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More
about Rubber Matting
Here are
answers to some commonly asked questions. If they do not answer
your questions completely, please feel free to contact us
. We are only one phone call or one email away.
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always ready and eager
to help!
What
are the differences between rubber mats?
Most mats are manufactured using a re-vulcanization process.
During manufacturing, sulfur is mixed with rubber, heated
and pressed in molds while emitting harmful, pollutants into
the air. These mats have a sulfur, or rotten egg odor.
Tenderfoot
Stall Mats are manufactured with an environmentally safe space
age polymer banding agent on a continuous press. This allows
RB Rubber to offer a variety of sizes and factory sheared
edges for a tighter fit. By substituting re-vulcanization
with our space age polymer, our customers receive a stronger,
more resilient mat. (Back to
top)
Are
some mats softer than others?
Yes, polymer bonded mats are much softer than re-vulcanized
mats. Re-vulcanized mats rely on extreme pressure to band
the rubber together. This process compresses all of the air
pockets from the rubber resulting in a very hard mat.
Tenderfoot
Stall Mat's space age polymer bonding agent is specifically
designed to provide the utmost strength, resilience and cushion
to our mats for maximum comfort. It has increased integrity
and tensile (stretch) strength throughout the mat for many
years of extensive use. (Back
to top)
Do
smooth mats have the same traction as textured mats?
The amount of traction in a mat is directly related to the
softness or hardness of the mat. The harder the surface, with
or without texturing (pebbles, diamonds, or grooves), the
more slippery the mat is. The softer the mat, with or without
texturing, the more traction the mat will have. (Back
to top)
What
about drainage grooves?
Grooved mats appear to have great advantages over non-grooved
mats. However, when installing a grooved mat over concrete,
the mat collapses between the grooves. Over loose fill or
aggregate surfaces, the grooves fill up, choking any ventilation
the manufacturer promised. When installing grooved mats over
any surface, the grooved mats over any surface, the grooves
become a prime area for bacteria to grow and multiply.
When laid
down in a stall application, the draining feature works only
when all of the grooves are lined up throughout the stall.
Installing grooved mats actually requires more matting in
order to line up the grooves.
Remember,
a mat is only as thick as its thinnest point. Grooved mats
are an advantage to the manufacturer in that they require
less material to produce and can be sold for the same amount
as a regular, non-grooved mat. This means that when you purchase
a 3/4" grooved mat, you actually get the strength of
a 1/2" mat. (Back to top)
Where
does the urine go?
Stall matting should be a non-porous, non-absorbent surface.
Properly installed Tenderfoot Stall Mats are tight fitting,
with no large gaps along the walls or seams. Bedding chaff
packs into the seams and creates a very effective caulking,
providing a surface which allows urine to pool on top of the
mat and be absorbed by the bedding. Since the bedding absorbs
all of the urine, cleaning your stall removes nearly 100%
of the waste, thus eliminating odor. (Back
to top)
Are
larger mats better than smaller mats?
Larger mats have drawbacks! Large mats, such as a 6' x 12'
weigh up to 250 lbs. and were not designed for livestock use.
In fact they were made for conveyor belts and other machinery.
Those mats are very hard and contain fibers such as nylon
and rayon. These fibers do not expand and contract with the
rubber, eventually resulting in curling, cracking and shrinking.
When purchasing our matting, you will be certain that it is
free of any fiber. (Back to
top)
More questions?
We are only one phone call or one email away. Our friendly
and knowledgeable staff is always ready and eager to help!
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