Rubber surfacing works very well for commercial spaces and homes. Due to its wide variety of applications, it has benefits over other flooring alternatives. Rubber coating is slip-proof, waterproof, absorbs shocks and vibrations, is eco-friendly, durable, and cost-effective in the long run.
The Definition of Rubber Surfacing
A seamless rubber surfacing is composed of a poured-in-place layer that is typically 1/4 -3/8 inches thick and made of EPDM or TPV granules and crumb rubber or recycled rubber tires. The surface’s thickness depends upon its usage.
The raw rubber particles are bound together with a polyurethane binder and mixed or made on-site. Once poured and hardened, the surface is set and will not shift. A typical poured rubber surface meets national standards for safety and wheelchair accessibility.
Rubber surfacing comes in a wide range of colours and mixtures of colours.
See our many colour combinations here.
The Benefits of Rubber Surfacing
Rubber surfaces have a surprising amount of benefits that make them a unique flooring option. If you’re curious to know the many applications perfectly suited to rubber surfacing, read our article ‘Can a Rubber Coating go on Top of any Surface?’
Rubber Surfacing is UV Stable
UV rays are harsh and can damage unprotected outdoor surfaces. Some think rubber surfacing doesn’t do well with UV rays because of its darker colours. However, this isn’t the case.
The polymer binding mixed with shredded EPDM rubber is UV stable and thus functions well in outdoor settings. This is backed up by the fact that most outdoor playgrounds and fitness areas choose rubber for surfacing.
Slip and Water Resistant
Many poolsides and playgrounds utilize rubber surfacing for their slip and water resistance. Rubber surfacing provides additional safety through its tactile rubber surface and hydrophobic sealant.
Low Maintenance
Minimal effort is required to maintain rubber surfacing. However, each texture is unique and needs cleaning and sporadic maintenance accordingly. This is discussed in detail by the company you work with.
Safe and Shock Absorbent
This benefit is a big reason why people choose rubber surfacing. As discussed, it performs as spongey, shock-absorbent padding to reduce injury in the case of slips and falls. Depending on the scenario, poured rubber surfaces can be padded to meet specific fall height requirements. Whether for a track, poolside, or playground, poured rubber is a much safer alternative than traditional materials like asphalt, concrete, stone and wood chips.
Applications of Rubber Surfacing
There are a wide variety of applications for rubber surfacing. We list some common examples below. Depending on the required function, rubber surfaces can be as dense or soft as needed. It’s a versatile solution because it can be molded and smoothed to fit any shape or space.
Pool sides
Most accidents involving poolside surfacing include tripping and falling onto a rough surface like concrete. With untreated concrete, the coarse texture can cause additional bleeding and scrape from just a simple fall.
More severe accidents involve people falling and becoming unconscious due to head contact with a hard surface. According to the 2018 Canadian Drowning Report, 36 people have died from drowning in a pool since 2011-2015. This makes up 8% of Canada’s total drowning deaths. Aside from these deaths, permanent bodily and brain injuries occur from poolside falls.
Poured rubber surfacing is still considered hard, but it’s significantly softer than concrete with its smooth surface. A significant advantage of having rubber surfacing is reducing the number of injuries caused by falling. Additionally, rubber surfacing can be made waterproof when mixed in with a membrane component.
Playgrounds
Poured rubber surfacing for playgrounds functions similarly to a poolside application. While pools emphasize preventing damage as a result of slipping, playgrounds focus on minimizing injury from falls.
Playgrounds are usually the first thing that comes to mind when poured rubber surfacing is mentioned. Playgrounds are equipped with structures meant for children’s entertainment and play. As we know, these structures come with risks of injury.
Poured rubber for playgrounds is tuned to be as shock absorbent and slip-proof as possible since those are the factors that primarily contribute to injury. Since rubber surfacing is slip-resistant by default, falling because of a spilled drink is no longer a hazard. The increased tactile surface of the rubber also helps prevent trips while running.
Playground rubber surfacing can be adjusted to match specific fall heights that are associated with types of equipment. Fall height refers to the amount of shock absorption required to prevent injury after falling from a particular size. The higher the fall, the thicker the underlayer of poured rubber should be.
Indoor Gyms and Athletic Rooms
Gyms commonly have rubber flooring installed. A water-repellent seal prevents sweat, oils, and other liquids from absorbing into the floor. These contaminants are known for staining surfaces and producing awful odours as they decay under your feet. Additionally, these substances can spawn mould and bacteria if they become trapped inside or underfloor systems. This is why carpet is very uncommon in gyms.
As with other applications, the risk of tripping and falling is significantly reduced with rubber flooring. In a gym setting, this is especially important when large weights and equipment are being handled regularly.
Driveways
Rubber surfacing can mimic the density and function of standard asphalt driveways. This is also referred to as “rubber paving.” As mentioned previously, rubber solutions can be created for your specific needs. For driveways, you would want a high-density mixture that can withstand the outdoors and multiple vehicles’ weight.
Common Misconceptions
1) ‘Rubber Surfacing can make a room smell like a tire depot’ / Not True
Rubber surfacing does emit a distinct rubber-like smell when newly installed. The strength of the odour depends on certain factors. These include the raw materials used, the size of the room, and the ventilation.
Ventilation for a few days allows the smell to fade away.
2) Rubber surfacing contains toxic chemicals / Not True
Part of this belief comes from news stories concerning the link between the dangerous elements found in rubber and deadly diseases like cancer. Indeed, toxic elements like arsenic, benzene, nickel, and cadmium are lethal in enormous proportions. However, mere traces of such ingredients don’t make rubber flooring toxic.
3) Rubber surfacing installation is a DIY project / Not True
A large number of how-to articles and videos are out there for the Do-it-Yourself installation of rubber flooring. We don’t recommend it because most people aren’t equipped or knowledgeable enough to get their desired results. It’s not uncommon for a professional company to be hired to try and fix a failed DIY attempt. Some of the tools needed are a flooring roller and a T-square. As for knowledge, the mixing of components has to be perfect to get a solution that will last and have your desired density.
4) Rubber surfacing is not an eco-friendly surfacing option / Not True
This is mostly made up of recycled and pre-cycled tire materials. As you would be aware, discarded tires are a huge problem in the landfills emitting methane gas. Research shows that methane is nearly 90 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat, thus contributing to global warming.
Tires tend to trap methane gas, causing the bubbling effect in an attempt to escape to the environment. This is not just detrimental to the environment but also the integrity of the landfill.
By choosing rubber flooring for your area, you reduce the number of waste tires being diverted to the landfill, thus minimizing your carbon footprint.
5) Rubber Surfacing is Expensive / Not True
This may seem like a costly undertaking when compared to other flooring options like PVC or Concrete. However, you’re looking at the upfront cost instead of the lifetime value.
When regularly maintained, surfacing lasts 10-12 years on average. It can handle a lot of regular wear and foot traffic throughout its lifetime without its appearance changing. Rubber flooring may seem to be expensive initially but pays for itself in the long term. It’s also important to mention that the cost depends on the density you need for your flooring solution.
Conclusion
Rubber surfacing is becoming more popular as the general public becomes more educated about it. As discussed, it offers a wide variety of benefits and applications for both outdoors and indoors. We hope this article will allow you to make a more informed decision about choosing a surfacing/flooring option.
For more information on surfacing, you can visit our website’s rubber surfacing page. You can also contact us online to receive a quote or call us at (519) 203 8800.
November 12, 2020 9:59 am