A spring in step at college gym

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 570, 24 January 1995, Page 5

A spring in step at college gym

A new $120,000 floor is currently being installed at the Ruapehu Community Gymnasium at Ruapehu, aimed at providing a better playing surface less likely to lead to injurjes to sports people. Contractors began last week, first sealing up the air vents around the floor, sealing the concrete against groundwater, and laying polythene on the concrete in preparation. They then laid 400 sheets of 12mm plywood each with 32 small rubber pads attached. It is the rubber pads, part of the 'Super Aire' floor system, that makes for a better spring sports

floor, said contractor Kevin Heald. On top of the plywood was glued and stapled another layer of 400 sheets of 12mrtt plywood. This week the contractors will begin laying the 56,000 Tasmanian hardwood blocks that will make up the parquet top layer, in a random fashion. The American system provides a very good sports floor because it is so even in its spring, said Mr Heald. He said a tongue and groove floor on joists gives quite differently depending on where you land.

He said the floor should last 15 to 20 years before it would need re-sanding, and then it would come up like new. "There's no reason why the floor shouldn't last as long as the hall." The hall upgrade also includes repainting the outside and the changing rooms, installation of a new heating system and installing new drainage around the building. "It should be a lot warmer," said Mr Heald. The contractors have employed boys from the college for the work and will be taking one of them

to Auckland to learn the trade. We've tried to use local labour," he said. "And we were so impressed with Willie Sutton we've decided to offer him a job."