One big question though is whether rubber is a natural material or man-made? It can be either. Virgin rubber is made from the sap of Rubber hevea brasiliensis trees, initially grown in Central America, but now farmed in rain forests around the world. Synthetic rubber is made of polymers derived from the petrochemical industry. And there are blends of natural and synthetic rubber, maximizing the strengths of compound.

The first rubber floors tiles were used as early as the twelfth and thirteenth century, but the popularity began to decline in the seventeenth century when red clay tiles came into vogue. However, as the industrial revolution occurred and a need for more resilient flooring increased, rubber flooring returned to the mainstream with a patent by Frank Fumess in 1894. As improvements happened, the flooring became easier to clean and more durable, though it tended to stain over time and couldn't be used in high humidity rooms.

But today's modern floors have corrected many of those "ancient" issues. Rubber floor matting advantages include:
∗ Environmentally friendly
∗ Shock and sound resistant
∗ Resists most staining and wear

While disadvantages include:
∗ Absorbs grease and animal fat
∗ High maintenance
∗ Flammable

The good part about rubber floors is that they can be used throughout a room, a large area, or in a small space. Some retail establishments use small rubber floor mats to cushion workers who have to stand for long periods of time, people like cashiers, food service workers, and factory workers. And for the everyday home, they can be a great addition in a kitchen (so long as you're not prone to animal fat spills because animal fat can eat away rubber).

Rubber floors reduce noise, perfect in a noisy household. And if you have children, the floor is quite capable of resisting anything they can throw at it. Most spills mop right up and stains can fairly easily be brushed away with a wire brush. Regular cleaning and mopping keeps the original color and texture of your rubber flooring.

Installing rubber floors is something that an average homeowner can complete without too much expertise. If there's a playroom or a workout area that you want to make safer with rubber floor tiles, you don't have to call a team to do it for you.

A rubber floor provides a non-slip surface for athletic flooring as well. Rubber gym floors work especially well because it cushions falls, reducing major injuries. A coin textured rubber flooring system only further reduces slipping, and adds an interesting look to a room.

Society is also becoming mo...