Waterslide Tower Restoration and Refresh in Spencer, Iowa

In January of 2022, the City of Spencer, Iowa contacted Fischer Brothers about replacing the failed fiberglass steps on their waterslide tower at the Spencer City Aquatic Center. An inspection in February revealed that the tower’s fiberglass steps and landings had deteriorated to the point where there was an immediate need for repair. The once-white surfaces were stained after years of use, most of the previous surfacing product was worn smooth, and cracks had developed in the fiberglass.

The stairs and decks were originally made with a fiberglass exterior and a balsa wood coring interior. Cracks in the fiberglass had allowed water to rot the balsa wood coring from many harsh Midwestern seasons. The saturated coring would freeze each winter and thaw every spring, incrementally delaminating the fiberglass from its internal coring.

Before: Cracks in the Fiberglass

This project provided a great opportunity for Fischer Brothers and Life Floor to partner in solving this city’s slide tower issues. In August, Fischer Brothers sent a crew to tackle the project. They began by identifying all the structural problem areas and started work. Large portions of fiberglass were completely rebuilt using synthetic coring instead of balsa wood and more than 20 gallons of resin were used to repair the landings and stairs. Every square inch of the fiberglass was either rebuilt or sanded down to remove the old surface texture and create a smooth and stable surface for the installation of Life Floor safety surfacing.

Rotted Balsa Wood Core

New Fiberglass Restoration

Life Floor Safety Surfacing

Life Floor was the preferred choice for this WhiteWater and Fischer Brothers project in the City of Spencer, Iowa since the safety surfacing not only provides increased slip-resistance and cushioning, but also refreshes the visual appeal of the whole tower. The city chose to use Iceberg and River Rock colors in Life Floor’s Ripple 2.0 texture for this project. The pale blue Iceberg tiles were used on all the landings and stair treads and the grey River Rock tiles were installed on the step nosings and risers to provide contrasting colors and added safety. The surfacing on the slide tower is now more comfortable for bare feet, and it looks great!

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About Fischer Brothers, LLC.

Fischer Brothers, LLC got their start in 2007 restoring waterslides, and eventually moved on to other parts of the waterpark. From waterslide towers, aquatic play structures, spray features and more, Fischer Brothers has led the charge in pioneering innovative solutions for the aquatics restoration industry. Fischer Brothers is currently undergoing the process to become a Certified Life Floor Installer.

AQUA NICK AT NICKELODEON™ RIVIERA MAYA

Families are sure to enjoy a fun-packed vacation at Aqua Nick at Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts, Riviera Maya. With water features covering two-thirds of the property’s location, there’s something for everyone! 

Life Floor surfaces several activity zones at the resort including Bikini Bottom Beach and Paw Patrol Adventure Bay. Vibrant Bluebird, Aviator, and Iceberg colors are designed in a wave pattern throughout the park, which helps to create a consistent theme that compliments the features and provides added safety and comfort for guests of all ages.

In addition to the slides and structures, the characters themselves are designed and manufactured by WhiteWater. Spongebob Squarepants and Paw Patrol friends are prominently featured around the main activity zones and some other characters can be seen from other Nickelodeon™ shows such as Blue from Blue’s Clues.

“[Aqua Nick] is the largest theming project that WhiteWater has ever created, incorporating the intellectual property of Nickelodeon™ across 11 exhilarating water slides, a RainFortress 5, AquaPlay 200, Splash Pad, and Lazy River.”

— WhiteWater

To learn more about this installation and to view project specifications, click the button below:

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Thank you to WhiteWater for collaborating with us on this project. To begin your own Life Floor x WhiteWater project that will create lasting memories for your guests for years to come, contact us today. 

CREATING UNIQUE AQUATIC EXPERIENCES AT CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, North Java, NY

Campgrounds and RV parks that provide access to aquatic amenities such as splash pads, waterparks, or lake shores are popular with campers. These amenities provide a simple, yet fun way for families to relax and enjoy the excitement of camping, while also cooling off in the warm summer heat.

At some camp resort locations such as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks, theming is an important aspect for each location. It allows for branded merchandise, lovable characters, and a complete experience that makes guests feel more welcome and connected.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Natural Bridge, VA

Theming can be accomplished in a variety of ways including literature, signage, merchandise, and the physical appearance of buildings or amenities. Log cabins, tents, and picnic baskets are strong camping associations for many people, so including interactive elements that foster memorable play can improve overall engagement. 

One way that themes can be incorporated into a park design is through aquatic surfacing design. Varying design iterations on the same surface can signal different play zones while also carrying a theme throughout the park and creating a unique experience. 

Safety surfacing on splash pads and around pool decks can also add to the amount of fun that families have at these facilities by providing cushioning and slip-resistance for greater comfort and more active play. 

Cascade Cove, Lake George RV Park, Lake George, NY

As travel picks up again, there has also been an increasing trend for RV travel and guest stays at campgrounds that allow RVs. This type of travel allows for greater flexibility, more options, outdoor family adventures, and tends to be generally less expensive than other methods of vacationing. Aquatic amenities add to this experience and are a welcome benefit wherever they’re featured. 

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To get Life Floor quoted for your campground or RV park, please complete our contact form here. We’d be happy to provide you with budget numbers and some complimentary design options.

