celebrate Student Day, which, if I’m not mistaken, is every other Tuesday. They had enough beers and coolers to make the world beautiful, and then for some unexplainable reason they went to the gym. And, of course, as in any normal male competitive environment, they have a bet about who’s going to run faster and longer on a treadmill. I don’t know exactly who won and either did they because one of them vomited and had to clean the gym, and the other one fell and broke his wrist. Silly!

Go ask Alice if this was a good idea: http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1489.html

2. Flirt with a big guy

Oh man, this is sad and funny. One of the guys in my gym was punched in the face after he blocked the mirror and complemented another big guy’s nicely shaped thighs. Come on, it was innocent! All he wanted was to find out about the workout routine that made this miracle happen.

Yeah, don’t break men’s no-no rule: no talking to the stranger in the gym, just growl.

Gym etiquette is an interesting topic. Offences can range from simply being rude —lingering on machines long after you are done or chatting loudly on your cell phone— to poor hygiene and not wiping your sweat from machines once you’re finished. Always be considerate of other exercisers.

Ask Men about the gym etiquette: http://ca.askmen.com/fashion/how_to_150/155_how_to.html

1. Slip on banana peel

Ta-da! Here’s the winner!

Extremely silly reason, but it happened during a non-athletic event that was held in the gym. The gym’s hardwood floor was freshly cleaned, the party was nice, people ate, people danced, people littered a little bit (as can happen), and then a woman stepped on a banana peel, slipped, fell and hurt her tail bone!

Make sure your gym is safe during all the non-athletic events as well. Use gym floor covers with anti-slip texture for banquettes, graduations and parties. Check out this gym floor covers website for more into: http://www.covermaster.net

Good luck with your gym experiences and I hope you will never get injured, especially in a silly way!

Yours

Lisa Cohen

Back to School. Last Minute. Gym Floor Covers.

2006-09-06T20:33:00.000-04:00

It's school time again! Time's up for school athletic managers and caretakers to get ready! That's it! I'm just kidding. Although, well, there's no more summer relaxation. It's still a good time to get your gym ready for hundreds of little feet, and protect the floor from all possible damages from sports and recreational activities.

Every September people start looking for the best deals on the internet. They look for gym floor supplies, gym floor tarps, gym floor mats, gym floor covers. I'm so glad they're finding us.

We have a great offer: a great low price on gym floor covers, and a discount coupon. Gym Floor Cover Discount.

So, hurry up! You still have time to get a great Back To School Deal on gym floor covers and storage system. You can protect your school property and let your kids be kids.

Lisa

School Gyms and Roller Coasters

2006-08-22T21:06:00.000-04:00

Speaking of all the crazy things you can use your school gym for, what is the craziest idea you've ever had? Well, besides Ozzy Osborn-themed graduations or tap dancing championships? How about a roller coaster. Yes, a roller coaster!

Look at this beauty. Here's what Neatorama Blog says:

Students at the Royal Oak Intermediate School in Covina, California built this 1/4 scale roller coaster in their gym.

Twenty-four feet tall at its highest point and occupying 10,000 square feet, the fully-functional ride towers over the 135 eighth-graders who are its designers, builders and decorators. Students and four teachers have spent thousands of hours measuring, sawing, constructing, painting and decorating the wooden structure over the last three weeks.

Painted mostly black and decorated with a solar system theme - the planets, the sun, Earth’s moon, Orion’s Nebula, the asteroid belt and a black hole - the roller coaster includes three lifts and drops, an enormous figure eight and a 360-degree loop. The track is 400 feet long, and students estimate that the car will reach a top speed of 35 mph coming down the final and tallest drop.

It's nice to see these folks are using gym floor covers! Makes sense to protect the floor from whatever falls from this roller coaster. Something tells me it wasn't built for humans. This construction cannot be solid without some alterations to their gym floor. Metal polls need to be secured, otherwise, it's not safe at all. My bet would be this roller coaster was intended as an installation in itself or as a school project track for tiny cars, dolls or little robots. Your thoughts?

Lisa

Gym Floor Design

2006-08-16T18:55:00.000-04:00

I've always been surprised how much passion people have for sports, and how much energy they put into keeping their sports "sanctuaries" clean and beautiful. No, I'm underestimating, gorgeous and spirit boosting!

Many schools ask us if gym floor covers provide good protection for their gym floor art and murals. Well, how do I put it, as of today, it's the best. If you want your tigers and buffalos to stay bright and shiny, you just have to cover them during your non-athletic events.

