Softroc FAQs

Softroc poured-in-place rubber surfacing is made by mixing rubber granules with a binder and hand-troweling the material on site to create a continuous surface. Colors and designs can be tailored to your space.

Softroc offers surfacing for pool decks, patios, porches, walkways, garages, home gyms, suitable interior areas, playgrounds, splash pads, sports areas, and other residential and commercial spaces. Commercial projects can include schools, HOAs, hotels and community facilities. Share the intended activity, users, exposure and maintenance needs with your local team so the suitable system, availability, scope and required specifications can be confirmed.

Softroc offers rubber surfacing systems using EPDM, TPR or SBR granules with polyurethane binders. Materials and layers are selected for the application. Ask your local team to identify the rubber, binder and complete system specified for your project, and use the related material answers to understand the differences.

Yes. Softroc offers standard colors and custom blends, and borders, designs and logos are available with its poured rubber system. Plan these details with your surface choice and project layout. Review physical samples and the proposed design with your local team before approving the work.

Yes. Softroc offers garage surfacing options, but the right system depends on how you use the garage. Parking vehicles, working on equipment and using the space as a gym create different requirements. Confirm the approved surface assembly, expected loads, cleaning needs and return-to-use instructions before installation. Do not assume every rubber or Flecks system is suitable for vehicle traffic.

Softroc offers rubber surfacing materials for driveway applications. Your local team can assess the existing driveway, intended vehicle use, and required preparation to recommend an appropriate system. Concrete repair and preparation may be handled through The Driveway Company, a Softroc service line.

TPV means thermoplastic vulcanizate. It is a type of thermoplastic elastomer that combines cured rubber with a thermoplastic material. TPR is a broader term, so a product described as TPR should not automatically be identified as TPV. Compare the actual material and complete surfacing specification rather than treating the abbreviations as interchangeable.

Aliphatic and aromatic are two types of polyurethane binder used in rubber surfacing. The binder holds the rubber granules together as the surface cures. Aliphatic binders are generally chosen for better resistance to UV-related yellowing, especially when surface color is important. Aromatic binders can develop an amber or yellow tint in sunlight. The best choice depends on the approved system, color, exposure and intended use; the binders should not be treated as interchangeable.

A one-component or two-component label describes how a product is supplied and prepared; it does not by itself establish chlorine resistance, vehicle suitability or service life. Ask your local team to identify the binder and primer specified for your complete system.

Flecks Systems makes distinct TPR surfacing systems. Deck Flecks uses a single-component aliphatic binder in its top layer for uses such as pool decks, patios and walkways. Water Flecks uses a designated two-component chlorine-resistant binder for aquatic use. Play Flecks combines a wear surface with the specified cushion system for dry playgrounds. Your local Softroc team can confirm which complete system is suitable and available for your project.

No. Poured-in-place surfacing is made by mixing granules with a binder and hand-troweling the mixture. A coating may be rolled or sprayed and uses its own specified materials and layer build. Compare the exact system, intended use and finish; the application method alone does not establish quality, drainage or durability.

Yes. Softroc rubber and Hardroc stone are available for horse-stall and barn applications. Describe the particular space, such as a stall, aisle or other barn area, and how it is used. The existing base, expected loads, cleaning routine and drainage needs should be reviewed before choosing the surface and installation approach.

Yes. Softroc rubber and Hardroc stone are available for horse and barn wash-bay applications. Planning should include how water will drain, how the area will be cleaned, the condition of the base and the expected use. Those details help determine the appropriate surface and installation approach.

Yes. Softroc rubber and Hardroc stone are available for horse-trailer applications. The trailer's existing floor, intended use, expected loads and cleaning and drainage needs should be reviewed before selecting a system and installation approach.

Softroc rubber generally offers a softer, more cushioned feel; Hardroc stone offers a hardscape look. Both are available for equine applications, including barns, horse stalls, wash bays and trailers. The best fit depends on the intended use, base condition, cleaning and drainage needs, and expected loads.

EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, a type of synthetic rubber. In poured surfacing, EPDM granules are combined with a specified binder to form the finished surface. Softroc offers EPDM granules in its material range. The granules are one part of the system; the binder, base, thickness and intended use also matter when choosing the right surface.

TPR means thermoplastic rubber, a broad term for materials that combine a rubber-like feel with thermoplastic processing properties. Flecks identifies its surfacing granules as thermoplastic rubber. In the selected Flecks system, these granules are combined with the specified binder. The TPR label alone does not establish a surface’s drainage, chlorine resistance, cushioning or approved uses; those depend on the complete system.