JUNGALA AQUA EXPERIENCE AT VIDANTA RIVIERA MAYA RESORT

In October 2020, “The World Waterpark Association recognized Jungala Aqua Experience with the 'Leading Edge' award for its extraordinary facilities, innovative concept, and exceptional customer service.” Jungala Aqua Experience has since become known for being a leader in guest experience and design both regionally in Mexico and internationally across the globe. By placing capacity limits on accommodations, this luxury resort is able to provide guests with an experience that truly feels unique, serene, and lavish. 

With lush forests on every side and a wide array of amenities available, the Jungala Aqua Experience, an “ultra-exclusive, low-density waterscape,” serves as a premium waterpark destination for guests.

Around the childrens’ slide area and beneath the RainFortress 5 multi-level play structure by WhiteWater is 17,760 sq ft (1,650 sq m) of Life Floor safety surfacing. Custom cut circles add colorful highlights to integrate seamlessly with the theme of the resort and provide a design that immerses and engages guests.

At a luxury resort such as Jungala, guest comfort and experience is absolute. Safety, comfort, design, and cleanliness are all qualities that visitors assess when choosing where to spend their vacations. Grupo Vidanta, the developer of Jungala Aqua Experience, was able to provide peace of mind for guests by choosing Life Floor’s cushioned and slip-resistant surfacing under WhiteWater’s RainFortress 5 and children’s slide areas. This flooring feature enables guests of all ages and abilities to play freely - skipping, jumping, crawling, and even cartwheeling - on a surface engineered specifically for aquatic recreation.

Thank you to WhiteWater West for their partnership in creating a safer and more enjoyable guest experience at Jungala Aqua Experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya Resort. For more information on how you can work with Life Floor and WhiteWater on your waterpark design, connect with us today.

WATER SAFETY BY DESIGN AT JUNGLE BAY WATERPARK

The Westin Dubai and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort in Dubai, UAE recently completed Jungle Bay Waterpark with the design and safety expertise of Whitewater West. The two resorts decided to create a unique family getaway that differentiated them from the hundreds of other hotels and resorts in the area by creating a massive, elegant waterpark. This strategy makes their properties the ideal family destinations in Dubai.

“Inspired by the islands of Greece, the waterpark was designed intentionally with a clean, minimalist style. The park features rides and attractions for all ages including a Whizzard and Body Slides, Aquaplay 1750, gentle Kids’ Slides, and a Children’s Wave Pool for the whole family.”

— WhiteWater West

The resorts previously had Life Floor on one of their pool decks and, after having a positive experience, decided to expand their use of Life Floor across the rest of the new waterpark. Jungle Bay Waterpark features approximately 21,500 sq ft (2,000 sq m) of Life Floor surrounding its amenities and features with a unique UV additive in the tiles which makes them last even longer under more intense sun conditions. 

Safety and guest experience is key. Excluding the walkways, the entire waterpark has Life Floor which not only enhances the design of the park, but also reduces overall risk through safety surfacing. This vast expanse of Life Floor showcases the resort’s commitment to safety without sacrificing the pristine aquatic design that complements the resort. Life Floor’s cushioned and slip-resistant features provide guests with increased comfort throughout their stay.

Additionally, WhiteWater West combined their world-class water slides and features with complementary blue and white colors to provide Jungle Bay Waterpark with a complete package that never compromises safety for design. The central lighthouse element was incorporated into the project to add theming and a central starting point for many of the water slides.

The design of the activity zones utilizes Life Floor’s standard triangle shape in multiple gradient patterns to create visual similarity without overdoing the design. This creates a feeling of cohesion across the entire facility by allowing the Greek Island theme to flow from one area to the next without halting guest engagement.

Thank you to WhiteWater West, The Westin Dubai, and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort for specifying Life Floor on this project. We look forward to continuing to serve these facilities and the guests who visit!

To learn more about how you can add a perfect combination of safety and custom design to an upcoming project, contact us today.

SETTING A SAFER PRECEDENT FOR CANADA: YMCA OF GREATER MONCTON

Recently, NSF International expanded Standard 50 to extend across Canada, which includes recommendations for surfacing in aquatic play areas under NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 (formerly NSF/ANSI 50:26).

With its recent Life Floor installation, the YMCA of Greater Moncton, NB is one of the first aquatic facilities in Canada to recognize the importance of having NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 certified safety surfacing. The facility is a combination of an indoor splash pad with a zero-depth entry and a playground. Because of this unique configuration, the staff sought out a product that was able to transition seamlessly from wet to dry applications while maintaining their commitment to safety. To accomplish this, they selected Life Floor to be installed.

“Having seen Life Floor at a major trade show, we knew it was the product we wanted to install in our new facility.”

— Scott Munro, Vice President of Facilities

A custom beach-inspired design was chosen to complement the existing tropical theming. Life Floor’s foam-rubber tiles were able to create the perfect transition the YMCA needed between the wet and dry play areas, especially since splash pads are essentially wet playgrounds. The cushioned and impact-absorbing surfacing allows children to run, jump, and play without limits - never needing to stop and put on shoes or change the way they play from one area to the next. As a result, the fully immersive experience enhances imaginative play. 

The YMCA of Greater Moncton is skipping ahead of their competition by creating a facility full of imagination, play, and fun. They have created a holistic experience to provide their members with the perfect beach day right in their community’s backyard.

We thank the YMCA of Greater Moncton for their commitment to safety and for being one of the first in Canada to adopt NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 safety surfacing standards for the benefit of their members. We look forward to the future as more Canadian facilities follow their example and recognize the importance of this safety standard as an integral part of their business.

