A Clean Wood Sports Floor is a Safe Floor

Perhaps the most important characteristic of a sports floor is traction, also known as coefficient of friction. In professional sports, this one quality of a floor can mean the difference between a multi-million dollar per year athlete playing or sitting out a season. So its critically important to get your cleaning program dialed in.

Floor Finish and Shoes

There a four main elements that determine the coefficient of friction between the floor and the athlete.

The floor finish
Dirt or dust on the floor
The sole of the shoe
Dirt or dust on the shoe’s sole

Floor finishes have undergone extensive testing at the professional level and there are only a handfull of approved finishes. These include both water based and oil modified polyurethane products. These approved products will occasionally change, so check with your flooring professional for current approved finishes.

Dirt, dust and sweat are a constant problem for sports floors and represent a real threat to an athlete’s safety. Loss of traction can lead to injuries and lost playing time. Keeping the floor clean and dry is an important job that is taken seriously by the league and players alike.

Known as “The Chirp”, it is the squeak that happens between a player’s shoe and the floor. The chirp is an audible indication that all is well when it comes to traction.

"The Chirp"

In this short clip from NBA Summer League, you can clearly hear the chirp coming from the player’s shoes and the Horner Sports Flooring’s ProKing® portable basketball floor. This indicates the floor is clean and dry, and the player’s shoe soles are also clean and dry.

To protect the finish and get a chirp clean floor there are a few rules, hints and tricks:

Never wax a floor. Never.
Never use harsh chemicals.
Never use abrasive cleaners or pads for routine cleanings.
Never wet mop a wood floor.
Dry mop using a clean, dry terry cloth towel or micro-fiber cloth.
If cleaning heavy dust or dirt, use a damp towel that leaves no water behind.
Dry mop the entire floor just before competition.
Always clean a portable floor after assembly and just before competition. (it is a good idea to give it a quick dusting before storing as well)

Daily

Daily dust moping is also highly recommended, as doing so won’t allow dust to settle onto the floor.

Yearly

On a yearly basis, the floor should be professionally screened and re-coated if necessary.

Long Term

Approximately every 7 to 10 years (depending on the usage of the floor) the floor should be sanded, sealed, painted, and finished by a trained professional. This will help to further protect your investment in the floor and prolong the life of your floor.

There is no substitute for a clean wood sports floor. Following these few instructions will help ensure your floor is safe for play and protected from unnecessary ware and tear.