Use Cases

Dec 02 2024

Extending the Life of Wood Flooring

Walking the Environmental Talk

Calling yourself an “Ecologically responsible flooring company” and actually living out that claim, are two, totally different things. To be an ecologically responsible flooring company, you need to provide innovative products that protect the environment.

What is Long Life ™ Flooring?

Horner Sports Flooring’s Long Life™ or L2 flooring option is just one product that proves our commitment to the environment. Long Life flooring provides the wear depth of 1 inch thick flooring (33/32”) in a ¾” (25/32”) flooring. So it not only provides an extended life floor, it does so using 25% less wood. This is accomplished by moving the tongue and groove lower in the profile and reducing them in size slightly. This can be done because modern milling techniques allow for more precise cutting and shaping. With more and more lumber mills providing less rough cut lumber over 1 inch, the availability and cost of raw material for 33/23” flooring is increasingly scarce and expensive. But with L2 you don’t’ need to spend up to get all the benefits of 33/32” flooring. The graphic below show how this is possible:

What are the Benefits of Long Life ™ Flooring?

With Long Life ™, you get an additional 3-4 sandings over the life of your floor. Under normal maintenance schedules, this can be 15-20 years, or more, of additional life. These benefits are available on nearly every Horner system that uses 25/32” flooring. That list includes nearly all systems. So if you are looking at replacing an old floor or are flooring a new facility, ask your architect to specify L2 – Long Life ™ wood flooring from Horner Sports Flooring and reap the benefits long into the future. In addition, you will be doing your part to use our natural resources responsibly.

Frequently asked Questions:

Q: Does using a smaller tongue and groove compromise the strength of the floor?
A: No. If Long Life™ flooring is properly installed and the environment maintained, it will perform like a 25/32″ floor with the life of a 33/32” floor.

Q: Are there special nailing requirements or special tools needed to install this flooring?
A: No. Standard methods and materials may be used.

Q: Are there any additional environmental credits available if I install this flooring?
A: None at this time. However, we strongly recommend submitting for a LEED Innovation & Design Process Credit, as this floor embodies the credit’s stated goal to recognize new technologies for their innovative building features and sustainable building techniques, not currently addressed by existing LEED Credits

Q: Can I mix Long Life flooring with standard 25/32” flooring?
A: Long Life ™ flooring cannot be mixed with standard tongue and groove flooring. That means it is not suited for repairs or patching standard wood floors.

If you have any questions about Horner Sports Flooring’s Long Life (TM) flooring option, contact us today.

Oct 04 2024

NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024

Horner Sports Flooring at the Abu Dhabi Games 2024

As in previous seasons, the NBA will hold two preseason games in Abu Dhabi. The games this year will be October 4th and 6th, and will feature the champion Boston Celtics and the 2023 champion, Denver Nuggets. Both games will be played at Etihad Arena on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island

Again this year, the floor chosen by the NBA is Horner Sports Flooring’s ProKing® portable basketball floor. Year after year the ProKing’s proven track record with NBA special events and its proven ruggedness, needed for inter-continental shipping, has made it the go-to floor for the NBA and multi-use arenas and venues worldwide.

The games can be watched on NBA League Pass

Additional information can be found on the NBA’s website at: https://www.nba.com/news/faq-the-nba-abu-dhabi-games-2024

Sep 26 2024

A Flooring Showdown in the WNBA Playoffs

The Minnesota Lynx vs. Connecticut Sun

September 29, 2024

As the WNBA playoffs heat up, basketball fans are buzzing with excitement for the upcoming clash between the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Sun on September 29th at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. This matchup isn’t just significant for the teams and their dedicated fans—it also highlights a unique connection between them and their basketball floors. Both teams have built their seasons on floors expertly crafted by Horner Sports Flooring.

A Unique Connection: Horner Flooring and the WNBA

While the teams take center stage, it’s essential to recognize the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship that sets the stage for their performances. Both the Lynx and Sun play on a ProKing® portable basketball floor made by Horner Sports Flooring, a company based in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, renowned for its high-quality sports flooring solutions. This partnership ensures that both teams have the best possible playing surface, contributing to optimal performance, player safety and fan satisfaction.

