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Discount Backer Rod

We specialize in the finest backer rod products and related sealants. We carry Soft Cell, Closed Cell, Open Cell (foam) hot-pour application foam backer rod and D-Shaped backer rod for log homes and tight joints. Our backer rods are designed to work with all types of sealants including NP1, Sonolastic 150 VLM, M1, Duralink, self leveling sealants like Novalink SL and SL1 & SL2, as well as butyls, polyurethane, silicones, tri-polymers, polysulfide, acrylic, etc. The "Open" celled backer rod is used with hot applied products and to reduce out-gassing when its a problem.

Backer Rod is an easy to compress rope-like celled foam. It is inserted into a clean joint at required depth before caulking/sealing. It is available in open cell Polyurethane and closed / soft Polyethylene formulations.

Foam Backer Rod creates an even depth and supports the sealant / caulk. It is especially important with Self Leveling Expansion Joint Sealants. Consistent placement depth is important to create the correct width-to depth ratio (~2:1 ) for expansion joints. Select a backer-rod diameter that is about 25% larger than the nominal width of the joint.

Compatibility: Our our backer rod products are an inert composition and therefore compatible with all known cold applied sealants including butyl, polysulfide, vinyl acetates, PVA, acrylics, polyurethanes, tri-polimers and silicones. They are chemically inert and will resist oil, gasoline and most other solvents. These materials will not stain nor adhere to sealant materials and are non-exuding. For HOT pour and chemical sealants, use the Open Cell Denver Foam grade. If bubbling / gassing is a problem, Open Cell Foam is best. More Information can be found in the Technical Data Sheets.

Questions? Email Sales@bestmaterials.com

Or call 1-800-474-7570 / 602-272-8128

You'll get a prompt response !

Soft Backer Rod vs. Closed Celled Backer Rod:

Soft Cell is generally used in vertical applications, above ground, or where joints are more irregular.
Closed celled is generally used for ground level applications and high moisture environments. It can be used anywhere the soft-celled is used.
Soft celled compresses up to 90% in smaller sizes and 50% in larger sizes.
Closed celled compresses up to 50% in smaller sizes and 30% in larger sizes.
Either can be used with Self-leveling sealants and Vertical Joint Sealants.
Both closed and soft cell are Polyethylene based (polyolefin).
Both have color variation in the manufacturing process or suppliers.

Open Cell ("Denver Foam") Backer Rod:

Open-cell soft backer rod is highly compressive. It serves as a backing for caulking, sealants and all types of hot pour, chemical sealant and cold sealant products.
It is yellow in color, odorless and chemically inert, made from Polyurethane.
Open cell backer "Denver Foam" rod can take up to 500F during hot applications and is compatible with all types of ASTM D3405, D1956 and C1330 hot pour and chemically cured sealants.
Open cell allows air to reach sealant from BOTH sides during cure, providing a bubble free, faster, more uniform cure.
Open cell construction eliminates out-gassing and cold flow problems sometimes associated with certain materials.
Open cell backer rod can also be "saturated" with sealant and used to "carry" sealant to difficult-to-reach repair areas and to create underwater "plugs" (normally it will now absorb sealant without "working it" in).

Backer Rod Applications:

General Purpose Sealant backing
Expansion joints
Irregular joints
Log home chinking
Metal roof seam and pre-cast panels
Around perimeters of door and window frames
Concrete Expansion Joints
Parking Garages
Coping and glazing joints
Swimming Pool Decks
Highways, roads, bridges, concrete joints
Airstrips and Runways
Glazing
Log Cabin Chinking

Placing Backer Rod:

(photo courtesy Backer Rod Mfg.)

log cabin chinking, glazing, expansion joint sealant

GLAZING - - EXPANSION JOINTS - - LOG HOMES

Backer Rod Pricing & Ordering: Click links below to get cost, detailed information and to order products. Freight can be estimated by adding items to cart and pressing ESTIMATE SHIPPING button.

BACKER ROD PRODUCTS & PRICING:

Backer Rod By-The-Foot, all types.

Selecting SOFT CELL Backer-Rod:
Select a backer-rod diameter that is approximately
25-40% larger than the width of the joint. Color is light or dark gray.

