Reusing rubber base

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Author Message ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1646 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2024 - 12:08 pm:    Has anyone ever removed and reused rubber base successfully? I've been asked to write a spec to remove and reinstall rubber base. Years ago when I was on the construction side I removed base but it was never in a condition that could be reinstalled. Maybe I wasn't careful enough? Removing the base from the substrate would seem to stretch the base which, I presume, will not completely recover back to its original shape. Must be pretty difficult to reinstall without puckers, voids, etc. I suppose cutting the base into smaller pieces may work to some extent but who wants a base jigsaw puzzle? Any thoughts? David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2091 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2024 - 02:55 pm:    Though reusing base is an interesting idea, I would think the adhesive would tear the paper layer off the gypsum board. Also, I would be curious what percentage of the removed base could be in good condition that it could be reused? I spoke to a flooring rep that agrees that it is a bad idea to reuse the base. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 387 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Friday, September 27, 2024 - 09:15 am:    I have to wonder how much rubber base would make this an economically sensible exercise? Is the base an unusual color or profile? Besides the issue David Axt brings up there is the added labor to removed existing adhesive. If this is supposed to be a cost cutting effort I don't see it. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1647 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Friday, September 27, 2024 - 09:26 pm:    Thanks for confirming my thoughts. I get the impression that the client suggested reuse and the team was including the requirement without considering cost vs. benefit. I think everyone now agrees that the cost to reuse is high with little benefit while new base adds little cost to the overall project. I guess we all want to be able to minimize waste wherever we can. I wonder if there are take-back programs for base. John Bunzick Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1940 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Saturday, September 28, 2024 - 01:39 pm:    Yes, I also agree with David. The glue and paper on the back would keep it from being installed without ripples. Loretta Sheridan Senior Member Username: leshrdn Post Number: 156 Registered: 11-2021 Posted on Monday, September 30, 2024 - 08:51 am:    I used to work in facilities at a small research institution. We had MILES of rubber base left over from the original construction stored in a conditioned space in rolls, in the boxes. When we were looked at finishing out some of the warm shell space, we considered using that rubber base. After seven years of sitting there, it was useless and had to be tossed. If is about the "recycling" part of it, some manufacturers have programs whereby the used product can be sent to them and THEY will recycle it. If it is about saving money: the labor to remove it carefully, clean it, and prepare it for reinstallation (if it was feasible to do so) would probably not really save much money in the long run. ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1648 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Monday, September 30, 2024 - 09:48 am:    Thanks Loretta. You just answered my question about attic stock since most building owners don't even know where theirs is stored let alone if it matches their last space modification. Product aging. Who would have thought. Loretta Sheridan Senior Member Username: leshrdn Post Number: 157 Registered: 11-2021 Posted on Monday, September 30, 2024 - 11:28 am:    I worked in facilities for a number of years, in facilities of varying sizes. And working in facilities, I found attic stock was often more trouble than it was worth: Finding storage for it, how it ages, just finding it again when you need it! Along, long time ago, I worked in a theater and we were cleaning out paint storage. Some of it was attic stock for the theater itself, some of it was paint used by the scenic artist for set painting. Most of the theater attic stock was useless. We opened one of the unopened cans and it seemed like it might be usable-ish. We called our local Sherwin-Williams person, and his suggestion was that we'd probably be better off throwing it away. The scenic artist's supply was a hazardous waste scene. He LOVED casein paint. I opened one can and had to run (putting the lid on first!) And everyone else had to run, too. We set the gigantic scene shop fans on the loading dock to clear out the stench. In a LARGE facility with dedicated shops that may have a lot of ongoing TI work (like universities, hospitals, skyscrapers), attic stock makes sense. After that... I think it was a waste.