The H-F Ice Arena is getting new flooring in the main lobby that will increase durability, extend its lifespan and improve the center’s appearance. Homewood-Flossmoor Park District commissioners approved the expenditure July 18 that will expand the coverage of rubber tile and eliminate the area covered by carpet. The price won’t exceed $11,026.
side and carpet squares on on the other. In coming
weeks, the remaining carpet will be removed and
replaced with more rubber tile. (Photo by Brittney
Ermon/H-F Chronicle)
The H-F Ice Arena is getting new flooring in the main lobby that will increase durability, extend its lifespan and improve the center’s appearance.
Homewood-Flossmoor Park District commissioners approved the expenditure July 18 that will expand the coverage of rubber tile and eliminate the area covered by carpet. The price won’t exceed $11,026.
This project will replace the four-year-old carpet tiles with interlocking rubber and tiles.
Ice Arena Manager Shon Washington said the carpet not only soaks up water and dirt from ice skates, but is also not as durable.
“Skates have sharp edges so when the skates dig into the carpet tiles, it can move the tiles,” he said. “The sunlight also makes the carpet look dull in some areas.”
The flooring in the main lobby has been a multi-year project due to the expense of replacing carpet with skate-resistant rubber flooring.
The carpet tile has a life expectancy of only four years given the wear associated with everyday traffic and damage caused by sharp ice skates, Washington said. However, the new rubber tiling won’t need to be replaced for approximately 12 to 15 years.
The arena will still be open and he expects the work can be done with little to no inconvenience to patrons. Construction will begin in two weeks and it will take two days to complete.