How to Use Interlocking Exercise Mats
An inexpensive and more comfortable alternative for home exercise buffs, the interlocking floor mat is a great way turn a room into a home gym. It provides comfort for floor exercises like yoga and Pilates. The mats are also tough enough to support exercise equipment like weight benches and treadmills. They come in several colors and patterns. There's definitely something out there to match your tastes. Interlocking exercise mats are also easy to install if you follow the instructions carefully. They also have many uses.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Chalk line
- Heavy-duty utility knife
- Grease pen
- Broom
- Cleaning supplies
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Installing Interlocking Floor Mats
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1
Measure the room for the interlocking exercise mats. Measure both length and width. Write these numbers down. You will need them in the next step.
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2
Purchase the mats. Find ones that fit your design tastes and exercise needs. Use your measurements to decide how many of the interlocking floor mats to buy. Speak with sales professional to get an accurate count.
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3
Clean your floor. The interlocking floor mats need a clean, smooth and dry surface for installation. This may mean scrubbing away things like wax, dirt and oil. Make sure that the floor is thoroughly dry before proceeding.
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4
Prepare the floor by dividing the length and width measurements in half. The resulting number is your midpoint. Measure the floor on all four side of the room's floor, marking the midpoint on each side. Make a chalk line between the two width midpoints and length midpoints. The lines should cross creating a center point. The floor is also now divided into quarters.
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5
Begin in the top right quadrant, lying the first interlocking floor mat. It will fit snugly into the corner created by the intersecting length and width chalk lines. Interlock a second mat to the right of the first. Continue until you reach the wall. Cut the last mat to fit.
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6
Start the next lines of mats above the first mat. Do this in the same manner as the first. Repeat until the quadrant is filled. Cut the last row of mats as needed to fit the floor. Some interlocking floor mats must be laid in the same direction.
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7
Go to the next quadrant . Repeat Steps 5 and 6. Always start at the corner where the width and length chalk lines meet, moving horizontally toward the wall with each installed mat.
Using the Mats
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1
Perform yoga, gymnastics or any exercise that requires a cushioned surface on these mats. Just gather the class and begin. The interlocking exercise mats make a very thick, non-slip surface that is great for preventing injury while providing comfort during exercise.
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2
Replace the floor of a daycare or preschool with interlocking exercise mats. Move the your furniture in just as you would a normal floor. The interlocking exercise mats will allow the children to play without the normal injuries obtained through contact with a hard floor. It also allows teachers the opportunity to get down into the floor and become more hands on with the children on the comfortable floor.
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3
Clean the mats by vacuuming, mopping and sweeping. Use all methods used with a normal floor. These surfaces will get dirty and require frequent cleaning. Just take care to use only a lightly damp mop when cleaning because pooling water may potentially seep through the cracks where the mats interlock. Clean up liquid spills quickly for the same reason.
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4
Use interlocking exercise mats as a way to protect floors from temporary and potentially damaging use. Heavy equipment like exercise machines, chairs and tables can damage a floor. Interlocking exercise mats are easy to place and remove.
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