Check it out before you buy!
To help you make an intelligent decision in the purchase of a protective gym floor cover and handling system, we're pleased to present you with a checklist of do's and don’ts, compiled based on our 35 years of experience. Remember, it helps to be informed!
Avoid top-heavy systems
CoverMate II is designed to not tip over. Equipped with 2 ft. outriggers on both sides, it's impossible to tip even if you roll out the topmost cover section. In fact, you couldn't push or pull over CoverMate II if you tried. Other racks that are less than 42" wide without outriggers may tip over during use.
Make sure that cover rollers do not bend on weight
If you can bend an empty roller at the center, even slightly, it will sag when the cover is added. In turn, the roller will not rotate easily causing extra wear and tension on the system. CoverMate II rollers are made of heavy gauge galvanized aluminum that will not bend when loaded, even with long cover sections.
Make sure casters do not leave scuffs on hardwood floor
Less costly systems often feature cheaper, generic casters that can leave marks on a gymnasium floor that are hard or impossible to remove. Worse, they could even leave impression marks in the floor surface. Each CoverMate II is fitted with premium quality, non-marking, SofTread Colson brand casters. If the caster has less than ¾” tread thickness, damage could occur.
Avoid systems with just four casters
Racks that roll on just four casters have poor weight distribution which makes it harder to maneuver around the gym and may increase the risk of indentations on the floor. CoverMate II has six casters - three on either end. This spreads the load more evenly by reducing the point load of each caster by over 30%, which in turn makes it much easier to move the system around the gym.
Check if system features an offset caster
On each end of the CoverMate II, one of the three casters is offset so that at least one caster is on a different wood slat than the other two. This reduces the effective load by over 30% on any one individual slat and instead, spreads the overall load more evenly on the floor. CoverMate II is more floor friendly for your expensive gym floor.
Is the system designed to deploy a full size gym floor cover?
CoverMate II is specifically designed for this purpose and is available with 6, 8 or 10 rollers that will let you load enough cover sections to completely cover an average size gym up to 10,000 sq. ft. Other systems available are racks that store and dispense lengths of broadloom or carpeting including many that are not meant for use on hardwood floors
Warranty
Avoid pro-rated warranties. While many companies promise long warranties, the true test is how long they’ve been specializing in Gym Floor Covers. Companies that specifically manufacture and sell Gym Floor Covers have the most at stake in producing quality systems and standing behind them. Catalog houses and companies that sell one offs have no control over the product or stake in ensuring quality. Make sure that the company will be in business long enough to honor any warranties provided.
Online Shopping
Be sure to read the fine print and remember it is very hard to make a decision based on a small photo. A Covermaster Gym Floor Cover System is a one-time purchase. We suggest that at a minimum, you receive a sample of the material being proposed and a list of references who can verify the quality of both the material and company. Better yet, inspect a system in person. You deserve the best for your facility and your patrons.
Patents
As the innovator and leader in the Gym Floor Covers industry, Covermaster continues to invest in product development and protect these developments with patents. These patents are to ensure the protection of our investment and your safety. Regretfully, in violation of our patents, Covermaster technologies are being copied. And like all copies, these imitations are superficial. Our competitors simply do not have the experience nor do they have the engineering expertise to deliver a product comparable to Covermaster’s technology. It is based on extensive research, testing and expertise gained over thousands of installations worldwide. We are asking that you carefully review the products and performance characteristics offered by our competitors before making a purchase. It may look like Covermaster and feel like Covermaster, but it will not perform like Covermaster unless it is the real thing – the one and only Covermaster.
Installation
While many facilities have the manpower and capability of assembling a Gym Floor Cover System, only Covermaster gives you the option of onsite installation with every order. Considering that the average Gym Floor Cover System arrives in two crates weighing roughly 1,500 pounds, onsite professional installation is a very valuable option.
North American Wide Delivery
All Covermaster Gym Floor Covers include delivery to your door. While some other companies offer this service, only Covermaster provides piece of mind. Should freight damage occur, we do not feed our customers to the wolves and leave them to deal with claims issues. Once your receiving department properly receives the goods, Covermaster initiates and completes all steps in the claims process with the common carrier. We stand behind our product and our deliveries.
Advertising Claims
In order to properly protect your floor, Gym Floor Covers need to be custom manufactured. Standard sizes will not adequately protect your floor. Beware of claims of discounts that seem too good to be true on overstocked items. How can you have overstock on custom manufactured items? Remember, insist on seeing samples and beware of false claims.
Manufacturing Process
There are 3 main processes available to manufacture Gym Floor Covers. As with anything, the more expensive process results in a superior product with a longer lifespan and therefore lower annual costs over the life of the cover. Remember, a true knife-coated process is always superior to a 3-ply product and will provide better protection for many more years. Think value and annualized cost, not selling price. The opportunity to buy a Gym Floor Cover does not present itself very often to a facility so make sure that you do it right the first time. You won’t have a second chance.