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To learn more about the official code in your region or state, check out this free resource.

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If you’d like to specify or install NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 surfacing for an aquatic play area in Canada, please contact our Canadian Partner, Paul-Émile Beaudry at pebeaudry@polyvalens.ca to assist you in both English and French.

For U.S. clients and all other inquiries, please contact us directly via our online contact form or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. 

French Translation

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB crée un précédent sécuritaire en milieu aquatique au Canada.

Récemment, NSF International a étendu la norme Standard 50 partout au Canada, incluant des recommandations pour les surfaces de jeu aquatiques sous l’appellation NSF/ANSI/CAN 50,26 (précédemment nommée NSF/ANSI 50:26).

Avec ses récentes installations de Life Floor, le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB est l’un des premiers centres d’installation aquatique à reconnaître l’importance d’avoir une surface sécuritaire certifiée NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26. En effet, l’établissement se compose d’un mix de  deux (2) aires de jeux, l’une étant une surface mouillée (indoor splash pad) plane et l’autre étant une aire de jeux sèche. À cause de cette configuration spéciale, les employés ont recherché un produit qui permettrait la transition en toute transparence, de la surface mouillée à la surface sèche pour leurs activités tout en gardant un engagement de sécurité irréprochable. Un seul choix leur permettait de tout rallier : Life Floor.

Après avoir vu Life Floor lors d'un grand salon, nous avons sû que c’était le produit que nous voulions pour nos installations !  —Scott Munro, Vice Président du YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB

Au niveau du design,  le thème tropical dans l’aire de jeu d’eau et le thème plage dans l’aire de jeu sèche sont en parfaite harmonie pour s’adapter au thème pré-existant. Et maintenant, les enfants peuvent donc courir, sauter, culbuter et jouer sans limites sur une surface conforme aux nouveaux standards. Les surfaces coussinées  et absorbant tout impact permettent aux enfants de jouer sans s’arrêter pour mettre leurs chaussures ou changer leur façon de jouer d’un endroit à l’autre. Comme résultat, l’expérience devient totalement immersive et renforce leur jeu imaginatif.

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton devient donc un chef de file en adoptant des installations pleines d’imagination, de jeu et de plaisir ! Ils ont créé une expérience holistique en offrant à leurs membres une journée de plage parfaite en plein dans leur cour !

Nous remercions le YMCA du Grand Moncton de leur engagement pour la sécurité de leurs membres et d’être les premiers au Canada à appliquer la norme NSF/ANSI/CAN 50.26. Nous espérons que plusieurs autres organismes, centres aquatiques  et municipalités suivront l’exemple du YMCA et reconnaîtront l’importance de l’application de cette recommandation comme faisant partie de leur politique d’opération .

Si vous désirez de plus amples informations sur les tuiles Life Floor, communiquez avec Polyvalens Inc, notre distributeur au Canada.

Vibrantly Themed Splash Pads Featured at Perfect Day® at CocoCay®

We’re proud to be featured at two beautiful splash pads that can be enjoyed whenever passengers spend a Perfect Day® at CocoCay® courtesy of Royal Caribbean. Guests can cool off, run and play, or relax on the sidelines at both Splashaway Bay designed by Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering or at Captain Jill’s Galleon designed by the Life Floor Studio. These two projects at CocoCay are quintessential examples of Life Floor’s custom cutting technology and our ability to match any aquatic feature’s theming. 

Splashaway Bay has a vibrant and whimsical underwater theme with bright inlays and shapes that match the graphic design of the play structure panels on the splash pad. This engaging design enhances play value by inspiring kids and families to create a variety of games hopping from color to color and shape to shape. The pairing of the surface design with this splash pad’s play structures and water features has easily made Splashaway Bay one of many focal points on the island. As a result, it has received recognition across the aquatics industry, including being named a 2019 AI Dream Design.

Image Credit: Royal Caribbean

At Captain Jill’s Galleon, Life Floor surrounds a pirate vessel in a wavy pattern designed to mimic the water and shore beneath the massive hull. Sandy “islands” feature water cannons for water play at the surface level. As children venture down porthole slides and engage with the splash features, they can easily imagine sailing the high seas with the vast expanse of the ocean surrounding the island on the horizon.

Image Credit: Royal Caribbean

Thank you to Royal Caribbean, Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering, WhiteWater West, and Inside Edge for collaborating with us to make the splash pads at this dream getaway a reality!

Promoting Play at Fun Spot America

Fun Spot is a vibrant family-owned theme park with a beautiful splash pad located in the heart of Orlando, FL. Just over one year ago, Fun Spot decided to expand on their mission of “Safe-Clean-Fun” and showcase their logo on a larger-than-life scale on the splash pad. Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering created a bright tile layout inspired by the logo colors and recommended Life Floor for the project. With Life Floor’s custom cutting capabilities, we were able to create a stunning representation that contributes to guest safety and overall experience. 

“We’ve had the floor for about a year now and we’re very happy with it. It’s held up very well. The logo, our company logo on the ground looked superb and still does. The installation on it was flawless. I mean they came in, they were in and out in like two days. And I mean that there’s absolutely no complaint on my end. We’re very happy with it, we’d suggest it to others. We think the product is very well built, it’s good materials. The kids love it, and now they’re playing on it. Yeah, there’s absolutely nothing I would say negative about the floor.”