It's fascinating to see what people have to protect. These are my favorite gym floor designs I came across. I'm so curious to see what other people have done with their gyms. (Send me a picture of your floor).

Dino's Custom Art: Airbrushed School Gym Floor Mural Walter D. Johnson Middle School Las Vegas, NV

Tiger on Gym Floor

Panther on Gym Floor

Braves Floor

Tivy Anthlers Floor Mural

Dino's Custom Art: Airbrushed Eagle School Gym Floor Mural

Lisa

How's hot weather affecting your gym?

2006-08-11T17:26:00.000-04:00

Hi, I'm Lisa Cohen. I'll be taking over this blog today. Someone has to do the hard job... :)
Well, I hope you'll eventually get used to my chatty character.

It's August 11th. We've just survived a few hot days here, and it's finally cooled down a bit. I can actually stay cool without a million fans blowing on me. Thankfully, I don't work in road construction! I wonder if the hot weather like we had caused any damage to the gym floor? Any experiences?

One of our customers' school gym has amazingly huge windows and skylights. It's always bright and sunny in there, and I feel very empowered and eager to do something very athletic, like climb a rope or make a flip jump on a balance beam. Lovely building! So, last week we visited them to check how their new power winder works for them. Their athletic manager,who of course is very proud of their facilities, showed me into the gym. I took off my high heels because I didn't want to damage their floor. My goodness, it was hot! I could barely walk on the hardwood floor barefoot.

I also noticed that the hardwood floor gets lots of cracks from heat and bright sunlight. I've asked Scott (their athletic manager) if they are doing anything about it. He says they have to refinish their floor every year. Big money! "Well", I asked, "you already have your gym floor covers, what do you use them for?" He answered that it was mainly for graduation. That's crazy! "Scott, you already have the protection you need. Why don't you use it during these extreme weather conditions? You can protect your floor from overheating and damage."

There was an interesting expression in his eyes, as if he didn't believe it would work. I offered, "Try it, let me know how it goes". So now I'm looking forward to hearing from him soon. I wonder if this suggestion will be also useful to other gym floor cover owners. Let me know.

I hope we'll move into a more comfortable temperature range in August. That's enough of record breaking! People at The Weather Network are actually calling it a natural disaster. All we need to do now is drink lots of water and stay cool. Sounds good.

Lisa

US Army Base Recreation Facilities in Germany

2006-07-24T17:52:00.000-04:00

In the summer of 2005, the President of the United States, George W. Bush came to Germany to thank U.S. Troops at Wiesbaden Airfield Base. He addressed the Third Support Command, 421st Medical Evacuation Battalion, First Armored Division (Iron Soldiers) and First Infantry Division (Big Red Ones) with the following words:

“It's an honor to be here with so many outstanding soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines from this base and others in Germany. I came to Wiesbaden to meet the men and women fighting on the front lines of that war. You are carrying out challenging duties with skill and honor. And today I bring you a message from back home: The American people are grateful to you. Your communities are proud of you. And as you defend the cause of freedom, America stands with you.

President of the United States, George W. Bush in Wiesbaden, Germany

I also want to thank all the military families who are here today. They tell me the quality of life here is really good -- (laughter) -- but it's a long way away from home, and it can be lonely when your loved ones are deployed on dangerous missions in distant lands, I know that. You built close-knit community here. You support all those who wear the uniform and you support each other through difficult times. The service and sacrifice of America's military families is vital to our success in the war on terror, and your President is here to tell you I'm proud of our military families, as well.”

US Army Base Recreation Facilities in Germany

Covermaster is proud to contribute to the well-being of Military base workers and their families by taking care of their facilities.

Covermaster supplied Wiesbaden US Army facility, under the GSA Contract, with a Gymnasium Floor Cover system. Upon providing all the necessary information and after subsequent conversations, we received an order to supply not one, but twelve (!) separate facilities with Gymnasium Floor Covers, CoverMate storage racks and PowerMate power winders. Covermaster easily worked out all logistical challenges, and all the equipment was received on time.

In total, 105,120 sq. feet of covers are protecting gym floors at these Military facilities, enabling our troops to have their quality time, like organizing concerts and holiday celebrations for their families, and extending the multi-use of their gyms by converting them to the large accommodation facilities or even humanitarian aid distribution centers.

