ClutchCourt (MFMA) Hardwood Sports Flooring
The Premium MFMA Athletic Flooring System
Maple hardwood stands out for its dense and tight grain structure, providing exceptional resistance to splintering or cracking, thus ensuring unparalleled durability and aesthetic appeal. Moreover, this material boasts natural antimicrobial properties, effectively restraining the growth of microorganisms, which makes it an ideal choice for environments where hygiene is essential.
The maple hardwood undergoes meticulous manufacturing processes to meet the rigid standards established by the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association (MFMA). This dedication ensures that products consistently deliver on quality and reliability.
Area Elasticity for Sports Applications
Hardwood sports flooring systems are designed to enhance the natural shock absorption quality of maple hardwood. They offer what is known as “area elasticity”, an essential feature needed for sports and other athletic activities as it ensures the floor is flexible enough to provide some cushioning properties for comfort. It is therefore perfectly suited for basketball courts in gymnasiums in educational institutions, recreational and community centres, aerobic exercise rooms, dance studios, churches, family life centers, and many other multi-purpose applications.
These specially designed systems are engineered to provide uniform grip and traction while still offering the other necessary sports surfacing qualities such as resilience, durability, and optimal ball rebound.
Ideal Applications
Hardwood MFMA sports flooring systems are a great solution for a wide range of applications, including:
If you’re looking to install this premium hardwood flooring in your facility, get in touch with the experts at Advantage Sport today.
Advantage Sport has been at the forefront of the Canadian sports flooring industry for over 40 years. We are Canada’s exclusive distributor of ClutchCourt by Tarkett Sports Indoor.
Tarkett Sports products are known for their high performance, durability, safety, and ease of maintenance.
This partnership allows us to offer our customers innovative and industry-leading multifunctional sports flooring solutions.
Features & Benefits of ClutchCourt Sports Flooring Systems
MFMA CERTIFIED
ClutchCourt flooring systems are certified by the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association which outlines certain flooring criteria that a product must meet in terms of manufacturing and the quality of the materials.
FSC® CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION
All ClutchCourt systems can be purchased with FSC® Chain of Custody certification. This certification insures that environmentally responsible forestry practices were used at every stage of production.
EXTREME DURABILITY
ClutchCourt MFMA flooring systems are composed of premium maple from well-managed forests. Maple is a dense hardwood that ensures the flooring is strong and resistant.
SUPERIOR SHOCK ABSORPTION
ClutchCourt MFMA flooring systems contain a shock absorbing sub-structure to ensure the floor is both comfortable, and safe. The area-elastic cushioning of hardwood allows it to be flexible with a wide area of deformation.
Floating Systems vs. Fixed Resilient Systems
FLOATING SYSTEMS
Floating systems are exactly what they sound like, they “float” over the concrete slab, and are not mechanically fastened to the concrete in any way. Floating systems are typically recommended for installations where system movement is anticipated. Generally, floating floor systems are more budget-friendly. The main advantage of a floating floor installation is that it does not puncture the vapor barrier installed on top of the concrete slab. Through subfloor components and various elastomeric pads, these system’s key benefits are shock absorption and resiliency. However, for large areas, they do not provide the stability of fixed resilient systems and are not suitable for heavy rolling loads such as bleachers. As a general rule, it is recommended that no fixtures, equipment, or bleachers be anchored through floating sports flooring systems and into the concrete slab.
FIXED RESILIENT SYSTEMS
Fixed resilient systems are mechanically fastened to the concrete slab and have a combination of components that allow varying degrees of additional resiliency within the subfloor system. Fixed resilient flooring systems are typically recommended for locations where system movement is not anticipated or desired. Combining features of both floating and fixed systems, fixed resilient systems provide the stabilizing benefits of an anchored subfloor and the resiliency of floating systems. This type of system is ideal for large areas with heavy rolling loads such as bleachers and offers exceptional athletic performance. Generally, this is the design that excels at meeting today’s performance standards such as MFMA-PUR and ASTM F2772.
TRADITION SERIES – ClutchCourt (MFMA) Floating Systems
Performance Core
FLOATING
A field-constructed low-profile system that consists of Core Cushion shock pads, a two-layer plywood substructure, and a top MFMA maple hardwood surface.
