Helping Buildings Stay Durable For Longer

While a soft backer rod in an expansion joint seems to play only a minor role, the  task of sealing and insulating the joint is very important. Once the sealant has fully cured, the rod offers insulating properties that are very important in keeping the caulked structure stay in good condition for long. Thus, building owners, contractors, and architects must ensure that seals in expansion joints work well and don’t serve as the weakest link. This is where the backer rod comes into play.

Why are backer rods so crucial?

Most construction of commercial structures and buildings are done using huge panels of different kinds that are connected together by a high-grade sealant to create a waterproof seal. It is of crucial importance that the sealant, which is the link that connects the panels is of high-quality and is able to provide great performance for many years. Otherwise, the water can seep in through the gaps that could result in expensive and time-consuming repairs and modifications in the building. This issue can be prevented with the use of a soft backer rod that can help prevent moisture and water from entering the seal.

When it comes to designing a commercial building, a number of factors should be considered which include joint design, use of proper sealant, proper preparation of the surface to be caulked, and the right selection of soft backer rod. Correct choices in deciding on those things and their proper installation will result in desired outcomes. 

Given particular attention here is the backer rod that comes in two different structures, open cell and closed cell materials. Their flexibility plays a significant role in tooling the newly applied sealant. Both of them have good cold-temperature properties under normal caulking environments. Their use can help ensure the achievement of the desired end result that meets or even exceeds expectations.