We feel honored to be able to support our troops stationed overseas and in the USA.

Convert Church Gym with Floor Cover

2006-07-06T22:18:00.000-04:00

Church Gym Floor Cover

Your church just made a large investment in a multipurpose building, whether for a gym, cafeteria, classroom space, or a worship area. Of course, the space is intended to serve multiple functions, changing from banquet facility to wedding reception room to children's festival or sports venue on a regular basis. You may also want to open your gym doors for special worship services or for community events like voting, special meals, and theater productions. Your church might like to raise money by renting out their facilities to dance, bingo, youth sports events. So, what kind of floor covering accommodates multiple-use space? What are your options for enhancing your multipurpose flooring?

Generally speaking, maple hardwood floors won't do for fundraising dinners. The synthetic gym floors can be too hard to clean after dinner functions. And carpets can receive excessive wear and tear. Don't worry, your best option is to use Covermaster gym floor covers because you want the best value for your dollar, quality that will last and serve well to train and equip your community.

If your church has a hardwood basketball court, you'll be careful to protect it from spills, chairs, high heels, equipment or furniture scratch marks and other hazards. It can easily cost $50,000 to $100,000 to replace the floor.

With an investment of $6,000 or less for the average 8,000-square-foot gym, your church can purchase a reversible, vinyl-surface floor cover in custom or standard colors. Covermaster offers different gym floor covers, each with a core of reinforced polyester: the top-of-the-line, heavy-duty Ultima 5000, which can withstand the rigors of concerts and graduations; the medium-weight Ultima 4000 with anti-slip surface; the premium lighter weight Ultima 3000, which is great for banquets; and the very affordable economical Master series.

To help you install or remove your gym floor covering, Covermaster offers Covermate, an easy-to-use storage system, which allows you to roll out and roll back floor covers just in a few minutes. CoverClean, an optional, adjustable brush assembly, will sweep the cover as you wind it up. PowerMate, an electric power winder, will save you time and labor, and enable any person to operate the system easily.

A few years ago, First Assembly of God in Grant Pass, Oregon, purchased a lightweight gray cover from Covermaster for its 8,125 square-foot gym.

"We love it," says Chuck Bahn, building superintendent. "It is the only thing saving our hardwood floor. We use it at least twice a week and are quite satisfied with it. It works well."

Another church used it to feed 300-plus needy people every Thursday night for the local food program. They cover up the wooden gymnasium floor with eight rolls of Master 2700 and tape it down. After dinner, they wipe it with a damp mop before rolling it back up. Covermaster gym floor covers enable them to organize more outreach events and engage the community without worries about damage to their facilities.

Gym Floor Covers Factory Outlet SUMMER SALE

2006-06-28T13:08:00.000-04:00

Covermaster invites everyone to its Covermaster Gym Floor Cover Factory Outlet SUMMER SALE event. Visit www.covermaster.net/contact.html to submit your inquiry online and receive a custom discount quote. Call 1 (800) 693-1677 for details. This event will run through July and August.

Make sure you get your best price on gym floor covers and equip your facility before the new school year starts!

Protect your gym investments with the answer for today’s growing demand to convert the gymnasium into a multi-use facility without damaging the floor. Hold up against heavy foot traffic, dances, concerts, graduations, and other activities. Floor covers will allow Facility Managers to keep their floor in top condition.

Covers are manufactured for standard and custom size gym floors. New cover designs and textures are made for the simplest application, handling and storage options. Large sections allow versatility of activities without movement on floor. Durable for tables, chairs, and other heavy traffic related activities. Adds life to the floor and allows for multi-purpose uses all year round.

All of our products are produced in company-owned factory and shipped directly to our customers. From our manufacturing team, to distribution, sales, marketing and customer service you are guaranteed to receive the best service and support available.

= Covermaster.net Team

What do you think of referral programs?

2006-06-07T23:29:00.001-04:00

We're very curious what do you think of referral programs?

Currently, at covermaster.net, we are trying to encourage existing clients to spread the word of mouth to their partner organizations that could be in need for gym floor covers.

Basically, Covermaster is rewarding all clients who would like to refer new business to us, whether it’s another division of the same institution or a totally independent organization.

How does it work?

You can refer to us another organization in need of gym floor covers and/or accompanying equipment, like gym cover rack, power winder or brush. If they place an order in excess of $3,000, you will receive a box of Covermaster seaming tape, a $220 value, FREE.