Horner Sports Flooring’s commitment to excellence is reflected in the unique artwork tailored for each team. The vibrant colors and team logos not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the courts but also create an atmosphere that energizes players and fans alike. Whether it’s the Lynx’s distinctive blue and green or the Sun’s bold orange and yellow, the floors are a canvas showcasing team spirit and pride. A floor’s artwork is also the team’s most powerful branding tool, boldly displaying the team’s logo.

The Impact of Quality Flooring

High-quality flooring is crucial in professional sports, particularly in basketball, where agility and precision are key. Horner Flooring utilizes advanced technology and materials to create surfaces that provide optimal traction and cushioning. This means players can perform at their best, making sharp cuts, explosive jumps, and quick pivots knowing the risk of injury has been minimized.

As the Lynx and Sun prepare to battle it out, their players can trust that the court beneath them will support their athletic prowess. The synergy between the players and their flooring plays a significant role in the outcome of the game. Each dribble, pass, and shot will be executed on a surface that’s designed to meet the high demands of professional competition and to meet all the specifications mandated by basketball’s governing bodies.

What to Expect on Game Day

Fans can anticipate a thrilling game filled with intense action, strategic plays, and perhaps a few highlight-reel moments. Both teams will bring their A-game, fueled not only by their competitive spirit but also by the pride of representing their respective brands on a Horner designed floor.

As the countdown to September 29th begins, the anticipation builds—not just for the game itself but for the unique story lines that intertwine the teams, their fans and the basketball courts. The Lynx and Sun will face off in an epic battle of skill and determination, all while competing on a quality floor that plays a vital role in their performance.

Aug 09 2024

Gym Flooring

Gymnasiums

Historically gym flooring has been wood. Not just any wood, but hard maple or sugar maple, species: Acer saccharum. This wood has a Janka hardness of almost 1400 making one of the hardest, most dent resistant woods available.

Communities across the country see the high school gymnasium as the place where most sporting events happen. It is also a place to vote, or gather for graduation. In short it is the community’s social hub, so its important to choose the right flooring for this space.

Why Wood Gym Flooring?

Wood flooring systems for gymnasiums provide designers with an almost unlimited number of options to customize the floor and meet the exact needs of the customer. Wood floors today always include an under structure. Because of this, dozens of performance metrics can be tuned for the specific use and specific users. For instance: The floor’s resiliency can be adjusted for 180 pound collegiate athletes or 65 pound grade schoolers. Doing this provides a floor that is both safer and more enjoyable to play on. In addition, the floor can be made to handle roll-out bleachers on the perimeter, and still be optimized in the play area.

This under structure inherent with wood floors also means that wood floors can include options like volleyball post anchors, power plugs and other enhancements.

Talk to your planner about wood floors for your gym. Then have them contact us for information on how Horner Sports Flooring can make sure that your new gym flooring meets all your requirements and expectations.

Synthetic Gym Flooring

Polyurethane and Rubber Gym Flooring

a woman playing badminton on red polyurethane gym flooring. — Cushion Court, a Padded Polyurethane Floor System

There a number of synthetic floor systems used in gymnasiums, but the most common one is poured polyurethane. These systems are a more budget friendly system and in some cases provide a superior surface. For instance, polyurethane floors are great for Pickleball, as shown above. Another great use for polyurethane systems is badminton and tennis courts.

A popular design, known as a hybrid, uses both wood and rubber or polyurethane in the same space to derive the benefits of both. Here is a space that uses Horner’s Olymp-X flooting for the tack and maple for the basketball courts.

Contact Horner Sports Flooring to get your gym flooring project on track.

Jul 30 2024

Who made the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase Floors?

USA Basketball Showcase Draws Large Crowds

The USA Basketball Showcase Tournament drew huge crowds ahead of the Paris Olympics in late July.

USA Basketball is the governing body for basketball in the US, much like FIBA is in Europe. The Showcase offered National Teams, from different countries, an opportunity to play each other ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

The O2 and Etihad venues and ProKing® Basketball Floors

The games took place at The O2 in London and The Etihad in Abu Dhabi. Both locations competed on a Horner Sports Flooring, world class, ProKing® floor.

ProKings Shipped Internationally

Horner Sports Flooring’s ProKing portable basketball courts are easily trucked domestically and fit neatly into shipping containers for international shipping. ProKing floors are used and shipped around the world for professional teams, collegiate teams and special events. Its rugged design and time tested, proven ability to get the job done has made ProKing the go-to portable floor for events, contests and competition, domestically and internationally.