Using rubberized surfacing to increase safety around the pool

Custom options

Rubber safety surfacing is available in a wide variety of pre-mixed or custom colours that can be used to compliment, accentuate or bring together different areas of the landscape. For example, an alternative strip of colour around a pool deck can reproduce the look of a traditional coping stone, which can alleviate the dangers associated with a hard, trip-hazard edge. It can also provide better grip when exiting the pool.

Earth tones are also popular and can be mixed to imitate the look of natural sandstone, granite, pebble or terracotta. The surfacing can also be custom mixed to co-ordinate with a particular colour scheme or to match an existing theme, while facility crests and emblems can also be installed into the surface as an added enhancement.

Easy to clean and repair

By following a simple maintenance program, rubber safety surfacing is easy to keep clean and in pristine condition. Similar to indoor carpet care the surfacing benefits from regular sweeping and periodic washing with a soap solution and bristle broom, power washer or specially developed cleaning product.

Should a repair to any sub surface piping or duct work become necessary, the area concerned is simply cut out and new rubber can be poured and hand-trowelled back in place to blend into the existing surface.

Installation is quick and easy

A major benefit of choosing rubber safety surfacing over more traditional products is the fast in-and-out installation process. It can be applied directly over top of an existing cracked, worn or heaved surface, or to any solid substrate (e.g. wood, metal, concrete, asphalt, interlocking brick, compacted crushed rock, flagstone, aluminum and steel). This means the average residential pool deck would require only one day to complete without the need for noisy jackhammers and expensive debris removal systems.

In fact, debris removal is a common problem with many traditional surfacing materials. Whether it is performed in house or handled by a contractor, debris removal is not cheap, easy, or in many cases, environmentally friendly. A contractor will often charge by the load and many landfills only accept construction and demolition (C&D) waste by weight; with concrete weighing approximately 68 kg (150 lbs) per cubic foot, the cost can add up quickly.

With rubber safety surfacing, unsightly blemishes or eroded areas on an existing surface are simply chipped away or filled to level low spots and depressions prior to application.

The general advantage of a one-day installation is a seamless, carpet-like finish that can be walked on within 24 hours. Should installation take more than one day, the previous day’s work can be cut back to an optically suitable area to facilitate a neat and almost invisible joint.

A typical pool deck application starts with a thorough inspection of the existing surface, taking into account any pre-install remedial work necessary to ensure a perfect finish. On the day of installation, a workstation, where the rubber granules will be mixed with the urethane binder, is set up in an area close to the pool deck. Once the deck surface is prepared, and a coat of primer is applied, a workable quantity of the granulated rubber mixture is poured and hand trowelled to a uniform thickness (approximately 6 mm [0.23 in.]). At this time it is important to watch for undulating spots until the entire area has been covered. On completion, the job site is cleaned up and the workstation is removed, leaving the client with a beautifully restored pool deck.

However, it does not stop here. Not only can rubber safety surfacing be used to prevent slip-fall accidents around the pool, it is also a great remedy for rejuvenating aging patios, steps, walkways, wheelchair and buggy ramps, entrances and foyers, change and locker rooms, garage floors and driveways.

Barry Meakings is CEO of Rubaroc International Inc., a Canadian-based developer and installer of rubberized safety surfacing. He has more than 28 years experience in commercial and residential poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing throughout North America. He can be reached via e-mail at barry@rubaroc.com.