Partnering with Covermaster can also be done through supporting our site and linking to covermaster.net pages. Call us 1 (800) 693-1677 to discuss various reward options.

Please let us know how this program can be improved.

What is your opinion overall about referral programs? Do you know of any referral programs that were a huge success?

= Covermaster.net Team

Gym Floor Cover Damage Resistance Video

2006-05-29T18:18:00.000-04:00

This is a truly unique video. We took 3 different brands of gym floor covers and tested them for damage resistance. What you see is a simple coin scratch test. It simulates how your cover will look like after a few uses.

Just think of all the traffic and friction from high heels during dances or banquets, or what happens if you're dragging heavy furniture or sound equipment. This video will make you think twice which cover to get, because buying a new cover after each major event just doesn't make sense. And you do want your covers to look like new every time you unroll them!

Cover brands participating in this test are CoverSports, Putterman and Covermaster's Ultima 5000. Only one of them shows resistance to damage.

Find out which one:

http://www.covermaster.net/literature/covermaster_vs_competitors.avi

Give it a minute or two to buffer and it'll play in your Windows Media Player automatically.

Well, let us know what you think.

= Covermaster.net Team

Gym Floor Cover Discount

2006-05-15T12:18:00.000-04:00

Covermaster often offers Gym Floor Cover Discounts. Promotions range from waived delivery fees to $100 coupons that can be applied towards your gym floor covers and mobile storage rack purchase.

Covermaster always gives the best price with discounts on large orders, and also rewards any referrals.

Beware of some false advertisement claims from some resellers. In order to properly protect your floor, Gym Floor Covers need to be custom manufactured. Standard sizes will not adequately protect your floor. Beware of claims of discounts that seem too good to be true on overstocked items. How can you have overstock on custom manufactured items? Remember, insist on seeing samples and beware of false claims.

Covermaster does not offer discounts on overstocked items, but we do offer better price on standard color combinations. Call to find out more: 1 (800) 693-1677

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

How to clean your gym floor covers?

2006-05-12T18:47:00.000-04:00

CleanMate Anti-Static Cover Cleaner

CleanMate detergent recommended by Covermaster is a specially designed cleaning agent for gym floor covers. CleanMate cleans, deodorizes, disinfects and conditions the covers, and most importantly keeps them looking newer longer.

It is much better to use CleanMate Cover Cleaner than just water or general purpose detergents, which may not work with the textures and compositions of your gym covers, hence leaving residues, stains or even chemical reaction spots. Unlike the generic products, CleanMate was designed specifically to be safe to use on gym floor covers, thus avoiding unnecessary damage, and allowing the covers to last longer and maintain their strength and elasticity.

CleanMate Cover Cleaner has great anti-bacterial properties, it kills germs and bacteria.

Furthermore, the anti-static additive in CleanMate detergent will reduce the static electricity build up in the covers, which is more prevalent in warm/low humidity conditions, so that they will not cling, but separate much more easily from the roll.

The cleaning is also quick and easy without any complicated instructions. Our CleanMate gym floor cover detergent is 100% safe to use, and has very economical usage.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Gym Floor Mats

2006-05-11T16:29:00.000-04:00

Where do you find high quality Gym Floor Covers and Gym Floors Mats?

Gym floor mats are a must for both professional and home gyms, as they provide stability for both you and your equipment, as well as protection for the floor beneath.

It's important to look into gym floor covers before you choose your equipment, because you will want to have it laid down before you start adding equipment to your gym. Moving benches and machines around is difficult to do, especially if you don't have people to help you do it.

Tips for Choosing Gym Floor Mats and Covers

1. For gym floor covers make sure you measure your space carefully before purchasing. If possible, get separate, interlocking pieces so you can replace just portions if necessary rather than buy all new flooring.

2. Make sure the covering is thick, water resistant, easy to clean and texturized for added support.

3. Ensure proper installation so that all equipment sits flush. Having a piece of equipment unbalanced can cause injury.

Where can you buy gym floor covers and mats?

Many exercise and fitness sites sell gym flooring, but it's not always the best quality. Covermaster offers the best quality covers for the very competitive prices.

You can choose from equipment mats, home gym floor covers or professional gym floor covers, all at great discount prices.

Again, try to purchase your gym floor mats or gym floor covers before you have your equipment delivered to avoid the hassle of having to lift or move the heavy pieces around your workout space.