– Total system profile: 2-1/2“
– MFMA PUR Compliant (Industry-Leading Standard)
LP Sleeper
FLOATING
A prefabricated low-profile system that includes recycled rubber shock pad cushioning, engineered sleepers, a field-applied plywood layer, and a top MFMA maple hardwood surface.
– Total system profile: 2-3/4“
FlexLock Panel
FLOATING
A modular structure with a synthetic continuous closed-cell resilient foam cushion, a prefabricated double-layer panel system, and a MFMA maple hardwood surface.
– Total system profile: 2-1/2“ or 2-3/4“
– Patented Technology
Trainer III
FLOATING
A field-constructed system that consists of rubber shock pads, two layers of plywood panels, and a top MFMA maple hardwood surface.
– Total system profile: 2-1/8“
TRADITION SERIES – ClutchCourt (MFMA) Fixed Resilient Systems
Performance Anchor
FIXED RESILIENT
A prefabricated sytem that includes Core Cushion shock pads, an anchored engineered panel substructure, and a top MFMA maple hardwood surface.
– Total system profile: 2-1/2“
LP Sleeper Anchor
FIXED RESILIENT
A prefabricated low-profile system that includes recycled rubber shock pad cushioning, anchored engineered sleepers, a field-applied plywood layer, and a top MFMA maple hardwood surface.
– Total system profile: 2-3/4“
VERT SERIES – ClutchCourt (MFMA) Systems
VERT – Vibration Energy Reduction Technology
Experience an exclusive floor surface with the latest VERT SERIES. The VERT shock absorbing pads are transforming the conventional hardwood sports courts by making a substantial impact with an innovative design aimed at eliminating vibrations.
VERT is a patented engineered non-Newtonian polymer pad applied to the base of a hardwood subfloor system. Compatible across the entire ClutchCourt VERT SERIES lineup, these cushioning pads are meticulously designed so the viscosity and flow properties adapt to pressure, swiftly responding to the amount of stress or force applied to it. This advanced technology effectively absorbs floor vibrations and controls energy transfer to athletes, reducing shock impact on their bodies, allowing for maximized athletic performance. VERT pads deliver unparalleled stability and exceptional load-bearing capabilities, elevating athlete support to new heights.
To know more about our ClutchCourt VERT series, please contact our sales team for further information.
The Grading of Maple Flooring
It’s important to note that as a natural product, hardwood maple exhibits variations in color and markings. These characteristics contribute to the distinctiveness of each floor. These features are not imperfections but rather manifestations of the wood’s journey, absorbing minerals from the soil and showcasing its charm.
The grading of maple flooring, categorized as first grade, second grade & better, or third grade, is determined by the presence of color variation and character on the wood’s surface, ensuring options to suit preferences and design requirements.
FIRST GRADE:
First-grade maple meets the toughest standards for appearance and quality. It must be flawless, without any defects that would detract from the final appearance of the floor. While slight variations in natural color are acceptable, only occasional knots smaller than 1/8 of an inch in diameter, excluding ends or edges, are permitted. Bark streaking is not allowed, and there is less tolerance for dark spots compared to second and third-grade maple. First-grade maple, renowned for its bright appearance, is often chosen for professional courts, televised sports, and competitive gymnasiums at educational institutions, albeit at a premium price.
SECOND GRADE & BETTER:
Second-grade & better maple, the most popular choice, allows for tight knots in the wood as long as they do not appear on the ends or edges of the boards. Natural variations such as dark spots and streaks are permitted, except for the central part of a tree’s trunk which might look darker because minerals in another layer have stained it. Even though second-grade maple may have slight variations in color and texture, they do not affect the overall integrity of the material.
THIRD GRADE:
Third-grade maple highlights natural variations, resulting in a more distinct look. While it embraces all the natural nuances found in wood, the boards must still be structurally sound, with no voids on the ends or edges and no knot holes larger than 3/8 of an inch in diameter. Imperfections that affect the functionality of the floorboards are eliminated during the milling process. Many facilities choose for third-grade maple because the natural variations enhance the character of the gymnasium without compromising performance.
