You know…  Living in California, we rarely and randomly get rain. On more than a few occasions it’s started raining after a night out dancing and I’ve made a joke that it was my fault. Since I’m Native American I would say I must have accidentally done a rain dance.

I used to think I was joking, but now I feel there might be some truth behind it. It has to be a combination of dropping to the ground and moving your arms in a specific motion. I came to this conclusion last night after I spent 2 hours cleaning my floors. I shampooed the carpets, waxed the wood floors and cleaned the grout in my kitchen. I saved the task of cleaning the laundry room floors (where the dogs enter from outside and spend most their time) because they’re the worst and takes the longest.

Literally, less than an hour after I finished it started raining. Within that hour my laundry room floors looked disgusting. My dogs have this habit of lying in the dirt planter where the dryer exhaust is to keep warm. The problem is that it’s in a planter and usually muddy.  I’m not going to restrict my dogs from coming inside and I can’t seem to keep them from lying in the dirt, I need a solution.

I was thinking of getting some type of outdoor mats and I knew it had to have holes so I first thought of a drainage mat, but then I thought it wouldn’t be that comfortable for my dogs.  So, I thought about anti fatigue mats, but they would absorb too much water.  Then, I got it!  Our recycled rubber flooring Tuff-n-Easy tiles. The size of the rubber interlocking tiles will almost be a perfect fit and they come in a variety of colored fleck so it won’t look so blah. The only thing I would have to do is drill some holes for drainage.   My dogs could lay where they want, and I wouldn’t have to worry about them tracking in mud. Plus! The black surface will absorb heat and give them added comfort! If anybody has done this or maybe has a better idea, give me a call!

Dogs need their exercise too!  Recycled rubber flooring rolls are commonly found on the floors throughout health clubs / gyms, but it is also often used to create durable and easy to clean doggy daycare flooring that is safe for your pets.  This dog safe flooring was exactly what a new doggy daycare facility in Ohio purchased from MatsMatsMats.com.  It was easy to install and they were so happy with the end result.  In fact, they were so pleased that MatsMatsMats.com was asked to be a guest on a local morning radio show discussing the grand opening. 

So, on May 7, 2011 Alex Miller, A MatsMatsMats.com sales representative, was interviewed during the Saturday morning “A Firm Foundation Show with Rick and Jackie” heard on AM1470. Among other things, he discussed the rubber flooring supplied to Pocos Playhouse (an of-leash daycare environment for dogs in Ohio). The broadcast was done live from Pocos and Alex Miller called into the show and spoke to the hosts for about 25 minutes.

To hear the actual interview podcast go to:

http://www.1065theticket.com/includes/news_items/6/1051/firm_foundation_podcast_05072011_segment6.mp3 

http://www.1065theticket.com/includes/news_items/6/1051/firm_foundation_podcast_05072011_segment7.mp3

I’ve been considering all the many uses for traditional, trade show flooring, and other durable, rubber flooring, and the other day, while writing about sports logo rugs and how good looking those professional logo rugs are for NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, and other such sports logo rugs would look in a home or sports bar, and I thought, “Why not install a highly durable gym flooring in a sports bar, for effect, even if not just in front of the serving or bar area, to keep that “gym feel” beneath the feet of patrons?”

Am I crazy for such an idea?  I don’t think so.  Interlocking gym flooring tiles are extremely durable, easy on the feet, legs, back and joints, provide anti-fatigue qualities, help prevent slippage, and are impervious to liquids; especially the corrosive qualities sweat can have over a period of time.  I think it’s a pretty cool idea.   If you own your own sports bar, what do you think of the idea?

While browsing for exercise mats, take some time to check out fitness equipment mats as well. Highly durable, foam, fitness equipment mats serve a variety of purposes, such as the one pictured here, which is an exercise equipment mat made for bikes or stepper machines. If you’re not equipping a gym or other exercise facility, and just need something for home, such as a treadmill mat, don’t hesitate to make an order for whatever it is you’re looking for.

High quality, durable, recycled rubber flooring is also an excellent solution to providing the right amount of padding and protection for the feet and joints of those working out, as well as providing sound insulation that stops vibrations from activity and music from carrying too far outside your allotted space. The foam flooring also can protect your under flooring from iron weights set down or dropped from too high up.

Recycled rubber flooring makes up much of what is used today in the trade show flooring industry.  Whether you are looking for a carpet top look, a camouflage print, basic color variations, or even a faux wood appearance, you can pretty much bet the selections you will be mulling over are made of 100%, lead-free, foam recycled rubber. Isn’t it fantastic how far recycling has come in our day and age?

Suppose you have a corporate event expo you will be putting together and find you will be setting up on concrete floors, and yet you have fine glass display cases that you just don’t want on those concrete floors; or suppose you have goods that, if dropped on concrete, will break [like most breakable items do when dropped on concrete, right?].

The ideal solution for you is surely interlocking, foam tiles. SoftWoodTM makes fabulous faux wood, trade show booth flooring made of lead and latex-free EVA foam that will not absorb water, provides great sound/vibration insulation, anti-fatigue benefits, and will protect against accidental breaks.