Outdoor Rubber Flooring
11/06/09
Outdoor Flooring, used to cover Playgrounds, Decks, Concrete, & Cement. When talking about the great outdoors, people rarely think about rubber products. New venues however are being opened up with witht the advent of recycled tire products. Recycl;ed tire products are well suited for outdoor use because of the fact that they contain a significant quantity of EPDM, which is an ozone and UV stable elastomer.EPDM is also added into recycled tire flooring products in the form of color speckles or a finished coating on the upper surface of the mat. Because of the high EPDM content, it makes recycled rubber products ideal for outdoor matting applications.
Now that the ourdoor matting “how’s” have been answered, lets turn to focus on the “why’s” behind outdoor matting. There are many uses where outdoor rubber flooring can be applied: patios, pool-side applications, playgrounds, dog kennels, barbecue applications, sealing pesky roof leaks, and miscellaneous outdoor sports uses.
In regards to outdoor patios, rubber flooring is an ideal choice because it is able to offer a waterproof wear resistant alternative to conventional flooring. Also, in most outdoor patio applications, the rubber flooring does not have to be permanently adhered and can be installed in a loose lay fashion. This means that the material can be easily removed and replaced in the case of any damage.Since outdoor patios do not usually require heavy duty floor protection, rolled rubber products are ideal for use as floor mats in these applications.
For wet conditions, such as poolside areas, the primary use for rubber flooring is to provide anti-slip protection and give added traction. This function can be applied on a larger scale as well in more concentrated forms such as single outdoor mats. The high coefficient of friction and cushioning effect of rubber is one of the benefits of outdoor mats because it provides an anti-slip and anti-fatigue surface. This helps protect against the dangers of slips and falls.
Since most playgrounds containing serious equipment are typically seen outdoors, any rubber matting products used in these applications must possess excellent outdoor weathering resistance characteristics as well as sufficient protection against falls from equipment heights. For these applications, the appropriate products that would provide these qualities would be rubber playground tiles. Playground Tiles are available in much larger thicknesses than rolled rubber products and area available in multiple colors. The larger thicknesses provide added comfort and cushioning against falls. This is important when dealing with playgrounds because in these environments safety is a number one concern.
Other great applications where rubber flooring can be utilized is in dog kennels. Dog kennels require a product that is tough, resilient, and easy to clean. Rubber flooring also provides added cushioning and comfort over bare concrete slab, which is very uncomfortable and usually the subsurface in most dog kennels. Another great benefit is the ease of maitenance. Since most pet care applications require cleaning to some degree, rubber flooring is a great choice becase it is completely waterproof which makes it easy to clean. This product can be hosed off and cleaned with most household cleaning products.
Other applications for rubber flooring are barbeque areas where protection of any subsurfaces (hardwood decks surrounding barbeque) are a concern. The rubber matting also is able to provide added comfort and anti-fatigue properties to anyone in the area.
Rolled rubber can also be used to temporarily relieve any inconveniences cause by roof leaks. Since recycled rubber is waterproof and contains high amounts of UV and ozone resistant EPDM, it is great for temporarily protecting any areas against leaks until a roof repair is possible.For outdoor sporting applications, rubber flooring is an ideal choice in flooring because of its ability to protect sub floors and shoes or equipment.
For areas that experience heavy foot traffic with spikes or cleats, rubber flooring is an ideal choice because it can protect the cleats and concrete subsurface from any damage they would inflict on one another. Hard and soft spikes from athletic shoes can damage any concrete surfaces they come into contact with as well as can be damaged themselves from the concrete. With the use of rubber flooring, both the subsurface and athletic equipment can be protected.
As you can see, rubber flooring provides great benefits over conventional outdoor flooring. Next time you have an outdoor flooring project, consider the benefits of using outdoor rubber flooring. Not only does it provide a warm comfortable surface, but it is also built to last.
11/06/09
When talking about the great outdoors, very few people immediately think of rubber products. The advent of recycled tire products, however, opens up new venues for outdoor flooring. Because car tires contain a significant quantity of EPDM (an ozone and UV stable elastomer), they are well suited to outdoor use. Further, when the tires are recycled for use as flooring products, EPDM is often added either as color speckles throughout the mat, or as a finish coating over the upper surface of the mat. This makes recycled rubber products ideal for outdoor matting applications.