SBR stands for styrene-butadiene rubber, a type of synthetic rubber. Softroc’s published SBR granules are made from recycled tires. SBR materials can be used in surfacing systems, including specified base or cushioning layers. The right use depends on the material grade, binder and complete installation design; the name SBR alone does not establish a finished surface’s fall rating or suitability for a particular project.

The terms describe the shape of the rubber pieces. Granules are typically compact particles, while shreds and buffings tend to be more elongated or irregular. Exact dimensions vary by product. Different forms can serve different roles, such as a finished wear layer or a specified cushioning layer. Shape alone does not identify the rubber type or determine the finished surface’s performance. The material, particle size, binder and complete system should be selected together.

Yes. Softroc can be installed in suitable interior areas of a home, including home gyms. The room’s intended use, existing floor, moisture conditions and cleaning needs help determine the right system. Discuss material suitability, preparation, ventilation and return-to-use instructions before installation rather than assuming an outdoor system is appropriate for every indoor room.

Yes. Home gyms are one of Softroc’s applications. Describe the exercise area, equipment and whether activities include dropped weights so the proposed system can be matched to the intended use. Review the existing floor, equipment contact points, cleaning needs and installation instructions before choosing the material and thickness.

Yes. Softroc offers rubber surfacing for patios and porches. The existing surface should be assessed for condition, preparation and drainage before installation. Plan the color and design along with furniture use, steps, door clearances and transitions to adjoining areas so the finished surface fits the way you use the space.

Compare the proposed installation, not just the brand name. Both brands offer poured rubber surfacing for applications such as pool decks and patios. Review the materials, preparation, base condition, drainage, design, care instructions, approved uses and written warranty for each quote. Softroc also offers Hardroc stone finishes and The Driveway Company repair services, which may be relevant when considering the full project. Confirm the options available through your local team.

Softroc’s poured rubber has a textured, rubber feel rather than the hard feel of stone. The material, granule size, finish and complete system affect the result. Review a physical sample of the proposed finish with your installer, especially for barefoot areas, and discuss the balance you want between texture, comfort and cleaning.

Softroc can be installed as an overlay on suitable existing concrete. Your local team should assess the surface and identify any cleaning, repairs, or preparation needed before installation. The condition of the existing concrete helps determine the right approach.

Sometimes. Stable, repairable damage may be addressed with concrete repairs and preparation before resurfacing. Suitable existing cracks can be concealed beneath a continuous rubber finish after assessment and proper preparation. Concealing a crack does not correct ongoing movement, and future movement can affect the new surface. Active settlement, heave, unstable bases or drainage problems need assessment and correction; some cases require replacement. In suitable projects, poured-rubber thickness can be varied for minor low areas within the system’s limits. Your local team and The Driveway Company can evaluate repairs, drainage and how existing joints will be handled.

An existing textured coating needs a project-specific assessment before Softroc is specified. Ask your local team to check the coating’s condition, its bond to the surface below, and any cracking, peeling, or loose areas. They can explain whether the coating can remain or what removal, repair, or preparation is needed.

An epoxy-coated surface needs to be assessed before an overlay is recommended. Tell your local team which coating was used, if you know, and point out peeling, moisture concerns, cracks, or previous repairs. Ask them to specify the preparation or coating removal needed for your project.

A decorative chip or flake finish is a coating system, which is different from physically chipped concrete. Your local team should assess the coating and the surface beneath it before recommending an overlay. The proposed preparation should address any loose or failing coating; compatibility should not be assumed from the finish’s appearance alone.

Chipped or flaking concrete should be evaluated before Softroc is installed. Ask your local team to identify loose or damaged areas and explain the repairs or preparation needed. Covering the area does not replace necessary concrete repairs.

Flagstone needs a project-specific assessment. Ask your local team to evaluate the stones, joints, stability, drainage, and surface levels before recommending Softroc. Loose or moving stones and uneven areas need to be addressed in the preparation plan. Do not assume every flagstone surface is suitable for an overlay.

Take photos and contact your installer for an assessment. Loose material, exposed base, lifting edges or a new soft area can have different causes, so they should not automatically be dismissed as normal wear. Keep people away from an area that presents a trip or other obvious hazard until it is assessed. Avoid applying a generic glue, sealer or patch product before the correct repair method is identified. The repair approach depends on the condition of both the finish and the material underneath. Repairs can be made when needed, with the method selected after that assessment.

We do our best to blend repairs into the surrounding surface and minimize visible lines. A repair may still remain visible because of differences in age, wear, color, texture, or the size of the repaired area.

