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Why should you buy Contactacoat over other rubber chip systems?

What colors does Contactacoat come in?

Can the system be added over an existing surface, or is it for new construction only?

Is Contactacoat easy to apply?

Can Contactacoat be put on fiberglass or aluminum skin contacts?

Did I really get enough material to cover my entire teeter/dogwalk/a-frame?

Can Contactacoat be used on Competition Equipment?

Can Contactacoat Rubber Slats be used on Competition Equipment?

Can Contactacoat Rubber Slats be painted?

NEW: CAN I SELL CONTACTACOAT THROUGH MY OWN WEBSITE?

FAQ for Equipment Vendors, Clubs, and Manufacturers

• Why should you buy Contactacoat over other rubber chip systems? The purpose of Contactacoat is to provide superior traction and grip.  Other rubber chip systems currently being sold actually diminish the traction and grip by providing too much chip, resulting in a surface that is thicker, heavier, and with less surface area, more similar to a rubber mat.  The result is equipment that is heavier and actually has less traction than Contactacoat, which provides more rubber surface area for dog paws to grip.  If you're after superior traction and grip, as well as equipment that isn't unnecessarily heavy, you're after Contactacoat.

• What colors does Contactacoat come in? Right now, Contactacoat comes in your choice of color combinations of blue, red, yellow, purple, and teal - look for additional colors in the future!

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• Can the system be added over an existing surface, or is it for new construction only?
  The system can be added over an existing surface, provided that it has been cleaned and is free of dirt. It is recommended that the system only be applied over wood that has been previously painted, as paint helps to protect the wood itself from the elements, while the coating system is just a coating on top, and not designed to extend the life of the wood itself.  In addition, in the event that enough chip should wear off to warrant reapplication, Contactacoat surfaces can easily be replenished.  However, in the years that Contactacoat has been used in New Zealand, the only reapplication required was due to an initially unevenly applied surface.  Contactacoat is durable!

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• Is Contactacoat easy to apply?
  Yes! Detailed instructions are included with each purchase. The Contactacoat adhesive is very low odor as well, so if you want to take your contact equipment indoors to work on it, you can.

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• Can Contactacoat be put on fiberglass or aluminum skin contacts?
  Yes!  Contactacoat will adhere to ANYthing - of course this means that care must be taken during application, but Contactacoat will adhere to fiberglass surfaces, and to aluminum surfaces.

A close up of CONTACTACOAT applied to an aluminum skin dogwalk.

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• Did I really get enough material to cover my entire teeter/dogwalk/a-frame?
  Yes!  Please follow the application instructions carefully - Contactacoat does not need to be applied thickly to be effective.  It is designed to provide traction and cushion with just a very thin application.  When your Contactacoat kit arrives, be sure to divide the rubber chips up equally to be sure you don't overapply the product and run out partway through the application process.  If applied too thickly, excess chip will simply fall off as dogs run over the equipment.  Should you run out of rubber chip as a result of overapplication, more is available; price varies on quantity and availability.  However, once the project is started, it should be finished promptly - avoid delays by reading the application instructions carefully and taking care not to apply the product so thickly that you use it up prematurely!

• Can Contactacoat be used on Competition Equipment?
  CONTACTACOAT does meet the obstacle specification requirements for a non-skid surface, as specified in the AKC equipment regulations. As of January 1, 2009, CONTACTACOAT will also meet the obstacle specification requirements for USDAA and CPE.   CONTACTACOAT Rubber Slats meet the obstacle specifications for USDAA slats.  Although they give on the edges, they are not beveled, however, and therefore do not currently meet the obstacle specifications for AKC slats.

• NEW!! Can Contactacoat Rubber Slats be used on Competition Equipment? Terence Murphy of Oriole DTC in Baltimore, MD, successfully beveled his club's Contactacoat Rubber Slats to bring them in to alignment with AKC Agility Obstacle Specifications!  Here's how:
  
  "The edges of the rubber slats can be beveled if required using a dremel with the stock drum sander attachment. A belt sander may also work, but random orbit and orbital sanders are ineffective and trying to angle the edge with a table saw blade at 45 degrees is dangerous and ineffective. It takes about an hour to dremel the A-frame kit, and a dog walk kit should take about half that time. The slats glue on extremely well and seem likely to last better than a conventional wood slat since they won't rot or warp. I haven't seen any evidence of wear after 4 days of competition usage, but if something does happen to make a gouge that could catch a dog's nail, it should be easy enough to grind out with a dremel." ~Terence Murphy
  
  We are putting together video and pictures of dogs using rubberized equipment with Contactacoat Rubber Slats to help illustrate the benefit of using rubber slats on agility equipment, with respect to agility dogs' feet and toes.  If you are currently using CONTACTACOAT Rubber Slats, contact us if you would like your dogs to be included in this collection of video and images. 
  
  

• Can Contactacoat Rubber Slats be painted?
  Contactacoat Rubber Slats come in a neutral light tan color that goes along with any of our available color schemes.  While we at Contactacoat have gotten used to and enjoy the look of the contrasting slat color, it IS possible to paint the rubber slats to a color of your choosing, using a product such as Plasti-Dip, sold at most local hardware stores, and used to coat tool handles.  This product will coat your rubber slats while maintaining a grippy, flexible surface.

A close up of a Contactacoat Rubber Slat, temporarily
tacked down with a finishing nail while the adhesive cures.

• NEW: CAN I SELL CONTACTACOAT THROUGH MY OWN WEBSITE?
  Yes! By joining our Affiliate Program, you can earn a commission on any sales made through our website if a visitor makes a purchase by clicking on a link you provide on your own website, blog, or email newsletter.  To read more about this exciting new program, click HERE.

• FAQ FOR EQUIPMENT VENDORS, CLUBS, AND MANUFACTURERS
  Contactacoat has made pricing arrangements with certain equipment vendors and manufacturers to help promote more widespread use of rubber chip agility contact equipment and rubber slats in the competition ring.  If you are a club looking to resurface multiple rings of equipment, or a vendor whose equipment will receive exposure at multiple shows per year, or you are a manufacturer who would like to offer Contactacoat as an add-on to your products, please Contact Us for details on possible pricing arrangements.
  

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