If you have had experience with gym floor mats or gym flooring please drop us a line and let us know what your experiences have been.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

What do you need Power Winder for?

2006-05-10T19:16:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't it be great if your gym floor covers were neatly rolled-up in just a few minutes? It could happen, with the PowerMate power winder. This electric winder comes complete with a special adapter head that fits securely inside the roller end. Simply plug in your PowerMate power tool and roll up your covers fast. It's as simple as that!

This electric tool is designed to power assist in rolling up cover sections and eliminate hand cranking. This accessory complements the mobile storage rack by winding each cover section on its storage roller. It requires one-person, push-button operation, with a second person to guide the cover. PowerMate has great durability and longevity, and it will last for many years.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

The Covermaster Gym Floor Cover Starter Kit

2006-05-09T14:19:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it's hard to choose a cover because you haven't seen the samples, or because your decision needs to be approved by someone else, or because you're still comparing prices and looking for the best deal.

Covermaster created a Gym Floor Cover Starter Kit to guide you through this decision.

The Covermaster Starter Kit contains:

- Covermaster DVD with product and training videos
- Gym floor cover extra large samples. Complete color swatch included.
- Gym floor cover specifications and technical characteristics
- 20 page Covermaster Catalog
- Rack assembly instructions
- Safety Guide
- Operating instructions
- $100 coupon towards gym floor cover or rack purchase (!!!)
- Discount Program Membership
- Specific recommendation based on your requirements
- Next day delivery by FedEx free of charge

All this for only $49.99 , while quantities last.

The Covermaster Gym Floor Cover Starter Kit is packed full with information to help you make your gym floor cover purchase selection. It is the ideal presentation and evaluation material for your purchasing department or primary decision maker.

Considering you're getting a $100 coupon, free delivery, all the literature, DVD, samples, discount program membership and individual recommendation by gym floor cover manufacturers, $49.99 is a good deal to start with.

Orders can by done by phone (800) 693-1677 or completing the order form online.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Gym Floor Measuring

2006-05-08T20:19:00.000-04:00

Measuring you can do easily

You can do a quick and easy calculation of your gym’s width and length. These are the two important numbers to remember when inquiring about gym floor covers.

You have to be careful though. The idea of a cover that consists of one or even two large sections may sound appealing, however, it is not at all practical. Large sections could weigh between 175 to 450 lbs. For obvious reasons, you’ll need more staff to handle a cover of this size. Additionally, with larger sections, you have no choice but to fold the cover for storage. This in turn creates the problem of permanent creases.

Sections

The simplest and most common solution is to have a cover made in multiple sections that can be easily stored in a rolled up form on the Ultima Series CoverMate II handling system, and setup or removed by only two staff members.

For ease of handling, these sections measure 10 feet in width by the length of the floor. For example, a 56' x 100' gymnasium would require a cover manufactured in 6 sections that are each 10' wide x 100' long. This allows some overlap on each section, which is perfect for taping the sections together.

If your gym is not rectangular, please contact our gym floor cover expert for practical advice on cover shapes required. Call (800) 693-1677, we do it all.

Bleachers

Gym floor covers should not be placed under the bleachers. We can help you make custom shaped sections that fit the interior of your gym. Round and oval shapes are in our expertise as well.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Where is your gym floor cover manufactured?

2006-05-05T13:43:00.000-04:00

Why do you want your gym floor cover to be manufactured in America:

A lot of companies import inferior vinyl from Asia. It's cheap to produce but it doesn't last. You would have to keep replacing your covers quite often.

Covermaster’s focus is on quality. Our business model focuses on supplying the highest level of quality in all of our product ranges, which is not possible by those who only dabble in gym floor cover manufacturing. Make sure you always ask your supplier where were their gym floor covers manufactured.

We make all of our covers in our state of the art factories in strategic locations throughout America to ensure the quickest delivery possible of the industry’s highest quality products. It's made by Americans for Americans.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Free Delivery Myth

2006-05-04T14:03:00.000-04:00

Why do some companies offer free delivery? How can they do this and not lose money?

To be honest, there's no such thing as free delivery. This fee is either included in the price or later appears as an additional charge.

While there are claims out there of freight being prepaid on orders over a certain value, many gym facilities are surprised to find freight invoices mailed to them as the term 'prepaid' simply meant that the seller paid the common carrier directly, but then charged those costs back to the buyer, in addition to the product invoice.

