Nathan Kelly
Don’t take advice from residential contractors who’ve never done it—go to a manufacturer-sponsored class before bidding. There is a highly technical aspect of the artistry and detail; in some ways it is more unforgiving than residential flooring.
Bradley Kidder
Commercial gym flooring presents unique challenges compared with residential applications, often involving three-phase power equipment and significantly larger surface areas—typically two to five times the size of a residential project. Consequently, the pay to sand, finish, and incorporate logos and game lines will be approximately half that of a comparable residential sanding and coating job.
Zach Smith
Find someone who is already doing it and learn from them. It doesn’t matter if you have 15 years of residential experience already, this is a totally different ballgame.
Logan Allen
It’s more than just installing a floor—It’s creating something that schools, athletes and communities take pride in. That’s what makes it worth doing.
oldgrowthsportfloors
You must have experience, tools and equipment, a large working capital, strong work ethic, brains and personality to develop relationships and maintain them, balls to put on the table when necessary and be a kind, fair, honest boss ... that should be a good start.
James Bernard Smith
You better have rider double sanders. Don’t think you can make it by walking whole gym floors.
Paul Nelson
You must be capable of managing multiple jobs with changing deadlines, managing customers on each job, and, most importantly, managing employees and crews. It takes a high-functioning crew to unload semi loads of material, haul it into a building and assemble and fasten tens of thousands of pieces into a beautiful new gymnasium floor.
Rob Zehnder
Get used to bidding on jobs, thin margins and fierce territory competition. Have a three- to five-year plan and more cash reserves than you think! No off-season business, high equipment overhead, labor challenges, a lot of paperwork and oh ... can you paint? It’s a craft-based business with zero margin for error and high demands. But if you’re detail-oriented and love a challenge, it can be rewarding beyond measure!
Bumper Bivens
It’s a great living, but the travel can be brutal.