— John Arie Jr, Fun Spot CEO

Safety and ease-of-maintenance were also important factors for Fun Spot’s choice of safety surfacing. Algae build-up and the issues associated with concrete are well known in the aquatics industry, so the staff at Fun Spot was thrilled to experience the easier maintenance Life Floor provided due to the product’s cleanable features since the tile does not support microbial growth in accordance with NSF/ANSI Standard 50 testing criteria.

“I would say to everybody in our industry that it’s a very well built floor. It’s safe for your guests. It’s very low maintenance. The appearance of it looks amazing. And I would definitely recommend anybody that has a splash pad or even water features in their park to use Life Floor. It’s been a great experience. The installation went very well just as it was described - there were no surprises and we’re very happy with the floor.”

— John Arie Jr, Fun Spot CEO

We are so thankful for the opportunity to increase safety and fun that will contribute to the lasting, positive memories that families make at Fun Spot America.

Creating Custom Shapes, Logos, and Designs with Life Floor Tiles

Splashaway Bay at CocoCay. Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

Did you know that despite being manufactured primarily as geometric tiles, Life Floor can be custom cut into any shape imaginable? From curvy designs to themed imagery and from games to giant logos, we’ve done it! Read more to learn about some of these popular design options that stray from our standard offerings to offer a more customized experience. 

For theming opportunities, we’ve cut anything from life-sized surfboards to giant paw prints and sandy islands into our floors. 

Captain Jill’s Galleon at CocoCay.
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

Beach Haven, Australia

Curvy or circular designs are a popular choice for customers looking for a more organic look. 

For added play value at the surface level, we’ve created games to add to the guest experience for our customers as well. 

One of our most popular requests is to add elements of branding to surfaces - from giant logos to inlays that represent the facilities where they’re installed. 

As you can see, the opportunities and options are truly endless!

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So how do we do it? 

The process varies by project. In some cases, like in the instance of giant circles, organic shapes can be hand cut on site by a skilled installation team. Large swooping curves can often be achieved this way as well.

In other cases, projects come factory cut with labeled parts and diagrams to streamline the install process on site and to ensure design accuracy. 

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Why don’t all customers take this approach? 

These designs are all amazing and we love that we’re able to create them! Unfortunately, some of these examples are out of budget for some customers. When dealing with curvy or custom designs, more material is needed to account for the amount of scrap created when trimming our square tiles to create these shapes. Installation costs are a bit higher as well due to the attention to detail needed to get the designs installed properly. 

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Is there a more budget-friendly way to custom cut designs? 

Of course! In some cases, customers have opted for a repeatable inlay that can be cut from a single tile to help brand or theme their space. A great example of this is the maple leaf inlay we created for the Maple Grove Community Center. 

In other cases, a custom design only covers a small portion of a project while the rest of the design sticks with some of our more budget-friendly design options like our preferred colors or standard tile shapes. At the Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim, a few custom inlays and activities were interspersed throughout our simple pattern of square tiles in our High Tide theme. 

Another great way to incorporate a curved design is to limit the amount of tiles that need to be trimmed into a custom shape. At the splash pad at the Australia Zoo, only the perimeter of the “pond” needed to be cut while all other tiles could be installed as full square pieces.

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While these projects all take a little extra effort during the design, manufacturing, and installation processes, we always love the results! Have an idea in mind that you’d like to explore with our team? Reach out to us and we’ll do our best to make it a reality!

Our Top 5 Life Floor Design Tips

While our Studio Team is happy to create design renderings for our clients, many customers and partnering designers have expressed interest in creating their own flooring designs. For anyone looking to get started with their own Life Floor projects, we’ve put together five of our top design tips to help guide the process! 

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Include Three or More Colors in Designs 

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We’ve found that designs containing three or more colors look best after installation. As an added benefit, they minimize visibility of debris or regular wear over time. This concept is similar to how complex carpet designs are applied in high traffic areas like casinos. An intricate or varied pattern will hide most imperfections. In contrast, any debris or marking on a solid field of color will be very apparent. We know it’s impossible to keep pool decks and splash pads absolutely spotless all day so this technique helps aquatic facilities continue to look their best. Multi-color designs also enhance spaces where they’re installed by creating vibrant and interesting patterns at the surface level. These designs are vast improvements to drab fields of grey concrete! They lend themselves to great theming opportunities as well.

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Design within Project Budgets

While the sky's the limit for some customers, most are looking to stick within a specific budget. With a wide range of design and pricing needs in mind, we’ve created a variety of shape and color options to accommodate an array of project types.  

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Our tiles are available in four shapes - squares, triangles, rectangles, and hexagons. Our square tiles are the most cost-effective option both in terms of material and installation costs. Triangles and rectangles have very similar material costs (since they’re just half squares). It’s important to note that they are slightly more expensive to install since more pieces are involved and the designs are typically a bit more complex. Of all of our shapes, hexagons are the most expensive.

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Beyond these standard tile shapes, we can also custom cut our tiles into just about anything - curves, logos, games, images, you name it! These unique designs look great but use more material, require more factory preparation, and take more time to install so they’re generally the most expensive. 

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Choosing an area as an accent piece can also enhance facilities within budget. This focal point can add visual interest to an entire project while also keeping the overall cost lower by using a simpler design throughout.