Joint Width* SOFT CELL Backer Rod Size

1/16 - 3/16" use closed cell --> 1/4"

1/8 - 1/4" 3/8 <-- click for pricing & specs

5/16 - 1/2" 5/8 1-1/2" BACKER ROD, SOFT (6 FEET) - 1-1/2" DIAMETER POLY BACKER ROD, SOFT, CLOSED CELLED SKIN, 6

7/16 - 5/8" 3/4

9/16 - 3/4" 7/8

5/8 - 7/8" 1-1/8

7/8 - 1-1/4" 1-1/2

1-1/4 - 1-1/2" 2

1-1/4 - 2 2-1/2

1-3/4 - 2-1/2" 3

2-1/4 - 3-1/4" 4

* SOFT backer rod is highly compressible and can be easily used at widths as low as 50% of product diameter (lower in small sizes). CLOSED CELL product can be used in all applications where SOFT is specified.

Selecting CLOSED CELL Backed Rod:
Select a backer-rod diameter that is approximately 25% larger than the width of the joint. Color is medium charcoal OR gray, depending on the mfg.

Joint Width CLOSED CELL Backer Rod Size

1/16 - 3/16" 1/4" <-- click product for pricing & specs 1-1/2" BACKER ROD, SOFT (6 FEET) - 1-1/2" DIAMETER POLY BACKER ROD, SOFT, CLOSED CELLED SKIN, 6

3/16 - 1/4" 3/8"

1/4 - 3/8" 1/2"

5/16 - 1/2" 5/8"

9/16 - 5/8" 3/4"

1/2 - 3/4" 7/8"

3/4" - 7/8" 1 "

7/8 - 1" 1-1/4"

1 to 1-1/4" 1-1/2"

1-1/8 to 1-1/2" 2"

1-1/2 to 2" 2-1/2"

1-7/8 to 2-1/2" 3"

2-1/2 to 3-1/4" 4"

3 to 4-1/4" 5"

4-1/2 to 5-1/2" 6"

Selecting OPEN CELL Backed Rod:
Select a backer-rod diameter that is approximately 25% larger than the width of the joint.

Joint Width OPEN CELL Backer Rod (link to all items)

3/16" - 1/4" 3/8" <-- click product for pricing & specs

3/8" - 1/2" 5/8"

1/2" - 3/4" 7/8"

3/4" - 7/8" 1-1/8"

7/8" - 1-1/4" 1-1/2" 1-1/2" BACKER ROD, YELLOW OPEN CELL, (40 ft)

1-1/4" - 1-1/2" 2"

Selecting D-Shaped Backer Rod

We now have several sizes of 1/2 width D-Shaped Backer Rod (also called Half-Rod) in yellow open foam material. D-shaped backer rod is ideal for log-homes and tight-fitting or V-shaped joints.

7/8" x 1650 feet <-- click product for pricing & specs

1-1/8" x 1100 feet

1-1/2" x 500 feet

2" x 400 feet

Applying Backer-Rod:

Backer Rod Insertion Tools

When working on concrete expansion joints, backer rod is used together with SL1 & SL2 self-leveling sealants.

1. Joint or opening should be clean and dry and free of all contaminates, loose materials, dry, and free of water or frost.

2. To install, compress backer-rod into the joint before sealants are applied. Install backer-rod using a blunt tool or a plain faced roller.

3. Force the rod to the depth recommended by sealant manufacturer, (typically about 1/2 of joint width measured at the crown of the backer rod). A template or roller gauge may be used to control the depth at which the rod is placed.

4. Don't stretch, puncture or tear backer-rod during installation but gently force into the joint so that the backer-rod fits tight against the sides of the joint. Use a backer-rod roller or smooth tool to set backer rod to proper depth.

5. IMPORTANT NOTE FOR SELF-LEVELING SEALANT APPLICATIONS: All Backer Rod sides, joints and end areas must be completely sealed against a joint surface, otherwise Self Leveling sealants WILL run out of any gaps. Use heavy masking tape on sidewalk edges.

Priming:
1. If joint priming is needed, follow suggestions for joint-sealant application as directed by sealant manufacturer.

