There’s this general belief that you can go about roller skating on any floor, as far as you have the right skate and the right wheels beneath it. This is true in all ramifications and can’t be faulted. However, not all floors have the tendency or the ability to withstand the pressure of roller skating in the long run. Some floors endure more than others.
Before you can think of building a skate floor, you need to make sure that you are conversant with the type of floor that you want. As you know, your level of expertise and experience, skating – wise will determine the type of floor that you will build. So which one is it going to be?
Does roller skating damage wooden floors? Roller skaters skate on ceramic floors, wooden floors, and other types of floors like versacourt, but are left to wonder if skating frequently on a wooden floor will damage the woods. Let’s find out more as regards this in this article.
Types of Floors That You Can Roller Skate On
Before we focus on wood floors, we should take a look at other types of skate floors. There are different types of roller skate floors out there of which are differentiated by their hardness, flooring, and price. Types of floors include wooden floors, concrete floors, and versacourt. Although, wood and concrete are the two major types.
Wooden Floors
Wooden floors or wood floors, or maple wood floors are the most expensive types, but are usually preferred by skaters due to its smooth surface and better grip that it provides. Beginners or people who are just starting out in the world of skating are better off with wooden floors because they are less likely to fall – meaning that a wooden floor will less likely throw people off during skating.
A wooden floor is soft too and somewhat sticky. Like we said, it’s best for skaters who are looking for grip, rather than powerful spinning or those high-performance tricks. The issue with wooden floors is that they tend to be very expensive as it would cost tens to several hundred of thousands of dollars to set up.
Also, they are inexpensive to maintain, but they can easily get cracked up or damaged. They can last for a very long time, but they need to be given utmost attention. Hence, moisture will penetrate and ruin the entire surface completely.
Concrete Floors
A concrete floor is another common type of surface where you can roller skate. Compared to wooden floors, they are harder and more slippery, making it an ideal surface for professional skaters who desire power spins and love trying out new skating skills and techniques.
When it comes to roller skating, concrete floors can easily throw people off because of how slippery the surface is. The cost of setting up a concrete floor is not as expensive as that of a wooden floor and they are easier to manage than wooden floors.
A concrete floor will last for about twenty-five years, and in that span, you might have raised enough cash to replace or repair the rink. The upkeep on concrete roller rinks is also less expensive compared to wooden floors.
Versacourt
Unlike wood and concrete, this type of skate floor is the least used. That’s because it doesn’t work well for roller skating rinks. They are not suitable for speed lovers, it’s noisy while skating on it, and even rough.
For beginners, we recommend that you avoid skating on this type of skating floor. The grip is poor and the floor can easily burn your skin if you should fall off your roller skate.
However, versacourt might be an alternative to those who are thinking of starting a roller derby rink.
Should Your Child Roller Skate on Wooden Floors?
Most children between the ages of 2 – 4 are able to start skating, while some wait till they become older before they can start skating. It depends on the physical development of the child, including the fitness level, nutrition, and of course, the interest level.
Since it’s your child that’s the topic of discussion here, it’s safe to say that we should classify them as beginners, and as such, they should consider skating only on wood floors. This type of floor is beneficial to their balance and facilitate their learning process. Allowing them to skate on other types of skating floors other than wood floors will be detrimental to their early development and overall learning process.
So does roller skating damage wood floors? The answer is no. You can go about skating on wood floors and be rest assured that your are still safe even after falling off your skate.
What Type of Floor Is Best for Roller Skating?
Skaters have preferences when it comes to the choice of floor to skate on. Some of them prefer to skate on a concrete floor because it’s slick and offers them the chance to perform power spins and do any type of skating trick. Concrete floor provides a kind of momentum for jam skaters to express themselves. Others prefer wooden floors because it offers a better grip and soft, which means that they can land safely if they should fall off their skates.
Also, there are others who prefer one to the other, but choose to stick to the less preferred one because they don’t have any access to the more preferred one. For example, a skater may have skated on a concrete floor all his life because that’s what has been available to the skater. In other words, the skater grew up skating on concrete, but in actual fact, he/she may prefer to skate on a wooden floor, despite the number of years such a person has spent skating on concrete. At the end of it all, it all boils down to opinions and choices, and not necessarily how much you have devoted to skating on one type of floor.
For beginners or starters, it’s best that you stick to wooden floors, except if it’s unavailable. Concrete floors are really hard surfaces to skate on if you are just starting out. This will curtail any chances of the skater falling off or sustaining any accident, but if you know that you can handle skating on concrete floors, then there is no need being too cautious.
How to Clean and Care for Skating Floors
One of the first things to know about flooring is how to take care of and maintain it. Cleaning a skating floor is key to prolonging its lifespan and ensuring that it stays for years to come. Also, it will save you money in the long run.
Cleaning and maintaining the floors will also ensure that you have minimal skating injuries and maximize your skating performance. A good way to start enjoying your skating experience is by learning how to take care of your skating floor.
If you have a wood or wooden floor, this is how you should clean and maintain it.
- Use the right vacuum to keep sand and other dirt away from the rink. You should do this daily, especially if you skate on it everyday.
- Walking across the wood floors with high heeled shoes, cleats, and other shoes with heels should be avoided. All these can damage the wood floor.
- You should use a suitable cleaning agent that has neutral pH and no surfactants for your floor at least once a week. Avoid ammonia cleaning agents by all means.
- Avoid mopping your floor. Moisture destroys wood and can easily get to it through mopping.
- Should your wood floor get destroyed, replace it as soon as you can and halt skating for the time being till it’s completed.
Skating on a concrete floor? Maintaining it is nearly the same as that wood floors, but easier. This is how to clean and maintain a concrete floor.
- Vacuum or sweep the floor daily to remove dirt and sands.
- You can use warm tap water to clean up the floor if necessary.
- Use approved cleaning agents for your concrete floor and avoid using ammonia-based products as they can compromise the surface seals.
How to Install a Roller Skating Wood Rink
To install a roller skating wood rink, you should consider the size. The size of a roller skating wood rink should depend on the size of your building or the space that you intend to allocate to it.
Normally, a wood skating rink for leisure shouldn’t exceed more than 75 feet by 108 feet. Competitive skating rinks could go lengthier and wider than that. Remember, knowing this will determine your budget. The larger the size of the rink, the costly it becomes.
Here is how to install a roller skating wood floor.
- Remove any existing skating wood floor if any.
- Place a plastic sheet and foam cushioning on the same spot.
- Install a sub-floor.
- Install your wood skating rink.
- Cover floor in sand three times. You can decide to use fine or medium sand.
- Remove all sanding dust.
- Apply some floor coatings to the rink, one for sealing and the other for finishing. A typical example of that is Roll-On. Floor coatings can come in epoxy, polyurethane, or acrylic coatings. They give roller skating rinks a glossy surface to enhance rolling and facilitate better grip.
- Your roller skating rink is done.
Remember to apply these coatings once every year as part of good maintenance process.
Conclusion
In essence, roller skating on a wood floor doesn’t damage it and you can allow your children to skate on it as it is very safe for them. They can roller skate with better grip and they can quickly recover from a fall.
