Discount Backer Rod

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

SOFT CELL Backer-Rod:  For more irregular joints and on tilt-wall / vertical joints. Easily compressed in large sizes. Color may be light or dark gray, and is not selectable. 

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

HOT-ROD XL Backer Rod: Chemically cross linked closed cell. High-Temperature resistant to 410F. For hot-pour, rubber-asphalt, and thermo-plastic sealants. Commonly used in roadways. Product Data Sheet

D-Shaped Backer Rod 1/2 width D-Shaped Backer Rod (= 1/2 size of the above yellow rod, Half-Rod) in yellow open foam material. Ideal for log-homes and tight-fitting, very shallow or V-shaped joints.

Placing Backer Rod:  (photo courtesy Backer Rod Mfg.)

    GLAZING       - -     EXPANSION JOINTS  - -  LOG HOMES

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

• Soft Cell is generally used in vertical applications, above ground, or where joints are more irregular, and to fill air-gap spaces in general construction.
• 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 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).

• 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

• 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

• Density: 2.0 lbs/ft³ ASTM D-1622
• Tensile Strength: 31.4 lbs/sq inch ASTM D-1623
• Temperature Range: -90ºF to +410ºF
• Compression Deflection, 4.7 PSI @ 25%, ASTM D-1621 (Closed Cell)
• Water Absorption: 0.02% by volume, ASTM-C-509
• Water Absorption: 0.03 gm/cc, ASTM-C-1016

• 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, Closed Celled and Hot Rod 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.

SOFT Backer Rod & Construction Uses: Soft Backer Rod for residential construction is also commonly used to seal air gaps around wall or joint cavities, between pre-hung doors and windows and rough openings in wood frame homes. The low compression deflection and high compression recovery of these products will not bow windows or door jambs and adapts to seasonal joint movement. Specific uses for Soft Backer Rod includes log homes, marriage joints, sealing at attic access openings, casement window joints, some dry wall applications, wall to wall joints, wall to floor joints, and roof to wall joints, and around doors and windows in wood frame structures.

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-polymers 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 Hot-Rod or the Open Cell Foam. If bubbling / gassing is a problem, Open Cell Foam is best. More Information can be found in the Technical Data Sheets.

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