2. Where necessary, primer should be applied only to the edges of the joint surface and allowed to dry before Backer-Rod is placed. DO NOT prime Backer-Rod.

Applying Sealants:
1. Where priming of the surface material is necessary, primer should be applied only to the sides of the joint surfaces and allowed to dry tack-free before the Backer-Rod is placed. DO NOT prime the Backer-Rod. Many primers ARE STAINING, be careful where they are applied.

2. Follow suggestions for joint-sealant application as directed by the sealant manufacturer.

3. As needed, tool to desired shape using a caulking tool or old spoon. Hint: For polyurethanes, wet the tool regularly with water or toluene to enable a smooth surface. Soapy water is not recommended as some soaps can interfere with joint bonds.

4. Most products need 24 hours minimum cure before applying any type of over-coating. Follow the manufacturers recommended cures.

HINT: For those not who are not professional applicators, use masking tape on surfaces where you do not want sealants. It is very difficult to remove from unwanted areas.

Product Data Sheets:

Open Cell Backer Rod

Closed Cell Backer Rod

Soft Cell Backer Rod

MSDS Sheets:

Foam Backer Rod

Closed Cell

Soft Cell Backer Rod

Related Backer Rod Products

Backer Rod Insertion Tools

Caulking Guns (Quality caulking guns at great prices).

Complete Information on Sealants

Diamond Blades (for grinding, sawing crack chasing)

Expansion Joint Expansion joint products includes covers & seals for

roof-to-wall expansion joints, curb mount / curb flange

expansion joints, corner and crossover expansion joint

covers, and straight flange expansion joint covers.

Primers for sealants

Sealant Products By Family Type:

Expansion Joint Sealants (SL-1, SL-2 Self Leveling sealants)

Exterior Grade Sealants (NP-1, TX-1, Duralink, Novalink, etc)

High Performance Exterior Grade Sealants (M-1, Sonolastic 150, Ultra, etc)

Metal Roof & Siding Sealants (Duralink, etc)

Quick Cure, High Strength & Low Temp Cure Sealants (SB-1800 etc)

Structural Adhesive Sealants (Clear 25, M-1, SB-1800)

Window & Glass-Roof Sealants (Clear 25, Sonolastic 150, M-1, Ultra)

TECHNICAL DATA, TYPICAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

CLOSED & SOFT Cell Backer Rod:

Density: 2.0 lbs/ft³ ASTM D-1622
Tensile Strength: 50 lbs/sq inch ASTM D-1623
Moisture Absorption: Less than 1% by volume ASTM C-1083
Temperature Service Range: -90ºF to +210ºF
Compression Deflection, 5 PSI @ 25%, ASTM D-1621 (Closed Cell)
Compression Deflection, 5 PSI @ 50%, ASTM D-1621 (Soft Cell)
Water Absorption: 0.02% by volume, ASTM-C-509 (Closed Cell)
Water Absorption: 0.05% by volume, ASTM-C-509 (Soft Cell)
R-Value = 3 per inch of thickness.
Thermal Conductivity (W/M.°C) = 0.036

OPEN Cell Backer Rod:

Density: 1.7 lbs/ft³ ASTM D 1622
Tensile: 25 lbs/sq inch ASTM D 1623
Moisture Absorption: .024% by volume ASTM C 509
Out Gassing: None Open Cell
Temperature Service Range: -60ºF to +400ºF
U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards
R-Value = 3 per inch of thickness.
Thermal Conductivity (W/M.°C) = 0.036
Auto Ignition: 700-800ºF
Elongation: 90% ASTM D 3574
Air Flow: 90% ASTM D 3574
Compression set 5% or less (after 80% compression for 30 days) ASTM D 3574

Our Soft and Closed Celled backer rods are all polyolefin based. A polyolefin is a polymer produced from a simple olefin (also called an alkene with the general formula CnH2n) as a monomer. For example, polyethylene is the polyolefin produced by polymerizing the olefin ethylene. Polypropylene is another common polyolefin which is made from the olefin propylene.

Similar product terms: chinking, log cabin chinking, log home chinking, backer rods, foam backer rod, foam backer rods, soft celled backer rod, backer rod installation, foam rod, ethafoarn, concrete expansion joint, filler rope