Yes. Softroc rubber can be installed over a properly prepared crushed-aggregate base using a process designed for that application. Concrete is preferred, but existing concrete is not always required. The intended use, base condition, drainage and expected loads need to be reviewed before choosing the installation approach.

Start by contacting your local team for a project review and estimate. Once you approve the scope and material choice, the team schedules preparation and installation. Many installations can be completed in a day, although size, repairs, access and weather can extend the work. Installation time and curing time are different. Follow your selected system’s instructions for its approved uses, including pedestrian access, furniture, vehicle traffic or water exposure where applicable.

Follow the return-to-use instructions for your specific installation and its approved uses. Walking, furniture placement, playground use, vehicle traffic or water exposure, where applicable, may have different requirements. Your installer should confirm when each approved type of use can resume before you reopen the area.

These details should be planned before installation. The added surface thickness affects finished levels at doors, steps, pool edges and drains. Ask your installer to review edge transitions and access points with the proposed system so the finish fits the surrounding area. Tell the team about doors that already rub, shallow thresholds, existing trip edges and drains that must remain accessible.

Yes. Installation and curing depend on the selected materials and site conditions. A surface that looks dry may not be ready for installation, and a finished-looking surface may still be curing. Your installer should confirm the weather window and reopening instructions for the actual system, including when people, furniture, pool use or approved vehicles can return.

Your operating schedule should be part of the project plan. Tell the team when the space must be available and whether separate work areas could be considered. Installation, curing, weather, access and safe barriers all affect the schedule. Confirm any phased work and reopening milestones in the agreed scope rather than assuming the site can remain fully open throughout the project.

Softroc offers textured, slip-resistant rubber pool deck surfacing. Slip resistance does not eliminate the possibility of slipping. Keep the surface clean and use appropriate care around water. Ask your local team which system is suitable for your pool area.

Softroc offers heat-resistant surfacing options, but do not assume an outdoor surface will stay cool in direct sun. Discuss color, sun exposure, and product-specific temperature information with your local team. Check the surface before barefoot use during hot weather.

Porous Softroc systems allow water through the finish; sealed or nonporous options work differently. With a porous system, the base, slope, drains and surrounding ground determine where that water goes. Surfacing over concrete does not make the concrete permeable. Existing puddles or drainage problems should be evaluated before installation, with any needed drain or grading work included in the project plan.

A playground surface must be selected for the equipment and the required impact performance. Its complete build-up can include a cushioning layer beneath the visible finish. A patio finish or a generic thickness is not automatically suitable under play equipment. The specified materials, thickness, base and applicable test documentation should be reviewed together for the playground design.

Chlorine resistance depends on the named system and its exposure. Deck Flecks guidance covers pool-water splashes and spills; Water Flecks is designed for aquatic chlorinated-water exposure. Ask your local team to match the specified binder and finish to your pool or water-play area and provide the applicable care instructions.

Deck Flecks and Water Flecks have porous and specified non-porous options. The standard porous surface leaves spaces between the bound granules. The non-porous option adds Flecks Grout and Sealcoat. Finish selection affects care and drainage planning, and the underlying surface, slopes and drains still matter.

A non-porous finish alone does not establish a waterproofing system. A waterproofing project needs an approved complete assembly, including any required membrane and appropriate details at joints, edges and drains. Ask your local team to confirm the complete assembly rather than relying on the word sealed.

Critical fall height is a laboratory-tested height rating for a specified playground surfacing system. It describes the surface’s impact performance under the test conditions and is considered alongside the equipment’s fall-height requirement. It is not a promise that a fall cannot cause an injury. The complete system and applicable test results matter, and the installed surface still needs inspection and maintenance as it ages.

Impact performance and accessibility are separate considerations. A surface’s impact test addresses cushioning, while accessible use also depends on the specified surface, routes, slopes, transitions and the overall playground layout. Ask the project team to review both requirements and the relevant documentation. Installing rubber alone does not establish accessibility for the entire facility.

Not necessarily. Sunlight can yellow the aromatic-binder film over the granules, changing how the surface color looks. That color change alone does not establish a bond or structural failure. Have the cause assessed, especially if discoloration comes with loose material, cracking, lifting or softness. Aliphatic binder selection reduces this particular yellowing concern but does not guarantee that a surface can never discolor.

Cleaning frequency should match the surface and how it is used. A busy commercial play area, a shaded pool deck and a covered patio will not need the same schedule. Remove loose debris routinely and use the written care plan for deeper cleaning. For Flecks material options, the manufacturer specifically varies maintenance by system, environment and use. Softroc also offers cleaning services; ask your location about availability.

