When it comes to family entertainment, ClimbZone Philadelphia is not your average indoor climbing facility.
ClimbZone has created one of the most unique indoor climbing experiences in the country, with individually themed climbing walls designed to capture kids’ imaginations and keep families active together. Instead of a traditional rock-climbing wall, guests can climb Jack’s giant beanstalk, scale a space rocket, navigate a giant spider web, climb the Empire State Building, explore dinosaur bones, and take on dozens of other creative climbing challenges.
Their mission is simple: create a family-friendly atmosphere where parents and children can enjoy indoor climbing together.
So when ClimbZone contacted us about improving the flooring transitions around the base of their climbing attractions, we were excited to help!
The Challenge: Safe Transitions Around Every Climbing Attraction
ClimbZone needed carpet bonded foam installed at the base of their climbing attractions to help create a safer and more comfortable surface throughout the facility.
The project also required something more specialized: beveling the edges of each section of carpet bonded foam.
This was important because the carpet bonded foam needed to transition smoothly from the surrounding flooring up to each climbing area. A hard edge or abrupt height change can create a tripping hazard, especially in a busy family entertainment environment where kids are constantly moving from one attraction to the next.
At first glance, beveling foam edges may sound simple. In reality, it is a slow, technical, and physically demanding process.
Each 42-foot run of carpet bonded foam had to be beveled carefully and accurately. On this project, a single 42-foot edge could take approximately one hour to fully configure. The process requires patience and precision. If the cut is rushed, the blade can begin to bend, lose heat, and eventually stop cutting properly.
It is also physically fatiguing work. Because the installer has to move so slowly and steadily, the process can feel almost like an extended isometric hold. The body is under constant tension while the tool is guided carefully down the edge of the foam.
This was not a project for guesswork. It required experience.
The Right Installer for the Job
This project was a perfect fit for our Installation Manager, Jason Heartsfield.
Jason brings a unique level of experience to carpet bonded foam installations. His father, Gary Heartsfield, was one of the early pioneers of carpet bonded foam, and Jason grew up around the material from a young age, helping his dad in the factory and learning the details of how it is manufactured, cut, handled, and installed.
That kind of hands-on experience matters on a project like this.
Carpet bonded foam is a durable and versatile surface, but getting clean, consistent bevels across long runs requires a deep understanding of the material. Jason’s background made him the ideal person to manage the technical details and deliver a professional result.
The Right Tools for the Job
To help achieve more consistent cuts across the long sections of carpet bonded foam, we also invested in a new Hot Knife for this project.
Having the right tools for the job goes a long way with getting the job done efficiently, and done precisely. This hot knife helped Jason create more controlled and uniform bevels over extended runs of foam. Even with the right tool, however, the work still required careful setup, controlled movement, and a steady hand.
Once the bevels were completed, carpet seaming tape was applied along the edges to help keep the carpet from lifting or coming loose under tension.
This was an important finishing step to help preserve the quality, safety, and appearance of the installation over time. This is the type of job that can certainly test the patience of even the most skilled of installers!
The Result: A Clean, Safe, Professional Finish
The finished installation turned out great.
The carpet bonded foam was installed cleanly around the base of ClimbZone’s themed climbing attractions, and the beveled edges created a smooth, safe transition from the surrounding walkways to the climbing areas.
The final result improved both the functionality and appearance of the space. Just as importantly, the client was extremely happy with the finished work.
For a facility like ClimbZone, where kids and families are constantly moving through the space, details like this matter. A properly installed surface helps support safety, traffic flow, and the overall guest experience.
A Facility Worth Visiting
ClimbZone Philadelphia is truly a one-of-a-kind family entertainment center. The themed climbing walls are creative, colorful, and engaging, and the entire facility is designed to make indoor climbing fun for kids and families.
If you are ever in the Philadelphia area and looking for a fun activity, this is definitely a place you should bring the family. They also have locations in Chicago, IL, Howell, NJ, Bloomington, MN, Nyack, NY and Laurel, MD.
We were proud to play a small part in helping ClimbZone improve the safety and finish of their facility, and we appreciate the opportunity to support such a unique family entertainment destination.
Need Carpet Bonded Foam or Custom Mats?
American Gymnast works with gymnastics facilities, ninja gyms, indoor playgrounds, climbing centers, schools, park districts, and family entertainment centers across the country.
Whether you need carpet bonded foam, custom matting, wall padding, spring floors, tumbling areas, loose foam pits, airbags, or specialty installation support, our team can help you find the right solution for your space.
Contact American Gymnast today to discuss your next facility project.
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