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Important Facts About Rubber Resurfacing and How It Works

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Rubber resurfacing has seen a spike in societal popularity over the last 20 years. Schools have begun to utilize rubber surfacing to keep students safe on the playground and running tracks. We’ve now started to see homeowners take the same precautions to keep their children, their elderly relatives, and themselves safe in case they trip or fall. Although many households today have added rubber resurfacing to their driveways, sidewalks and pool decks, many homeowners remain skeptical about its effectiveness and how it works. The following blog will attempt to clear the air about the facts of rubber resurfacing to reduce confusion for homeowners considering implementing it at their residence.

 

Rubber Resurfacing Facts:

 

  • Rubber resurfacing is added on top of hard, unforgiving surfaces such as concrete, pavement, stone and asphalt to absorb or weaken the impact of a trip or fall.
  • Scientific research has indicated that rubber resurfacing has significantly prevented injuries/reduced the magnitude of specific injuries due to the soft base.
  • The impact of a fall is relative to the speed at which an object or individual falls. Falls from higher locations (i.e. the top of a staircase, pool deck) will present the most significant risk for injury – adding rubber resurfacing to your driveway or porch will effectively decelerate collision momentum.
  • Hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt will undoubtedly produce physical trauma and wounds as a fall onto these materials offer zero surface displacement. A child or adult that falls on rubber resurfacing will experience a slower stop over an extended distance, meaning the overall energy created by the fall will be reduced.
  • The utilization of materials such as Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and Ethelene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) makes for a slip-free experience. A common misconception is that rubber resurfacing will make it easier to slip and fall on baying water; however, rubber resurfacing is water permeable, allowing for water to pass right through it.
  • Rubber surfacing is an ideal solution for families with disabled or wheelchair-restricted relatives. Cracked pavement, concrete and asphalt can impede the movement of a disabled or wheelchair-restricted individual, whereas rubber resurfacing offers them a smooth and unimpeded track on which they are free to move.
  • Rubber surfacing is NOT the same as foam flooring. Foam flooring is typically found in nurseries and daycares and commonly come in the shape of puzzle pieces. Foam flooring is incredibly light and made of cheap material that offers very little protection in case of a trip or fall, whereas rubber resurfacing made from EPDM and SBR is designed to be heavy and withstand extensive damage and offer optimal protection.

 

The world has been catching on to rubber resurfacing as an alternative to concrete & pavement staircases, driveways and pool decks. For more information on rubber resurfacing and if it right for you, contact Vancouver Safety Surfacing today!

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