There are many ways to mix and match our tile shapes and colors to achieve a great project look. Hopefully these basics help inform some of the best opportunities to create some stellar designs that are also affordable at any price point!

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Use a Staggered Grid for Tile Layouts

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Staggered Grid

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Standard (Checkerboard) Grid

While most people generally assume that our square tiles are best arranged in a standard (or checkerboard) grid, we actually recommend designing with our tiles on a staggered grid. We’ve found that this layout is ideal for ease of installation and maximum durability over time. Layouts that use standard grids are still a beautiful option; however, we generally recommend designing with them only for smaller applications or for designs that really rely on the checkerboard tile layout for a distinct pattern or look. 

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Accent Designs with Theming and Play Options 

Are you looking to add some sea creatures to your splash pad design? No problem! We have several pre-designed thematic inlays, like fish and crabs, that fit within single square tiles. We can also cut larger creatures, whales or dolphins for instance, across several tiles. 

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Want to add a game into the surface? We can custom cut nearly anything into Life Floor. Some popular choices have included hopscotch and checkerboards.

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For branding opportunities or to include a facility’s logo within a design, we can precision cut all of the parts in advance at our factory. They arrive ready to install to ensure brand accuracy and a smooth installation process on site. A great example of a large-scale logo we’ve created recently was one that we produced for the Fun Spot splash pad in Orlando, FL. The finished product and a diagram showing all of the precut parts are pictured above. 

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Take Advantage of Our Online Resources

Did you know that there are helpful resources on the Design Studio page of our website related to creating designs with Life Floor tiles?

For design inspiration, our Portfolio and past Lookbooks are great places to start!

One of the most popular resources we have posted is a chart that shows color equivalents for all of our tile colors. If you design in Adobe Illustrator (like we do), the Hex codes are very helpful to get the colors in your layouts as accurate as possible. 

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Our pre-established color palettes and tile patterns have been popular options for our customers. Head to the Themes and Patterns pages to explore these designs. We even have downloadable templates that can be used in Adobe Illustrator for anyone looking to cut and paste these options into their projects. Use one of these as designed or vary it slightly to cater it to your project!

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To get started with a scaled tile grid to represent Life Floor in AutoCAD, we have templates that include hatches for both Metric and Imperial designs. 

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Looking for technical details to better understand how our tiles integrate during installation? Those are available on our Specs + Resources page as well! 

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While the tips above cover our major suggestions, these are only some of the best practices we’ve established over the years! Want to learn more or have questions for our Studio Team? Feel free to email us at design@lifefloor.com. We love partnering with designers and take great joy in seeing what other great projects are dreamed up by other companies around the world!

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Interested in our upcoming Designing with Life Floor Guide?

Sign up below to receive access in advance of it going live! 

Designing with Life Floor's Tile Shapes

Did you know that Life Floor comes in four standard shapes? Our tiles were originally manufactured as 24” square tiles, but rectangles, triangles, and hexagons have been developed over the years. With these shapes, our Studio Team and partnering design firms have been able to imagine an endless range of possibilities for aquatic facilities around the world. Through countless different configurations and color combinations, our tiles enable opportunities to create beautiful environments with unparalleled safety benefits. Explore the design options available with our standard shape offerings below!

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Squares 

Our square tiles can be arranged in randomized multi-color fields to evoke environmental elements like sand and water. They can also be configured in colorful gradient patterns using a range of tones from our palette. For a more classic design, squares look beautiful when arranged in a checkerboard grid. For a more modern effect, square tiles of the same color can be installed consecutively to form long, rectangular configurations. Some facilities have even opted for a staggered zig-zag pattern. To add even more visual interest, customers often request thematic inlays that fit within a single tile. While the original shape of our tiles may be simple, it is filled with the potential to create both beautiful and cost-effective design solutions!

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Triangles 

Simply by cutting our square tiles diagonally to form right triangles, we’ve created an array of new design opportunities. These tiles have been the most popular choice when creating gradient effects, especially when mimicking coastlines. They’re also an excellent choice for adding accents of color around a facility. For a more geometric approach, mirrored triangles can be arranged to create an even larger pattern. Images like pine trees can even be created in a surface design by combining triangles with our rectangle and square tiles!

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Rectangles 

Our rectangular tiles present the opportunity to design with a popular 1’ x 2’ grid or to create long plank effects by aligning tiles of the same color in a row. They enable designers to create more modern, geometric patterns. Similar to our other shapes, rectangles can be arranged in gradients or they can be used to break up solid fields of color with bright accents. Due to their size, rectangles are a popular choice in smaller spaces like locker rooms. Try varying the rotation of these tiles to achieve a dynamic look. 

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Hexagons 

In 2019, we unveiled the newest addition to our shape collection: the hexagon. Our Studio Team loves how this playful, geometric shape transports visitors to colorful landscapes with intricate and delightful patterning. Our hexagon tiles add immediate visual complexity to any space, without the need for additional design work or custom cutting. They can be used in more natural designs to mimic the look of a sparkling body of water or a varied landscape of grass, dirt, and rocks. Hexagons also lend themselves to radial designs and are perfect for splash pads.

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While these shapes encompass our standard options, Life Floor tiles can also be cut into virtually anything! We commonly install curved designs, logos, custom shapes, and inlays. Is there a new standard shape you’d like to see us offer? Let us know in the comments section below!  

