How to Glue a Rubber Water Barrier on a Wood Porch

Adding a rubber barrier to your wood porch can protect the wood from moisture and stains. The adhesive you choose as well as the bonding process between the wood and the rubber are important to ensure the rubber stays in place despite factors such as rain or foot traffic. Your rubber finish will only last a few months before it starts peeling if you do not bond it to the wood correctly. Use a rubber top that has traction, or your porch can become a slippery disaster after it rains.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Hose
• Towel
• Wood planks
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Traction rubber
• Waterproof adhesive
• Paintbrush
• Staple gun

Instructions

1. Remove all lawn furniture and other structures from the wood porch. Sweep the porch to remove leaves, dirt and other debris. Spray it down with a hose and dry it with a towel.

2. Walk across your porch slowly to check for damaged planks. Replace cracked and knotted planks with fresh pieces. Cracks and abrasions in the wood will interfere with the bonding process.

3. Cut a piece of traction rubber for every line of planks on your porch. Make the rubber pieces 8 inches longer than your porch and 1 inch wider than the planks of wood on your porch. Roll each rubber strip into a tight roll.

4. Brush a thin layer of water and temperature-resistant glue on a 1-foot space near the edge of one wood plank on the edge of your porch. Place the end of a rubber strip (traction side up) over the glued surface so it overlaps by 4 inches. Center the rubber strip so it overlaps the sides of the plank by 1/2 inch.

5. Apply glue to the entire wood plank as an assistant follows close behind with the roll of rubber. Have the assistant unroll the rubber strip over the wood plank and smooth it down as you glue. Both ends of the rubber should overlap the sides of the porch by 4 inches on each side when you finish.

6. Roll out the rest of the rubber strips the same way you did the first. The edges of the rubber will overlap each other by 1/2 inch unless you have space between each plank on your porch. If you have space between each plank, glue the wide edges of the rubber strips to the sides of the planks.

7. Tuck the ends of the rubber that overlap your porch under the edge of the porch. Secure the strips under the porch with a staple gun.

8. Allow the glue to dry according to the manufacturer's recommended time. Do not step on the porch until the glue completely dries.

Tips & Warnings

• Work on a sunny day when there is no chance of rain in the forecast. This ensures rain will not wash away your glue before it has a chance to dry.

• Carefully read the safety instructions for the glue. Some glue types are pungent and toxic, so they require the use of a face mask and gloves when you apply them.

References

• This to That: Attach Rubber to Wood