Basketball courts experience a lot of foot traffic and the most use all year round. Therefore they should be able to enhance performance while providing much-needed durability and easy maintenance. There are many types of sports flooring, but they come in two major categories: wood and synthetic flooring. So which one is the best for a basketball court?

When evaluating basketball floors, you have to think about the primary purpose of the floor, expectancy, durability, and maintenance. All these aspects come into play to help you make an informed choice based on your budget. But ideally, solid wood basketball floors come at a higher cost than synthetic floors because they have better quality and a natural appeal. The latter is especially true when they are installed on a large basketball court. Synthetic floors may be cheaper, but that depends on the type and quality.

Evaluate the following things when comparing wood and synthetic basketball floors.

Maintenance

Many planners quickly assume that they will save more on maintenance by choosing synthetic over wood flooring for basketball courts. While synthetic floors might be easier to maintain, they also come with specific maintenance needs, such as having an auto scrubber and a manufacturer-specified cleaning product. Depending on the traffic it gets, a synthetic floor should be scrubbed weekly, bi-weekly or quarterly.

In contrast, wood has different maintenance needs due to its porous nature. You must clean spills and moisture immediately. Also, because wood is susceptible to humidity changes, you should maintain around 30-50% humidity in the basketball court to prevent the floor from absorbing moisture. But that is easy with an HVAC system. Yearly screening and recoating are also necessary to ensure the longevity of the wood floor.

Lifespan

Durability is where the quality of hardwood floors shines. When properly maintained, hardwood flooring for your basketball court can last for around 50years which is much longer than synthetic floors. Although a synthetic floor has a shorter lifespan, a properly maintained one can last for 10-30years depending on the traffic. Hardwood flooring can be refurbished when worn out, unlike a synthetic one that you need to install a new one completely.

Durability

A hardwood floor is suitable for just one type of sports activity, such as basketball or volleyball. It allows you to enjoy its quality without worrying about damage from footwear. In contrast, synthetic floors are the way to go if you want a multipurpose sports floor. Synthetic flooring is versatile and more forgiving for various sports and activities.

Refurbishment and repair costs

As mentioned above, hardwood flooring can be refurbished when damaged and worn out.  A professional contractor can strip down the bare wood, add lines and logos, then apply the seal and finish, and your basketball flooring goes back to looking as good as new. 

A hardwood floor resurfacing can be completed at only a fraction of the cost of installing new flooring. That way, refurbishing saves you more costs in the long run. On the other side, you may have to replace your synthetic floor every time it gets worn out.

The bottom line

Natural hardwood flooring is the best for basketball courts.