The ability to supply continuous hockey rink rubber flooring from the edge of the playing field to the locker rooms is essential for facilities that host team practices and games. Players do not want to go on their skate blades through a variety of surfaces to get to their lockers, such as rubber floor mats, carpet, and cement. The best option is to have real ice for these areas. Cement can be used in place of ice for exercise room floors if it is screeded down so players don't slip when moving around. The main advantage to using cement for flooring is its cost effectiveness. However, this also makes it more difficult to maintain because there are no pads that can be used under the feet while they are skating. This means that any time something needs to be fixed or replaced on the floor, it must be done directly before or after the skaters use the facility. This could mean that over time, the surface will need to be repaired or replaced itself. In addition, cement is a non-slip material, which helps to prevent injuries due to people slipping and falling. But just like any other type of flooring, cement can become damaged and require repair or replacement. If it isn't done properly, then it's possible that it may continue to cause injuries until it is. The use of cement for flooring in a hockey rink is very common because it's cheaper than buying real ice.