National Park and Recreation Month: Featured Installations

Happy National Park and Recreation Month! We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our clients working in Parks and Recreation departments for your continued work on making our communities beautiful, fun, and safe. To celebrate, we’re featuring four municipal aquatic facilities where we’ve installed Life Floor across the country. If you happen to live nearby one of these, be sure to visit when you can!

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Tropics Indoor Waterpark + Bamboo Bay - Shoreview Community Center, Shoreview, MN

The city of Shoreview renovated the existing Indoor Tropics Waterpark pool deck in late 2018. They chose Life Floor in sandy shades and a natural Slate texture to reflect the tropical beachside theme of the park. Guests and staff immediately recognized the additional comfort and safety Life Floor provided. Shortly after, the city moved forward with the decision to add Life Floor to the locker rooms. “Adding Life Floor to the locker rooms was something a lot of people noticed right away: ‘Oh great, you got rid of the slippery floor!’” Buck noted once Life Floor had been installed.

The build-out for Bamboo Bay, the multi-level spray structure expansion, was completed a few months after in early 2019. The city again chose Life Floor to cover the entire surrounding deck of the structure and the nearby locker rooms. 

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Pleasant Glade Pool Deck and Parr Park Splash Pad - Grapevine, TX

“We have really enjoyed Life Floor. It has definitely made our deck that used to be so hot much better to walk on. It’s great.”

— Hunter Hardeman, Aquatic Supervisor of Grapevine

The City of Grapevine, TX provides an impressive aquatic program to the surrounding community with both indoor and outdoor facilities to play, exercise, and compete. With an average summer temperature of 96 degrees, the city experiences extremely hot concrete decks that can hit 140 degrees in the afternoon. Grapevine chose Life Floor because of the tile’s unique ability to dissipate heat underfoot. Unlike concrete, Life Floor tiles do not absorb heat, which is why the tiles feel comfortable to walk on in the summer sun. The city also installed Life Floor in the locker room areas to help reduce slip and fall injuries.

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Trailhead Park Splash Pad - Winter Haven, FL

The City of Winter Haven, FL built the splash pad at Trailhead Park in 2016. The city opened it originally with a concrete finish for the surface and they’ve resurfaced it about 3-4 times with different products. After experiencing some slip and fall incidents, they tried a rubberized paint with a sand-like substrate in it; however, injuries were still problematic. The committee at Winter Haven ultimately opted for Life Floor, pleased with the fact that Life Floor met all of the requirements they needed to solve while also being certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 50.

“Not only does it look awesome but it meets many criteria of fall and slip resistance and we’ve gotten nothing but great feedback from the product and that we did something to address our slip and fall issues.”

— Andy Palmer, City of Winter Haven Parks Planning and Strategic Initiatives Manager

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Westfield Memorial Pool Complex - Westfield, NJ

“We haven’t had a single major incident of people getting hurt on Life Floor, and it’s worth the peace of mind that the kids are safe.”

— Heather Re, Aquatics Supervisor Westfield Memorial Pool

After 5 years of enjoying Life Floor, Westfield Memorial Pool decided to redesign their splash pad to create a centerpiece attraction at their aquatic facility. The city’s main objectives were to refresh the space as a way to drive membership sign-ups and to create a beautiful environment where families could share memories on social media. By collaborating with the Life Floor Studio team, the Westfield splash pad now features a vibrant, unique octopus design that guides kids through and around splash features adjacent to the facility’s zero-depth leisure pool. 

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Interested in adding Life Floor’s safety surfacing to an aquatic facility at your park? Feel free to contact us!

5 Reasons Why Aquatic Facilities Choose Life Floor’s Predefined Themes and Patterns

While Life Floor can be used to create virtually any pattern or design on a flooring surface, we’ve created a catalog of Themes and Patterns as a starting point for customers looking for design inspiration. These options can match or complement a facility’s overall look while also providing the standard benefits that come with any Life Floor installation. Pairing the safety, comfort, and durability of our tiles with these aesthetically interesting designs has added play value and theming to aquatic facilities across the country and around the world. Here are some of the top reasons why customers have chosen to explore our Themes or Patterns for their projects!    

Multi-Color Designs

All of our Themes, or color palettes, are designed with three or more colors to optimize how Life Floor installations look over time. Our reason for favoring a multi-colored design approach is that monochromatic surfaces, much like single-color carpets, show regular wear or debris much more quickly. Since many of our projects are located outdoors where it’s not uncommon for occasional leaves, twigs, dirt, or grass to make their way onto splash pads, we’ve found that breaking up the field of color makes these surfaces look best for an extended period of time. As an added benefit, installations that use Life Floor Themes often enliven and complement surrounding parks and aquatic spaces with a visually interesting palette and design.

High Tide Theme and 301 Pattern at Synderville Basin Rec Center - Park City, UT

Considerable Cost Savings 

Our Themes showcase combinations of some of our most popular colors. Customers looking to add safety and design often opt to use these color families as starting points for their designs. 

High Tide: Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator [Note: Updated in 2021. See Update Here]

Montauk: Mojave, Gobi, Sandstone

Boulder: Boulevard, River Rock, Foghorn

Since Life Floor is manufactured as standard 24”x24” tiles, our Square Patterns (301, 401, 501) offer the greatest cost savings by maximizing the full use of the material. Installation time is lowest for these options as well. Our Triangle (302, 402, 502) and Rectangle (305, 405, 505) Patterns offer a combination of full and half tiles, providing an efficient use of material that minimizes waste. Installation time is slightly longer since these Patterns are a bit more complex; however, many of our budget-conscious customers still opt for these designs given the added visual interest they provide. 

