Fencing Strips/Surfaces

[Greg]

I am interesting in seeing what surfaces people fence on especially given the high cost of metal strips for clubs that are not lucky enough to have a wood gym floor. Are there any good, cost effective alternatives to put on a concrete floor? I have priced rubber strips from commerical sellers and they are very expensive and heavy - about $375 for a 14 meter x 2 meter strip which weighs nearly 240 pounds.

[CvilleFencer]

Sport Court type flooring is a pretty popular option. They are plastic/rubber squares that lock into place. They are still a little pricey though. I have yet to find a really good flooring alternative for concrete floors that does not cost a small fortune...

[Asprin]

Carpet, like the type schools and businesses use, seems to work well and is probably quite cheap.

[fencerbill]

I am interesting in seeing what surfaces people fence on especially given the high cost of metal strips for clubs that are not lucky enough to have a wood gym floor. Are there any good, cost effective alternatives to put on a concrete floor? I have priced rubber strips from commerical sellers and they are very expensive and heavy - about $375 for a 14 meter x 2 meter strip which weighs nearly 240 pounds.

Don't forget to turn these candidates over and look at the other side. Carpet with rubber backing upside down is rubber carpet. If you are willing to look at the bottom you can then consider second hand materials. Try to get contacts with commercial carpet installers who just usually throw the old stuff in the dumpster.

[peet]

I'm not sure I'd want to fence on rubber. I'd be afraid of turning an ankle if the grip on the floor is too much. I guess that'd be because I once turned my ankle fencing on a floor that had more grip than I was used to, and it hurt for about a year.

That's one of the hard things about getting a floor good for fencing: the springy-ness factor is the first thing people think about, but having just the right amout of grip (not too much, not too little), is also important.

-p

[Asprin]

Some wooden floors have grippy patches which can be bad when you are lunging.

[jjefferies]

The answer depends on your circumstances. Is this a permanent facility or is it something else? If permanent and as you say the building has a concrete floor then then construction of a wooden floor/platform is the most common solution. I'm currently putting in one. Any number of issues come up, the levelness of the base concrete floor, amount of moisture, building layout, local costs, amount of give(bounce). In SF Bay area using volunteer (dragooned/Shanghai'd ) labor I'm looking at $.625-$1.00 per square foot using 3/4" tongue and groove OSB laid on 2"x4" or 2"x6" with 16" centers. That is an absolute low ball price. From there you can go up as far as you like or your wallet can stand.

Surface wise, it will be left semi-rough painted surface. Grippy enough for most people with the spring of a wooden floor.