‘What is Wet Pour?’ and other Common Questions Explained
Wet pour rubber is… well that’s the question isn’t it! This rubber surface material has been a common safety surfacing solution for the last few decades, renowned for safety and durability. This article answers the most common questions our clients have about wet pour rubber surfacing.
Do you have any questions about wet pour before you choose it for your surfacing project? We’ve probably got an answer for you below! If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch with our team and we will help you out.
How is Wet Pour Installed?
As per the name, wet pour is a runny solution of rubber granules and resin poured directly onto a prepared surface. The installation team then screes and trowels the rubber the rubber layer to the desired height and leaves it to set (usually 24-28 hours for full curing in dry conditions).
Wet pour is suitable for direct pouring onto good quality tarmac or concrete. However, for the best results, we recommend groundwork and sub layers proper to pouring. For the best stability and longer lifespan, wet pour requires 100mm of MOT type One Base of set gravel aggregate as a minimum.
What is Wet Pour Made From?
Wet pour consists of rubber granules and a binding agent that combine and cure to create a solid surface. Each wet pour formula from different providers will use different types of rubber and binder at different ratios.
PlaySmart’s RubbaSmart uses virgin Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber granules and a Polyurethane (PU) Binder at a 1:18 binder to rubber ratio. As opposed to Sulphur Volcanized binders and styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) used by some competitors, our wet pour is formulated to last longer and resist UV and wear and tear.
How Much does Wet Pour Rubber Cost?
The cost of wet pour rubber varies depending on the following factors:
- Required installation depth
- Area of surface covered
- Required sub-bases and groundwork preparations
- Colour and desires of rubber for the visible top layer
The key concern for the majority of projects is the long-term upkeep costs of the surfacing. Addressing this, the extended lifespan of wet pour and maintenance provided by Playsmart, our RubbaSmart wet pour is very cost-effective. With one of the longest lifespans on the safety surface market, you should expect to see measurable return on investment.
How Long does it Last?
Wet pour is a remarkably stable and durable material designed for easy maintenance. With semi-regular sweeping and cleaning with a low pressure hose, surface contaminants can be removed and the surface looking good as new, with vibrant colours designed to last.
PlaySmart provides a 5-year product and 3-year installation guarantee on our RubbaSmart wetpour installations. This means that your surfacing will look good as new and provide top notch safety for years to come- and even after these guarantees, the surface will not require replacement for a number of years further (depending on upkeep and individual environmental and weather conditions).
RubbaSmart is vandal resistant as a tough material installed in solid layers that are not easily destroyed. The layers of protection poured into place means that any damage will be superficial without impacting the integrity of the surface as a whole. When required, we also provide wet pour repair kits to fix damaged areas of the larger surface yourself so they do not face further exacerbation by the elements.
How Safe is RubbaSmart?
For playgrounds with varying heights and types of pay equipment, wet pour rubber needs to provide a range of levels of safety. Our experts undertake a full examination in partnership with play designers to determine the appropriate depth of installation to provide the ultimate level of safety for your visitors.
After these consultations, wet pour will be installed at various depths to provide optimum critical fall height (CFH) protection. Based on independent tests to BSEN177 standards, RubbaSmart achieves between:
- 1.2m CFH protection at 40mm depth
- 3.0m CFH protection at 140mm depth
Where do I Need Wet Pour Surfacing?
Sites where Wet Pour Rubber Flooring has been a great surfacing solution include:
- Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs)
- Outdoor gyms
- Pathways
- Sports surfaces
- Seating areas
- Splash zones
- Gardens and play surfaces for home
- Children’s play areas
Do You Have Any More Questions About Wet Pour?
Hopefully, this article helped you understand more of the core functions and benefits of wet pour.
Did we miss your question? Let us know by getting in touch with us via our contact form or on our social media linked below.