Square Pattern (401)

Triangle Pattern (302)

Rectangle Pattern (505)

Overall, we’ve found that when municipalities are interested in adding a safety solution to their aquatic facilities or want to upgrade to meet the NSF/ANSI 50 standard for aquatic surfacing, they most commonly opt for the Theme and Pattern options described above. These designs provide all of the benefits of Life Floor at the best prices. 

Reduced Time to Receive a Quote 

Because our Themes and Patterns are pre-established, creating a rendering that fits within the boundaries of a specific project area is a fairly quick process. When compared to the time required to create fully custom designs, this approach fast-tracks the quoting process for customers looking to receive budgetary numbers in a shorter amount of time.

301 Pattern in tan tones (similar to Montauk Theme) at Shoreview Community Center - Shoreview, MN

Design Options that Eliminate the Guesswork 

For customers looking for a basic surfacing solution or who don’t have a specific design in mind, our pre-set Themes and Patterns have been created based on established best practices and provide a variety of looks to accommodate a range of facilities. These designs feature sets of colors that are proven to work well together and layouts that have been historically favored by our customers over time. Having the ability to pick and choose from this catalog of options eliminates most guesswork for many of our customers, especially those that are primarily focused on providing a safety solution at their facilities. 

Boulder Theme in rectangles at Pleasant Glade Pool & Locker Rooms - Grapevine, TX

An Affordable Starting Point for Custom Options

Many of our customers have asked for designs that begin with a Theme and/or Pattern, but are modified in some way to better suit their specific facility’s needs. For instance, some might swap out a color or two from a Theme to shift the color palette in a slightly different direction. Others might choose a preset Pattern, but pair it with a completely custom color palette. Some customers have opted to add inlays, like the ones shown below, to contribute to the play value and theming of their facilities. We’ve also found that some people go with an affordable Theme and Pattern to better balance the cost of a project that requires the addition of a specialty logo or play feature in the surface design. Anything can be customized as needed and our Themes and Patterns serve as a perfect starting point for the conversation! 

High Tide Theme and 302 Pattern with fish inlays at Cootamundra Splash Park - Cootamundra, Australia

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Interested in specifying Life Floor on your next project? Check out our standard Themes and Patterns and reach out to us if you’d like to explore a custom design or to get started on your project. Our design services are complementary right now, so we’re happy to help meet the needs of your facility however we can. Thank you for considering Life Floor!

National Water Safety Month: Clean Surfaces Make Aquatic Facilities Safer

Welcome to week four of our National Water Safety Month series on issues and topics prominent in the aquatics industry! If you missed last week’s post on accessibility, be sure to check it out. In light of facilities beginning to open up again, this week we’ll be highlighting the importance of having and maintaining a clean aquatic surface.

Concerns have often been raised across industries that have significant touchpoints with the general public about clean surfaces and cleaning guidelines, especially at parks, pools, and splash pads. Recently, these concerns have increased with COVID-19 and have caused facilities to reevaluate how they are sanitizing surfaces and features to avoid spreading disease. Following the Model Aquatic Health Code, surfaces should be cleaned to remove 99.9% of microorganisms. Unfortunately, many surfaces are porous and absorb materials. For example, concrete is 97.4% impervious according to third party testing involved with NSF/ANSI Standard 50. While 99.9% of microorganisms can be cleaned from its surface, it may still absorb contaminants such as fertilizer run-off, bacteria, viruses, and other hazardous fluids. Beyond potentially harboring these contaminants, the permeable nature of a surface like concrete can lead to staining, which makes it more difficult to maintain.

Windsor Hills Splash Pad, Kissimmee, Florida

We know that cleaning has always been a forefront topic for operators and supervisors of aquatic facilities. Maintenance can get costly, and it is important to address safety concerns immediately so they do not result in pain points for years to come. Life Floor has strived to improve upon the cleanability of concrete and other surfaces by creating an innovative closed-cell foam product that is 99.7% impervious. Based on third party testing, our tiles are also 99.9% cleanable after having been exposed to harmful bacteria, even in the joints. Offering a safer surfacing solution is our company’s greatest mission and, to do so, we couldn’t just look at obvious improvements such as slip-resistance and cushioning for our tiles. We have been focused on protecting guests not only from physical injury, but also from microscopic threats that could potentially lead to infection or disease. While preventing microbial growth on our product, we have also engineered it to make it extremely difficult to stain. Even spray paint cleans off. 

For any aquatic surface, it is also important to make sure to use the right cleaners and understand that a regular maintenance schedule ultimately reduces cost and provides your guests with a positive experience. Life Floor recommends certain cleaners to ensure optimal maintenance of our floors. These include a peroxide cleaner, a degreaser, and a mineral deposit remover. Using all three of these cleaners on a regular schedule ensures that build-up doesn’t occur and that Life Floor installations remain slip-resistant and beautiful. 

Life Floor Ripple 2.0 Texture in Bluebird

As this summer season begins, we wish the safest experiences possible for all visitors and operators at water parks, pools, and splash pads. We certainly can’t wait to get out there to enjoy the beautiful weather and the great outdoors! 

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Looking to upgrade your facility’s aquatic surfacing? Contact us - we’re always happy to help. 

