Priming is the first step to creating a long lasting and durable poured in place rubber surface. It can be time consuming, but without proper priming, your poured in place rubber surface will not last as long as it should, and never reach its full potential.
Outside of using the highest quality products for a poured in place rubber surfacing project, the next most important and crucial step is correctly priming the area that will receive the poured in place rubber surface. Priming is procedure in which a diluted binder is applied to the subsurface during the poured in place rubber surfacing installation.
You will actually need to make two types of primers to use. The first primer will be used on the majority of the sub surface, we will refer to it as the main primer. The main primer will be applied using a roller and it will be used to cover the nearly all areas of the poured in place rubber sub surface. The main primer will be made by combining binder with a solvent. There are only two solvents that can be used for this, the first is di-basic ester, the second is pure acetone. The mix ratio for your main primer will be 50% binder, 50% solvent. The mixture should be mixed using an electric drill and a paddle, and needs to be mixed thoroughly.
The second primer you will need will be used on exposed edges, on seams, and around edges such as walls, posts, columns and doorways. We will refer to this primer as your specialty primer. This primer will be made using the same ingredients, however it will have a ratio of 80% binder and 20% solvent. This primer will be applied where needed using a paint brush. This primer will provide a stronger bond for the poured in place rubber surface where it is needed most.
Prior to priming, you want to make sure the area that will receive the poured in place rubber surfacing is as clean as possible. If the area is pretty much clean, it needs to be blown off with a blower immediately prior to beginning the installation. If the area is really dirty and has surface contaminants such as grease, it should be pressure washed and cleaned with an appropriate detergent like tri sodium phosphate. Once the area is cleaned it will need at least 48 hours to dry completely, the area should then be blown off with a power blower to remove any dust and debris that may have accumulated since it was pressure washed.
Priming serves two critical purposes. The first is to lock down any dust or contaminants on the surface that would prevent the poured in place rubber surface from properly adhering, the second purpose is to provide a common material (urethane) for the new binder to attach to. When you are ready to install the poured in place rubber surfacing, begin by priming the areas in which you intend to complete installation on in the next hour. Never prime a surface that you will not be installing rubber on top of in the next hour, the correct way to install primer is to do it in conjunction with the rubber that is to be laid. Start by priming all edges and obstacles with your specialty primer using a brush, be generous with the primer and take care not to miss any spots. The next step is to roll your main primer out in between the areas which you have installed your specialty primer. This is best done using a paint roller designed for adhesives.