Can rubber tiles vary in colour between batches?
Rubber tiles made from rubber granules may show minor colour variations within a delivery and between production batches.
How these variations appear depends on the type of granule, the raw material batch, the dosage of pigment and binder, and compaction in the press.
In coloured tiles made from coated ELT granules, pigmented binder encloses the black rubber particles, making variations in colour more noticeable. Natural black and anthracite tiles made from ELT granules, as well as EPDM wearing layers coloured throughout, show less pronounced variations.
Weathering affects colour appearance. Coloured tiles made from ELT granules darken over time, while an EPDM wearing layer can temporarily take on a warmer shade in sunlight.
The shade of a subsequent delivery only gradually comes to resemble the colour of the existing area. If the existing area has been in use for years, a difference from the subsequent delivery may remain visible.
For the most uniform appearance, the full quantity, including a reserve, should be ordered from a single production batch. Before installation, delivered rubber granule tiles should be checked for visible colour variations and, where required, laid in a mixed arrangement. Product and colour samples should always be assessed under comparable lighting conditions.