How do plastic connecting pins hold rubber tiles?

Plastic connecting pins hold rubber tiles and shaped units made from rubber granules in accurate grid alignment. These plastic dowels are a widely used connection method and work in a similar way to wooden dowels, extending several centimetres into each of two neighbouring tiles. In a half-bond installation, each tile connects to two tiles in the preceding row and two in the row behind. Across the pin axis, the pins prevent lateral movement; along the axis, however, the tiles remain movable and can drift apart.

To limit this movement, a tiled area generally requires edge restraint. A level adjoining grass sward can provide this restraint. Alternatively, the plastic connecting pins can be glued in place, or the tiles can be bonded to the substrate. The pins do not resist the natural shrinkage of the tiles, so joints can still open and become wider over time.