EPDM rubber flooring for pool surrounds and outdoor areas
Resilient, durable and slip-resistant, rubber is an ideal flooring surface for many applications, both indoors and out. Because of these advantages, EPDM rubber flooring is often considered by people when choosing a pool surrounds and wet-room flooring. But not all varieties of rubber flooring will be suitable.
Safety is paramount in wet areas, and the high ‘coefficient of friction’ of EPDM rubber means it offers excellent anti-slip properties. Another of its major benefits for outdoor use and around pools is its resistance to water absorption, or ‘swell’. However, only rubber flooring that use the correct binding agent should be fitted in these areas.
Most manufacturers and suppliers of rubber flooring use an aromatic polyurethane binder. This aromatic binder is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water, which will eventually cause it to dissolve. Continual exposure to water will ultimately cause the rubber flooring to break down in structure and fail.
However, the Neoflex 600, 700, 800, Reco and Natural series use an aliphatic polyurethane binder that is non-hygroscopic and will not break down when exposed to water on a continuous basis. This ensures these products will provide excellent performance under the conditions that pool surrounds and outdoor floors encounter.
In terms of physical properties, EPDM rubber flooring is a first-rate choice for its temperature resistance, abrasion and tear resistance, and weather/ozone resistance. EPDM rubber flooring also exhibits strong performance characteristics in terms of elongation, compression set, impact resistance, and rebound resilience.
Often, pool surrounds are chosen as much for visual appeal as they are for their physical characteristics. The Neoflex 600, 700, 800, Reco and Natural series come in a wide range of colourways that will complement the outdoor environment. Because EPDM exhibits excellent resistance to oxidation and sunlight aging, when combined with the non-hygroscopic aliphatic it will provide an ideal flooring solution for any area that is continuously exposed to water.
Advance Flooring are the New Zealand distributors of Neoflex Recycled Rubber Flooring.
See the full range of Neoflex Rubber Flooring