Repair & Maintenance Guide

Repairing damaged tiles/mats/blocks/pavers is simple and easy. Keep in mind, our products are 22”X44” (inches) and not 22”X22” as it will appear that way when looking at the installed product (after an installation). To remove a 22”X44” unit, take a crow bar with a flat edge (flat crow bar) and try to pry out the unit (or section) without damaging the surrounding area or interlocking system. It is easier to find where the interlocking joints are located. This will save the interlocks (sides) to be used again with the new (or same) unit being installed.

Once the damaged unit is removed, you will need to clean the interlocking taps of the units that will remain in place. Use a “roto-zip” (pictured) or a utility knife and apply it to the ENTIRE “male” and “female” interlocking joints to clean any and all debris/adhesive/glue for this area to successfully re-install the same or new unit. Make sure to match the bit size (1/2”) with the interlock joint thickness.

Maintenance:

1. As with any other solid surface such as concrete, asphalt, cement, blacktop, etc., for outdoor usage, Unity’s products will need to be swept free of any and all debris with a “leaf-blower” and/or vacuumed cleaner (shop vacuum). Here a leaf-blower was rigged with a scrapper at the end of it to help release debris at the seams.

In order to get 20 years out of this type of safety surfacing, flooring and paver product, it is important to “leaf blow”, vacuum, or even pressure-wash the entire area free of any debris as necessary. This will ensure that no debris gets into the seams of our tiles/mats/blocks/pavers system, which may encourage product-to-product separation over time. In turn, properly maintaining your rubber tile/mat/block/paver investment, “leaf blowing” will help prevent such problems in the future. However, it should be recognized that not all areas will require this type of maintenance…………we just like to provide you with options going forward.

Note: We have many clients that use a light pressure washer (2,000PSI or less) as a method of maintenance.

During any method of maintenance you choose to use, a sharp object may be needed, and applied at the seam(s) of areas that has more debris than others to loosen up the stubborn debris for easier cleaning and/or blowing.

We feel that “broom sweeping” will only lock the un-wanted debris in the seams and not remove it in its entirety. It should also be noted, that when cleaning (especially indoors) use a mild detergent, mix cleaner with warm to hot water as directed and apply to the rubber flooring with a wet mop. Allow the cleaner to stand about five (5) to ten (10) minutes before removing with a clean damp mop. Rinse thoroughly (not in the same bucket as you are cleaning with) until the rinse water is clear. Allow to surface to dry before using again. “Armorall™” may be used to acquire a deep royal shine. Using this type of finishing liquid may create a very slippery surfacing at first, and should be taken into consideration based on the use of this rubberized safety surfacing, flooring and paver material.

It is extremely important to clean the area of any and all debris prior to the painting/clear-coat application. Additionally, it is recommended to pressure wash the entire area clean and let dry overnight, as noted above in the “during” photograph. This will insure that the paint will stick better and the paint will last longer than usual.

Once that is complete, it is recommended to tape off the area that is being painted to avoid any overspray or over rolling. Roll or spray the first coat on and allow to dry (approximately 1-3 hours), then apply the second coat, allowing enough time to dry (usually overnight).

Here is a sample of the top-coat (clear sealer) being applied to this playground to give the area a nice clean finished look. Click the image below to watch the video of how fast and easy it is to apply.