At Covermaster, we do not play those kind of games. Your facility is unique and your solution should be as well. We work with you to recommend the solution that best fits your requirements. We provide pricing based on your needs and we always include delivery to your door. The price that we quote is the price we invoice. We make it easy for you and there are never any surprises at invoicing time. Great, isn't it?

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Gym Floor Covers for Military and Government Institutions

2006-05-03T23:03:00.000-04:00

GSA Contract Number:
GS-07F-9030G
Item No. 192-09

Military forces have the toughest job to defend and serve our country and deserve the up-most respect. They also deserve to have the best recreation events and most enriching use of their down time, which contributes to the retention, readiness, mental, physical, and emotional well-being of our Military.

The MWR — Morale, Welfare and Recreation — Divisions already administer a varied program of recreation, social and community support activities on U.S. facilities worldwide, providing active-duty, reserve and retired military personnel and their families with sports and physical fitness activities, child development and youth programs, arts and crafts, performing arts and a variety of food and beverage services. Can they do more? What would enable MWR to offer a larger variety of events and better utilization of existing military facilities?

No other space can accommodate multiple activities as well as the gymnasium. Many military bases, countrywide and worldwide, organize concerts or small theater productions using their gymnasium space. For most gym custodians the thought of having hundreds of soldiers’ boots on the shiny hardwood gym floor leaving rubber and scratch marks is devastating. That is why Military gyms use Covermaster gym floor covers to prevent damage to their facilities while extending the flexibility of social events. Covermaster helped not only internal bases, but also the international NATO school in Belgium and U.S. bases in Germany, Japan, Korea, and currently supports our troops in the Middle East.

Different divisions, like the Marines, Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard, can easily convert their gym floors to accommodate concerts, holiday celebrations, establish a place of worship or even accommodate a large number of people by converting their gym to the sleeping area. Military specialists are trained to defend and protect, therefore, protecting their floors and tax payers’ money invested in their facilities comes naturally.

Flooring materials have the greatest impact on user satisfaction. You usually select high performance wood floors that utilize neoprene shock pads for impact absorption to reduce injuries while maintaining near perfect ball return characteristics. Maple floors are the industry standard, but a wide variety of appearance grades are possible. Covermaster gym floor covers are specifically designed to help Military bases take care of their gyms effortlessly and use their facilities to the maximum.

The good ideas of MWR professionals at Military installations around the world are the driving force behind the successful MWR programs and services. Great MWR decisions keep MWR important and relevant to soldiers and their families. MWR purchasing division can easily contact Covermaster and use the existing General Services Administration (GSA) contract to request a proposal. We will help you with the supporting documentation to demonstrate the need for the product.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Gym Floor Cover Color Selection

2006-05-02T22:56:00.000-04:00

HOW TO DETERMINE GYM FLOOR COVER COLORS YOU NEED

With today’s modern cover manufacturing equipment, Covermaster can supply you with a cover in exactly the color you want. And depending on the type of cover you select, you can even have a cover with one color on one side and a second color on the other side. The most popular combination is royal blue and neutrino (sandy gray).

It’s easy to select a color once you consider the kind of effect you want to achieve. Some schools want to match one of the wood tones of their hardwood floor, such as light beige. Others prefer to stay with school colors.

The good news is, with a Covermaster gym floor cover, the color choice is yours. Today, the majority of schools select a cover that allows them to have a combination of a dark color on one side and a light color on the other. The reason is that a dark background tends to hide the type of stains that you can expect from spills and shoes during dances and concerts. Dark colors are more suitable for the events held in the evening. On the other hand, the light colored side is best if you want the room to have a nice clean appearance for graduations and similar events. Light covers look great during the morning and afternoon events.

Additionally, we finish each Ultima series cover with a unique anti-slip decorative pattern. Not only does this create a safer surface to walk on for all patrons, but it also enhances the appearance of any room. While competitive models are simply standard tarps that look as such, the Ultima series covers will create an elegant setting for any event.

High performance materials, color, and lighting are key elements that make gymnasiums attractive spaces. Color and lighting impact overall design. Light colors can be easily combined with accent colors. Light colors are also reflective, making a large-volume space easier to illuminate. Darker colors hide marks and imperfections, but absorb light requiring greater levels of artificial illumination. Dark colors also visually pull the walls together, thus, creating more intimate atmosphere, which is great for the events with small number of attendees.

