Any area that will experience abnormally high foot traffic for some kind of special occasion would benefit from the installation of temporary flooring. Perhaps you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or a large wedding. But, even if you aren’t hosting a special event, interlocking-tile flooring can protect your area from the wear and tear of both everyday and heavy-duty use.

What Can Be Used as a Temporary Floor?

You might wonder: What can be used as a temporary floor? The best temporary flooring is flooring which is made of rubber. Rubber interlocking flooring is slip-resistant, water-resistant, and shock-absorbing—an all-around safe surface. The simplicity that comes with choosing rubber floor puzzle mats or snap-in flooring makes your decision that much easier.

We know that it can be difficult to decipher whether your specific situation calls for the installation of an interlocking rubber mat. Some situations are borderline cases, requiring thoughtful scrutiny. Talking to experienced professionals, like those that represent Rubber-Cal, is always a good call. But, if you need examples to help you make your decision, here are 15 temporary flooring ideas for a number of situations.

“Eco-Safety 3-inch” Rubber Playground Tiles

• Also good for patio and gym flooring
• Can be cleaned with a broom or wet mop
• Ideal as temporary flooring, can be moved from one place to another
• Contains EPDM rubber in order to function in harsh environmental situations

Soft Surfaces for Playgrounds: With a gauge of 3-inches each, these outdoor rubber mats are the thickest playground surfacing products currently available. Given the fact that kids play rough and often fall, parents can rest easy knowing that 3 full inches of rubber are there to cushion their children’s many trips and tumbles. Each of these 3-inch tiles have been tested and approved for 7 foot fall heights, making them among the safest rubber matting options currently available on the market. It is because of rubber’s elasticity that playground rubber matting has become popular across the country.

Unique Speckled Colors: These recycled rubber tiles stand out from the competition not only because of their 3-inch thickness, but also due to their color speckled appearance. Consumers have the options of getting their rubber surfaces for playgrounds in two forms: blue and white or yellow, red, and white speckles. This allows a playground flooring to have visual appeal matching the playground equipment.

1. Home gyms: Rubber interlocking tiles protect your home’s subfloors from the impacts and abrasions of heavy gym equipment, and they reduce the amount of noise caused by equipment vibrations. Also if you damage a tile by dropping weights on it, then you replace just that one tile!

2. Rental spaces: Because renters (commercial and residential) can’t install permanent flooring without approval from a landlord, modular-tile flooring can give you all the benefits of a temporary flooring without the commitment of a permanent solution. Interlocking puzzle mats can easily be removed and transported to your next residence.

3. Weddings: Sometimes, weddings are held in areas that don’t usually see heavy foot traffic. Perhaps you’re hosting one in your backyard and want to protect your wooden patio from damage. This is a case in which having a temporary floor, such as interlocking-floors, is valuable.

4. Stadiums and arenas: Stadiums and arenas are large, built with one purpose in mind—lots of people for lots of different events. These events can be anything—from sporting events to theater performances. To protect the floor from heavy equipment and foot traffic, rubber snap-in flooring is a good solution.

5. Tradeshows: At an event like a trade show, everything—from the product, to the booth, to the floor—should give a welcoming impression. But this can be hard to balance against the fact that these events are transient—you’ve got to quickly set up one day, and then pack up and leave the next. This is where the power of temporary flooring, such as rubber interlocking tiles—really shines. What’s more, it can add personality to a space and offer comfort during an eight-hour standing session.

6. Fairs: Fairs are home to many attractions, such as concerts, games, rides, vendors, and exhibits. But, because they only last for several weeks (sometimes less), all equipment used must be portable. Temporary flooring, such as a snap-together tile, is the perfect solution that will give fair-goers a comfortable surface to stand on—all while being highly transportable.

7. Disaster Relief: When disaster strikes, concerns and situations that are out of the ordinary often arise. Temporary flooring can speed up rescue efforts and provide a safe and comfortable environment for disaster victims and rescuers alike. It can also serve as a temporary roadway or a ground cover for shelters and base camps. Interlock rubber flooring is one of the many tools available to disaster relief missions.

8. Garages: Using rubber puzzle mats in a garage can not only transform the area and protect the flooring underneath, but it can create a padded surface that absorbs noise from vibrations. Garage-floor interlocking tiles are an inexpensive DIY revamp, turning cold hard floors into a warm and hospitable space. Garage interlocking-floor-tiles are also highly affordable, making them the perfect choice for DIY enthusiasts.

9. Military: The soldier’s life is one of ephemerality. Things come and go very quickly. Moments become memories faster than normal. You get caught in a whirlwind of experience, and then you’re thrown back down—piecing together the fragments of the life you left behind, a life that’s now unrecognizable. With so much constant, unpredictable change, portability is critical in the military sphere. That’s why temporary flooring is perfect for military applications. Keep soldiers comfortable and equipment protected. Jigsaw puzzle mats are just one of the many possible choices.

10. Construction: Temporary flooring, like snap-lock floors (snap-lock flooring), works well for construction sites because they protect equipment from damage, and they can be easily relocated to the next site.

11. Play areas: A safe play area for children has a floor that is thick enough to cushion the impact from falls and that provides traction to prevent slips. And, because children are known to make messes, the fact that rubber flooring is easy to clean is an added bonus. On the whole, a modular tile makes sense for play areas.

12. Garden show: Not only are gardens often damp and muddy— one step in the wrong place has the potential to crush a plant. When hosting a garden show, it’s a good idea to install temporary flooring to your garden. If it’s made of rubber, your inter-locking flooring will enhance traction and resist water—measures you want at your garden show.

13. Pet areas: Pet owners know the importance of affordable, safe, and durable flooring to protect their space. A floor puzzle-mat made from rubber is a solution that is easy-to-clean, portable, and traction-enhancing, creating a safer environment for pets and humans alike. Plus, pets’ paws can ache from hard surfaces, so a rubber floor tile makes a lot of sense.

14. Swap Meets: Vendors at swap meets need to provide standing comfort and aesthetic appeal to a temporary space, which makes rubber interlocking tiles an ideal option. These tiles are easy to install, clean, and remove, making them the perfect choice.

15. Concerts: Oftentimes, smaller concerts take place in venues that don’t exclusively cater toward music. Thus, temporary flooring is a good solution for an act that’s on the go.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Cover Your Floor?

One of the cheapest ways to cover your floor is the use of a rubber interlocking mat. Companies like Rubber-Cal will often make a rubber floor tile using reclaimed rubber, which allows for them to sell their rubber products at more affordable prices. Plus, because this interlocking tile floor is made of rubber, it does not require (potentially pricey) adhesives to install. So, if you were to ask us, “What is the cheapest way to cover your floor?” Our answer will always be “rubber.”

How Do You Install Temporary Flooring?

To install temporary flooring like rubber interlocking mats, first measure the area of the surface you intend to cover. Then, acquire a sufficient number of tiles (interlocking). Finally, connect and place these tiles over the area you intended to cover. If you want this flooring to be more than temporary, you may use adhesives to bond the tiles to the subflooring. If you want to explore the question “How do you install temporary flooring?” in more detail, check out our how-to article on installing rubber interlocking tiles.

Rubber temporary flooring is portable, durable, affordable, and DIY-friendly; it is needed in many situations. Rubber interlocking tiles are the best of all snap-in flooring options because of rubber’s many advantageous natural qualities. There aren’t many products like rubber—high quality at an affordable price. That’s why we advocate for rubber tiles whenever possible.