Use the care instructions for your installed system before choosing cleaners or equipment. Rubber materials, binders and sealed finishes do not all have the same limits. Flecks publishes approved cleaners and equipment guidance, including chemicals and abrasive tools to avoid. Do not assume a cleaning recipe found for another brand applies. Confirm the product, dilution and equipment settings, and spot-test an approved cleaner in an inconspicuous area.

Softroc offers top-coat rejuvenation services to help maintain the surface. Ask your local team whether your installation needs a top coat and what maintenance schedule applies. Get care requirements in writing, including any steps needed to maintain warranty coverage.

Yes. Nearby sandboxes, planting beds and trees can bring debris onto the surface. Routine sweeping, blowing or vacuuming, as allowed by the installed system’s care instructions, helps keep it clear. Pay particular attention to entries and drainage paths. Avoid scraping the surface with sharp tools, and ask for a cleaning plan if sand or organic debris is a recurring problem.

Plan for both debris removal and the handling of wash water. Start with the cleaning method approved for that indoor system; a porous finish does not mean the building has floor drainage. Where wet cleaning is allowed, extraction may be needed rather than leaving water to soak through. Sealed and porous floors can require different care, so keep the installation’s written cleaning instructions.

Covered and exposed areas can weather and collect dirt differently. Flecks notes that this can make a color difference noticeable when a pool cover is removed. The cause should be assessed before treating it as fading or a material failure. Photograph the area and use the recommended cleaning approach; persistent discoloration or a change in the surface’s condition should be reviewed by your installer.

Identify the stain before choosing a cleaner. Sunscreen and body oils, rust marks and mineral deposits can need different treatments. For Flecks options, use the manufacturer’s approved products and instructions, then test a small inconspicuous area first. Avoid improvised solvent or chemical mixtures. If the stain persists, have the installer assess it instead of repeatedly applying stronger products.

Yes. A shaded, damp area can collect organic debris and growth even when the surfacing material is suitable for outdoor use. Keeping debris and drainage paths clear, following the approved cleaning plan and addressing persistent moisture are important. A surface should not be treated as maintenance-free or assumed to solve the underlying reason an area stays wet.

Use the system’s care plan to check for debris, blocked drainage, lifting edges, damage and wear in busy areas. Playground entries, swings and slide exits deserve particular attention. Keep a dated record of concerns and repairs, and contact the installer when the surface changes. Visual checks support maintenance but do not replace any testing or specialist inspection required for the site.

Request an estimate for your specific project. Start with the requirements the surface must meet, then compare design and scope options. Area, base repairs, access, material choice, required thickness, color blends and detailed designs can affect the quote. Ask which options fit your intended use and budget. A lower price is not a useful comparison if preparation, materials, maintenance or required performance differ between proposals.

Warranty options are available through your local Softroc installation team. Before approving the project, request the written terms for your installation, including coverage, duration, exclusions, maintenance requirements, and how to make a claim.

Softroc offers financing options. Ask your local team which options are available for your project and review the provider’s eligibility requirements, payment schedule, interest, and fees before deciding.

Use the Softroc location finder and enter your ZIP code or choose your state. Contact the local team to discuss your project, confirm service availability, and request a consultation or estimate.

Service life depends on the selected system, the condition of its base, installation, traffic, exposure and maintenance. A residential patio and a heavily used playground do not wear in the same way. Ask for expectations for your specific project, plus the cleaning and maintenance plan. An expected lifespan is different from a written warranty, which has its own coverage, conditions and exclusions.

Confirm the preparation checklist with your installation team. Discuss furniture and equipment removal, access to the work area, pets and pedestrian barriers, nearby landscaping, and who is responsible for any repairs or drainage work. For an active construction site, coordinate other trades so equipment does not damage a newly installed or curing surface. The agreed scope should state which preparation tasks are included.

Send the project location, approximate area, current surface, photos and how the space will be used. Point out cracks, low spots, drainage issues, steps and difficult access. For a playground or commercial site, include plans, equipment information, required specifications and the target opening date. These details help the team evaluate the project; a site assessment may still be needed.

Keep the agreed scope, installed system and color details, relevant product and test documents, care instructions, reopening instructions, warranty terms and repair contact information. If your project has specific procurement or compliance requirements, provide them before the quote is finalized so responsibilities and available documentation can be agreed. This also makes later cleaning, repairs and replacement-material selection easier.

Generally, yes. Aliphatic binders usually carry a higher material cost, and their resistance to UV-related yellowing can make them worth considering for color-sensitive projects. Ask for the specified binder and any price difference in your project quote. There is no single percentage premium that applies to every installation.