The term liquid rubber might not be particularly familiar, but it should be. This material has an enormous range of applications, and serious implications for business and homeowners, as well as for construction companies, renovation specialists, boat owners
Liquid Rubber Coatings
and more. What is liquid rubber and what should you know about it?
What It Is
Liquid rubber is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a rubberized liquid that can be poured, rolled or painted onto a surface. When applied properly, it forms a single, solid membrane that’s impervious to water, and also offers outstanding resistance to sunlight, heat, cold, rain, hail and more. Unlike conventional shingles, metal, concrete and other solutions, liquid rubber doesn’t dry, shrink, crack or become brittle over time. It’s immensely long lasting and remains very flexible, which allows it to handle the effects of expansion and contraction due to temperature fluctuations.
Where It’s Used
So, where can liquid rubber be used? Actually, it can be used in almost any application. It’s used for roofing repairs on RVs and travel trailers. It can be applied to commercial building roofs, as well as to residential home roofs. It can be applied to boat hulls, concrete walls and more. If your application matches these conditions, chances are good it can benefit from an application of liquid rubber:
- Must be sealed against the elements
- Must resist the intrusion of water, whether from rain or groundwater runoff
- Must withstand expansion and contraction due to heat and cold
- Must withstand drying and cracking
In terms of actual applications, here’s a partial list of the potential areas that could benefit from its application:
- Home and business roofs
- Leaking and damaged gutters
- Leaking seals on roofs around chimneys, vents and more
- RV and travel trailer roof repairs
- Basement walls with water leaks
- Floors where water seepage is a problem
The right type of product can even be used to create liquid rubber flooring. A couple of coats atop concrete, tile or wood can seal moisture out permanently, while creating a highly resistant subflooring solution.
The most important thing to remember is that you need the right product. There are hundreds of liquid rubber compounds on the market today, and they’re not all the same. Make sure you purchase an EPDM rubber compound for the best performance, durability and waterproofing.
DIY or Professional Help?
Another consideration you’ll need to make is whether to handle things yourself, or hire a pro to do it for you. Your budget is really the single largest constraint here, although you’ll also want to consider your own ability if you decide to go the DIY route. Do you have the skills for liquid rubber application according to the manufacturer’s directions? Most of these products can be applied by homeowners and consumers without a professional contractor’s help, but if you decide that you don’t want to deal with the process, hiring a professional will ensure that you get the right results. Just make sure to do your research and hire a contractor experienced with liquid rubber products.