Depending on the series and model of cover you choose, Covermaster offers over 25 standard colors and unlimited number of custom matched. The most popular selections over the years are the following: royal blue, neutrino, tan, brown, navy blue, light gray, dark gray, hunter green, Kelly green, burgundy, red, orange and yellow. Classic color combinations are royal blue/neutrino and royal blue/desert sand. Most modern combinations are gray/orange, gray/blue, dark gray/red.

Call our specialist toll-free at 1 (800) 693-1677 to determine what colors will be best for your gym.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

The safest Gym Floor Cover Racks

2006-05-01T17:46:00.000-04:00

Gym Floor Cover Rack's safety is an important issue when it comes to your gym personnel's safety. When you buy a storage rack for gym floor covers, make sure you have these points covered:

Safety outriggers. Extendable safety outriggers prevent your rack from tipping over when you pull the covers or move the rack.

Roller Brackets with good quality roller bearings and safety bolts. A safety bolt prevents roller 'pop-ups' when you are removing covers.

Polycarbonate hand cranks. Don't settle for heavy metal cranks because if dropped accidentally, it will injure your feet and damage your hardwood floors.

Safety Roller collars. Safety collars prevent sideways movement of the roller and also guard against the possibility that fingers get caught in between the roller and the bracket.

Avoid injuries by getting the right equipment, safe to use in your gym. Covermaster products meet all American safety standards. CoverMate Rack is the only storage system in the industry designed by certified professional engineers.

Be careful, there are several look-alike systems out there but none have been designed according to the acceptable safety standards. Make sure that storage system you are getting has at least those 4 features mentioned above.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Floor Damage Prevention

2006-04-28T14:26:00.000-04:00

Here are a few simple rules you can follow to prevent floor damage in your gym:

Only approved indoor, non-marking running shoes should be worn in the gymnasium by participants or spectators. Sand and grit from the outdoors, over time, is the greatest cause of damage to the gym floor.

Do not drop heavy objects because your gym floor is vulnerable to dents and hard impact damage, even when the floor cover is in place. Use a piece of plywood or padding mats under pianos and heavy sound equipment.

Prevent food and beverages consumption in your gym if protective floor covers are not in place.

Do not use adhesive substances such as tape, duct tape, glue, gum, etc. directly on the gym floor. Use only approved Covermaster tape for gym floor covers. Its adhesive is specifically designed not to react with polymers in floor covers and your floor. DO NOT ALLOW THE USE OF SILLY STRING (PARTY STREAMER, PARTY CRAZY STRING)!

Use Covermaster gym floor covers to protect your gym floors during all non-athletic activities.

Use only CoverMate II floor cover handling systems since it is the only rack that has 6 offset casters that will never end up on the same wood slat.

If not using a gym floor cover, do not use chairs, dividers, tables, or other equipment not approved by your athletics director.

Allow only designated personnel to move your gym equipment. Use only approved dolly, typically, with large rubber (not hard plastic) tires.

Do not run athletic events while the floor cover is in place.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

Why do I need a gym floor cover?

2006-04-27T12:20:00.000-04:00

The three main reasons why athletic facilities should use gym floor covers are as follows:

* To protect the floor when the gym is used for any function other than athletics;
* To reduce maintenance and refinishing costs; and
* To create a multi-use facility that can also generate rental income.

A hardwood or synthetic floor that’s protected by a Covermaster gym floor cover will help prevent the floor from being damaged by street shoes, chairs and table legs or stained by spills. Obviously, this minimizes floor maintenance costs including floor refinishing and resurfacing.

Another good reason for a cover is the occasion when an outdoor event, such as a graduation ceremony, is forced indoors due to inclement weather. A cover lets you quickly convert the gym for this purpose while you protect the floor from the damage you can expect from chairs and street shoes.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team

What kind of events can I use my athletic facility for?

2006-04-26T14:14:00.000-04:00

There are numerous opportunities for special events. Already, many schools use their gyms for graduations, polling stations and special meetings. However, most gyms can also be used for dances, banquets, concerts, local business shows, fund raising bazaars, etc.

And by using the gym for events other than athletics, the facility can generate income that can be put to use to meet regular expenses or to finance special equipment. You need to use gym floor cover to protect your gym floor during these events. Request information about possible uses of your specific facility by calling Covermaster hotline 1 (800) 693-1677.

Protect your gym floor investment!

= Covermaster.net Team