Pairing Safety Surfacing with Risky Play at Costa Bavaro Resort

Located in Punta Cana on the coast of the Dominican Republic, Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort offers 5-star accommodations and amenities to provide guests with an oceanfront Caribbean experience. Among the features on this 27-acre property is a 16,146 sq. ft. aquatic play area named Splash Island, the result of the creative collaboration between Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering and WhiteWater West and installation by Inside Edge. Splash Island’s main attraction is an elevated play structure by WhiteWater complete with slides and spray features. This area is augmented by integrated natural landscaping elements functioning as “islands” and Life Floor surfacing, which pairs theming with our tiles’ slip-resistant and impact-attenuating properties. Our High Tide color combination of blue tiles is featured in the main play area while sandy colors speckle the deck to simulate a beach where parents relax as children and teenagers play. The pairing of Life Floor surfacing with WhiteWater’s multi-level play structure and the other spray features on-site creates an attraction committed to both adventurous play and safety. 

Large landscaped “islands” separate the larger risky play area from the adjacent splash pad where smaller children may feel more comfortable. These different zones help shape children’s development at different stages. Any type of water play for infants and toddlers can be seen as risky from their perspective. For instance, interacting with spray features on a splash pad is often a new and exciting experience. Life Floor surfacing enables this type of early water play and exploration while also providing cushioning for potential falls from wobbly footing at this age. 

Children will ultimately seek out more adventurous activities as they get older. It is important for facilities, when possible, to include more advanced risky play features such as the elevated play structure, slides, and spray features seen at Splash Island. These play elements inspire them to explore and develop the skills necessary in adulthood to make good choices and have fun. Life Floor promotes this risky play by encouraging children to play how they were meant to: without fear of falling or getting seriously injured. By providing a slip-resistant and cushioned safety surface, children are supported in their activities and are emboldened to create their own stories as they interact with each other and the features at Splash Island. 

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We all love to see visible joy on children’s faces when they spend an exciting day imagining, discovering, and exploring in environments that cater to adventurous play. To explore other projects where we’ve lived out our mission to increase play value and make aquatic areas safer for children around the world, head to our Portfolio. 

A Safer, More Durable Landing Pad Solution

Here at Life Floor, every project we do that prevents even one guest’s injury or saves operational staff from a single headache is considered a success for our team. We know that even the smallest area can be a significant pain point for facilities and lead to numerous injury reports. Our mission has always been to reduce slip and falls, concussions, road rash, and all other injuries related to falls for the benefit of visitors and facility staff alike. That’s why we’ve improved our landing pads for water slides and are excited to announce a relaunch that makes ordering and installation easier than ever, with a product more budget-friendly, durable, and safer for everyone.

Traditional slide landing pads are made with an impervious shell that has a consistent flaw in design; the cushioning and the waterproofing are viewed as separate elements. After repeated impact as guests exit a slide, the protective shell often fails leaving the padding exposed to water. From there, traditional landing pads can grow mold, the sharp edges of the failed protective shell can cause injuries, and pieces of foam can leak into the pool during peak busy season. These traditional landing pads are also typically bolted down to the pool bottom, which can result in tripping hazards, injuries from cuts caused by the metal, or sprained toes during slide exits.

With Life Floor, our product’s inherent non-absorbent and impact cushioning qualities are built into our landing pads: no coatings, protective shells, or bolts required. Instead of bolts, Life Floor landing pads are adhered to the pool bottom with construction-grade, solvent-based contact cement, which can be found at a local hardware or flooring supply store.

We decided to simplify our landing pads that we’ve offered in the past by eliminating the need for transition strips at the edges. Instead, the outside edge of each landing pad is beveled to account for the transition needed for a safer exit. This new feature further increases overall durability and the ease of install for our landing pads.

Each Life Floor landing pad has a 4 ft (121.92 cm) critical fall height, 5-year material warranty, and non-abrasive slip-resistance for a safer exit every time. Our landing pads are created out of modular 2 ft (60.96 cm) square tiles so they can be customized to fit anywhere operators need to install them. In the event that any damage ever occurs, our modular design allows for only the compromised tiles to be replaced, which helps save on overall cost.

Our goal is to provide aquatic spaces with the most straightforward landing pad solutions possible. Regular wear or damage to landing pads and numerous injury reports shouldn’t be a burden on your facility—we’re here to simplify the process with a product committed to safety. 

Ease of Ordering to Reduce Downtime for your Facility

In an effort to reduce your facility downtime and minimize product lead times, we have created an online storefront that allows you to order the most common sizes of landing pads directly. Standard size offerings include 4’x4’, 4’x6’, 4’x8’, 6’x6’, and 6’x8’.* Lead times for these standard sizes are approximately 5-7 days once your order is received.

Looking for something outside the box? Our customized landing pads aren’t disappearing - if you need a custom landing pad, please contact us directly through our Request a Quote form and we will work with you to fulfill your request. 

In a further effort to save your facility time and cost, we have created Installation Manuals for our landing pads, which include instructions on installing your landing pad in-house and a guide to select the right adhesive. Adhesives we recommend can typically be found at your local hardware store or flooring store. 

* Metric dimensions of standard landing pads are 121.92 x 121.92 cm, 121.92 x 182.88 cm, 121.92 x 243.84 cm, 182.88 x 182.88 cm, and 182.88 x 243.84 cm.

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We look forward to working with you to find the right solution for your facility that provides greater safety and comfort for your guests.