Rubber Flooring Tiles Review: Pros and Cons

June 15, 2015 By alpha

Rubber comes with a variety of inherent advantages that have made it an extremely popular flooring option for commercial, high-traffic environments. And now that rubber flooring is available in a wide selection of colors, patterns, and textures, this material is also finding its way into residential interior and exterior applications. Tile products, which typically come in 12-inch, 24-inch, and 36-inch squares, are especially friendly for DIYers. However, these advantages are balanced by a series of drawbacks that are important to understand before making a final decision about your flooring.

Rubber flooring is a type of resilient flooring, and therein lies its most obvious advantages. Like other resilient materials, namely vinyl and linoleum, rubber flooring provides a durable, easy-to-clean surface that’s suitable for hard-wearing environments, such as gyms, basements, rec rooms, playrooms, laundry rooms, and utility areas.

It’s fair to say that rubber tile flooring represents a niche in the flooring market. This means there are many fewer manufacturers and dealers—and consequently fewer options—than with other major flooring materials. Rubber flooring also has fewer applications in the typical home. As great as it is for activity areas, most rubber flooring doesn’t have the right look and feel for living space (at least for most people).

Also worth noting: Though it eventually goes away, a distinct odor comes with the territory when it comes to rubber flooring, and some homeowners find it unpleasant. The odor is more pronounced with natural rubber products and less so with synthetic forms of rubber.