How To Keep Puzzle Mats Together
Puzzle mats are interlocking floor mat tiles. They literally look like puzzle pieces. Puzzle mats are usually used in fitness centers or kids play areas. Let us learn more about them as well as how to keep puzzle mats together.
Installing Foam Puzzle Mats
One thing you should take note is that foam flooring expands. Therefore, if you do a wall to wall installation of your puzzle mats, you will need to leave space for its expansion. Here are the steps on how to set up puzzles mats.
- Begin in one corner of the room. Put your rubber mats, but make sure not to stick the edge of the mat to the wall. You should measure a 1/4-inch gap between the mat and the wall. The gap will give room for the mat's expansion. In case you live in high temperature or humid areas, you will need a little bit more than just a 1/4-inch gap.
- Start putting the other pieces of the puzzle mats by connecting them with each other until you reach the other side of the wall. Secure the interlocks to make sure that they won't break or separate.
- In case that the tiles at the other end of the room will not fit, cut the mats using a sharp knife. When you do the cutting, you will have to measure the width of the mat that you should cut. You have to include in the measurement the gap between the mat and the wall for expansion.
Remember that the steps above are only applicable for a wall-to-wall installation. In case that you set up your puzzle mats in an open area or what they call an island installation, there is no need to measure the gap for expansion. The mats will have plenty of space to expand since it is on an open floor.
Keeping It All Together
Good quality, as well as heavy-duty puzzle mats, will not give you a problem as their interlocks are strong and stable. But with puzzle mats that are lighter and not too thick, you might encounter a problem with them not sticking together, especially with irregular and uneven floor. The interlocks may loosen, causing the puzzle mat to break apart.
Some ideas on how to keep puzzle mats together are using double-sided tape on the subflooring. Duct tapes, as well as connector strips, will work too in keeping the puzzle mat pieces together. Velcro-style hook and loop connector strip can also be used in the mat's seams, especially with puzzle mats that have carpet top. You may also look for a good adhesive glue that will not melt your foam so you can glue it in the subflooring.
Conclusion
Puzzle mats are great choices. They are easy to install and easy to uninstall as well. Simply pull them up if you want to replace them or if you need to fix your flooring.