What Is the Best Type of Surface for Pool and Changing Room Flooring?

When it comes to pool and changing room flooring, appearance is just one part of the equation. If you’re responsible for keeping a leisure centre, spa, school, or private facility running smoothly, your flooring choice needs to do more than look good. It must handle daily wear, cope with water exposure, stay safe underfoot, and remain hygienic without excessive upkeep.

Many flooring options claim to be suitable for wet areas, but few meet the rigorous demands of pool and changing room flooring. Our clients expect more than a basic surface – they want flooring that lasts, keeps users safe, and reduces maintenance hassle over time. That’s where Stonex Quartz Screed and Rubbaflex® FG and come in.

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Summary: Which pool and changing room flooring is right for you?

• Choose Rubbaflex® FG if you need a softer, UV-resistant surface that handles slight movement both internal and external use but requires regular maintenance.
• Choose Stonex Quartz Screed for a low-maintenance, seamless, highly hygienic surface ideal for internal wet areas like changing rooms and showers.

Both offer excellent slip resistance, chemical tolerance, and design flexibility, making them popular choices for flooring.

What makes pool and changing room flooring safe, practical, and long-lasting?

Choosing flooring for pool surrounds and changing rooms is a safety and performance priority, not just a design decision. These wet areas face constant challenges, including:

• Continuous exposure to moisture and cleaning chemicals
• High risk of slips and falls, especially for barefoot users
• Heavy foot traffic in commercial or public facilities
• Harsh conditions caused by heating, cooling, and pool chemicals

The ideal flooring should:

• Minimise slip risk even when wet
• Be comfortable and safe for bare feet
• Resist moisture, chemical wear, and temperature fluctuations
• Support hygiene with easy-to-clean, low-porosity surfaces
• Maintain visual appeal despite heavy use

If your current flooring is slippery, hard to clean, or prone to cracking, it’s time to consider reliable alternatives like Rubbaflex® FG and Stonex Quartz Screed.

What materials are commonly used for pool and changing room flooring?

Common flooring materials you’ll find include:

• Tiles: Visually appealing but can become slippery when wet. Grout lines are hard to clean and prone to mould.
• Concrete: Durable but hard underfoot and requires sealing to resist water.
• Large/Standard Grade Rubber Granules: Softer and slip-resistant but can vary in UV and chemical resistance.
• Rubbaflex® FG: A rubber granule-based system with fine grade granules (0.5 – 1.5mm), UV resistant and suitable for both internal and external pool surrounds. It tolerates slight substrate movement but requires regular maintenance due to its porous nature.
• Stonex Quartz Screed: A non-porous, seamless resin screed designed for internal use only (such as changing rooms and pool surrounds). It offers low maintenance and high chemical resistance but does not tolerate substrate movement and is not suitable for external pool surrounds.

Among these, Rubbaflex® FG and Stonex Quartz Screed offer a unique balance of safety, hygiene, and design flexibility, but they are distinctly different products with specific use cases in pool and changing room flooring.

Rubbaflex® FG vs Stonex Quartz Screed: Key differences

Feature	Rubbaflex® FG	Stonex Quartz Screed
Use Location	Internal and external pool surrounds	Internal only (changing rooms etc.)
Slip Resistance	Very high (customisable textured finish)	High, seamless non-slip finish
Movement Tolerance	Can tolerate slight substrate movement	Rigid, no substrate movement allowed
Porosity & Maintenance	Porous; requires regular maintenance	Non-porous; low maintenance
Chemical Resistance	High (resistant to pool chemicals)	Very high
UV Resistance	Yes	No
Comfort Underfoot	Softer, warmer than concrete	Slightly firmer but still comfortable
Installation Curing Time	24-48 hours	24-48 hours

What questions do clients commonly ask about pool and changing room flooring?

When considering an upgrade, facility managers often ask:

• Will the surface be slippery when wet?
• How well does it hold up against chlorine and cleaning chemicals?
• Does it tolerate heavy foot traffic during busy periods?
• What does ongoing maintenance involve?
• How long does the flooring last?
• What are the installation times and downtime?

Both Rubbaflex® FG and Stonex Quartz Screed answer these concerns well but differ in maintenance demands and ideal use cases for pool and changing room flooring.

Case study: Larkfield Leisure Centre

At Larkfield Leisure Centre, Flex installed Stonex Quartz Screed across changing rooms, showers, and internal pool surrounds. Their previous floor had become slippery and hard to maintain.

The new flooring delivered a seamless, slip-resistant finish that improved safety and hygiene. It reduced cleaning time, improved aesthetics, and added long-term value to the facility.

This project showcases why Stonex Quartz Screed is often recommended for internal wet zones where hygiene and low maintenance are paramount.

Installation and maintenance overview for pool and changing room flooring

Both Rubbaflex® FG and Stonex Quartz Screed require professional installation with a curing time of approximately 24-48 hours. Neither should be rushed to avoid compromising surface performance.

Regular, consistent maintenance is essential:

• Rubbaflex® FG requires scheduled cleaning and inspection due to its porous nature which can harbour bacteria if neglected.
• Stonex Quartz Screed, being non-porous, is easier to clean and generally requires less intensive upkeep but still benefits from routine hygiene practices.

Proper maintenance prolongs the lifespan of both surfaces, typically exceeding 10 years in wet environments.

Where can pool and changing room flooring be used?

Both systems suit a range of wet and dry leisure environments:

• Pool surrounds (Quartz Screed internal only)
• Changing rooms (Quartz Screed recommended)
• Showers and wet rooms
• Spa treatment areas
• Corridors and reception areas with heavy foot traffic

Using either product consistently across zones can create a unified look while ensuring safety and compliance.

Upgrade your pool and changing room flooring

Flex can help you evaluate your facility’s needs and recommend the best flooring solution. Whether you require the durability and flexibility of Rubbaflex® FG or the hygienic, low-maintenance qualities of Stonex Quartz Screed, our expert team will ensure your flooring performs day in, day out.

Contact us today at 01622 747909 or email at [email protected] for a free consultation and quote on pool and changing room flooring.

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