About wet pour rubber
Wet pour rubber is an attractive, impact absorbing and low maintenance rubber crumb safety surface, ideal for use in a wide range of play applications.
This two-layered system is created using an SBR sub-base topped with a coloured EPDM layer to create a vibrant, imaginative and most importantly, safe surfaces which cure after around 24-48 hours after laying dependent on the outside temperature.
SBR and EPDM rubber crumb are mixed with a specialist resin binder in a suitable mixer before being spread, levelled and finished off using hand-held trowels. Unique designs can also be created to encourage different types of play by using templates and a number of colours as shown in the following image.
Wet pour rubber surfaces are an incredibly popular choice for recreational areas, schools, nurseries and other play spaces thanks to the following range of incredible benefits.
Versatile: The vibrant colours and safety of wet pour rubber makes for a versatile surfacing solution ideal for a wide range of applications.
Vibrant: With a range of bright colours available, you can produce beautiful and engaging surfaces to encourage imaginative play.
Permeable: If installed correctly, wet pour rubber allows surface water to drain away naturally into the ground below and helps towards preventing localised flooding.
Low maintenance: It is easy to maintain by following simple steps such as wearing suitable footwear and routinely brushing or washing using soap and hot water.
UV stable: With the use of UV stable resin binder, your rubber safety surface will not fade away in sunlight.
Safe: With a suitable installation depth using SBR, wet pour rubber can provide a critical fall height rating of 1.4 metres.
choosing a Wet Pour mixer
Needing a high-quality, quick and consistent mix is vital to ensure the laid surfacing is the same from the first batch to the last. SoRoTo mixers are the ideal mixing solution when it comes to wet pour rubber.
With so many features and benefits that aid in the consistent mixing of rubber wet pour, SoRoTo mixers really are the perfect addition to your company if installing rubber safety surfaces.
Our mixers have a large mixing capacity, consistent mix results, are simple to transport and use, are incredibly durable and so much more.
other Wet Pour tools
It is important to ensure you have all of the necessary tools required for your upcoming wet pour rubber task prior to starting. A failure to prepare for all eventualities could lead to insufficient working practices and delays will more than likely occur and affect the project outcome.
Below is a fully list of equipment that could be required for any installation. We are able to help you out with the supply of some of the tools and items listed:
- Wheelbarrow
- Wooden screed rails
- Aluminium straight edge
- Spazzle
- Various shaped hand float/trowels
- Roller(s)
- Digital thermometer
- Drum stand
- Drum tap
- Measuring scales
- Buckets for measuring binder and cleaning floats
- PPE: e.g. gloves, protective sleeve covers, safety glasses, respirator
Using a forced action mixer for wet pour installations
A neat and well organised mixing area should be established, including where viable, using plastic sheets to protect the existing surface from contamination and damage.
Climate conditions should be taken into consideration when mixing material. In hot and humid conditions, the mix should take place in the shade or under covers to prevent an accelerated cure and to ensure that the material stays workable for as long as possible.
In order to achieve a homogeneous and even surface, materials must be accurately measured and thoroughly mixed in a forced action pan mixer for the same amount of time before application. Each mix must be mixed for the same time as this is crucial for consistency.
You should also never mix only part of a batch as it is difficult to get ratios exact and this could affect your end result. Also, if multiple batches are delivered to site, always mix at a consistent ratio. For example, if three tonnes of coloured EPDM has been delivered to site and two tonnes are from batch one and one tonne is from batch two, then add to the mixer at a ratio of 2:1, each and every time.
Below you will find a table showing the mixing ratios of wet pour rubber:
Installing wet pour Rubber
Once the below surface has been prepared and membranes have been laid to prevent weeds rising to the surface, it is time to install a safety surface.
When installing a single layer, it is recommended a minimum thickness of 20mm and this can be installed directly onto an asphalt or concrete sub-base.
The sub-base and all edges must be 100% primed. When the safety surface is being laid onto a new concrete or asphalt, it must be cured fully as any excess moisture (from concrete) and oils (from asphalt) will affect the primer and break the bond between the sub-base and EPDM layer.
Step-by-step installation guide:
- Prime the concrete / asphalt sub-base.
- Set up the mixing area and place appropriate ground cover when necessary.
- Turn the force action pan mixer on.
- Empty the EPDM into the mixer.
- Measure / weigh off the binder.
- Pour the binder into the mixer and leave it to mix until the rubber is fully and evenly coated. Recommended for three minutes.
- Mixed materials should be transported to the working area by wheel barrow and poured out in small piles, ready to be screeded.
- Screed and level the EPDM at a thickness of 23mm.
- Float the EPDM down by 3mm, using either a hand float or a medium, 9.4kg roller.
- Repeat steps 8-10 until you finish or stop at a planned break point.
- Once finished, leave the EPDM wearing layer to cure fully.
SoRoTo forced action mixers
Every SoRoTo machine has been manufactured to the highest quality to enable it to withstand the toughest environments that machinery can face on sites. Their efficient but quiet motors and durable designs make these upright pan mixers the perfect machine for contractors who need efficient and reliable, high-capacity output machines.
The mixers in our range were built for portability. They are designed to be narrow, light and able to fit through standard doorways and upstairs, when needed.
They are completed in just under four minutes per load, which saves time compared to traditional rotary drum mixers.
SoRoTo 80L This mixer is designed to fit through most standard doorways and transported easily to the exact area of working. With easy-load transportation rollers on the top of the machine, loading into the back of a van or onto a pickup flatbed is simple and can be done quickly, by a single person.
SoRoTo 100L: Ideal for contractors who have a requirement for mixing larger amounts (up to 240kg approximately) of materials. The 100L is light and narrow enough to fit through standard doorways.
SoRoTo 200L: With a mixing capacity of 468kg, service life of up to 20 years and the accessibility to be able to use the mixer on uneven surfaces, the 200L will save time and money. It is incredibly versatile being suitable for multiple jobs. The lightweight frame and adjustable legs mean it is ideal to reach hard-to-access areas.
Summary
Wet pour rubber is versatile, safe, and vibrant surfacing solution for play areas, playgrounds, adventure parks, paths and other recreational areas.
With the use of a SoRoTo mixer, you can easily and consistently mix large batches of rubber crumb ready to lay and trowel in any design you wish. Built to produce high-quality and efficient mixing results, durability, portability and so much more, this really is the best wet pour mixer.
You can download our full wet pour rubber installation guide here.
For more information on rubber wet pour, SoRoTo mixers or any of our other products, please call our helpful and friendly team on 01246 418144. Alternatively, you can contact us via LiveChat or email us here.
2 Responses
I purchased one of your mixers last year. It has worked well for our installations.
Do you have any recommendation on how to best clean the mixer of the cured rubber that has accumulated?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi, thanks for your question.
To remove a build-up of cured resin we would recommend mixing together gravel and xylene to abrade the majority of the dried resin. Then responsibly remove the gravel before using xylene and a wire brush to remove any dried resin remnants.
To avoid this in future we would recommend regular cleaning throughout your projects by wiping the drum with a sponge and white spirit.