Backer Rods
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Provide support for sealants in gaps—insert these backer rods into gaps and fill in with sealant.
Closed-cell backer rods restrict moisture from being absorbed. Use them with joints that have wide, even spaces. Cross-linked polyethylene backer rods can be used with tar, asphalt, cement, and other hot-pour sealants.
Bicellular backer rods are more compressible than closed-cell ones. They also restrict moisture from being absorbed. Use them with uneven joints where self-leveling is needed.
Open-cell backer rods are the most compressible and maintain their shape better than bicellular ones. They allow moisture to be absorbed. Although they withstand environments up to 500° F, they shouldn’t be used with hot-pour sealants, which can seep through the large cell size and damage the underlying surface.
| For Max. Joint Wd. | Dia. | Lg., yd. | Minimum Temperature, °F | Maximum Temperature, °F | Color | Each | |
Closed-Cell Polyethylene Foam | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4" | 3/8" | 33 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1/4" | 3/8" | 600 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 33 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 515 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 11/16" | 7/8" | 33 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 11/16" | 7/8" | 280 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 3/4" | 1" | 16 | -45° | 160° | Black | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 3/4" | 1" | 183 | -45° | 160° | Black | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 15/16" | 1 1/4" | 16 | -45° | 160° | Black | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 15/16" | 1 1/4" | 133 | -45° | 160° | Black | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1 1/8" | 1 1/2" | 140 | -45° | 160° | Black | 000000000 | 000000 |
Closed-Cell Cross-Linked Polyethylene Foam | |||||||
| 1/4" | 3/8" | 700 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 3/8" | 1/2" | 830 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 515 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 5/8" | 3/4" | 365 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 3/4" | 7/8" | 280 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 7/8" | 1" | 200 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1" | 1 1/4" | 133 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1 1/4" | 1 1/2" | 132 | Not Rated | 390° | Beige | 000000000 | 000000 |
Bicellular Polyethylene Foam | |||||||
| 1/4" | 3/8" | 33 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 33 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 11/16" | 7/8" | 33 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 7/8" | 1 1/8" | 16 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 7/8" | 1 1/8" | 167 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1 1/8" | 1 1/2" | 140 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1 1/2" | 2" | 84 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 1 7/8" | 2 1/2" | 54 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 2 1/4" | 3" | 34 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 3" | 4" | 18 | -45° | 160° | Gray | 000000000 | 000000 |
Open-Cell Polyurethane Foam | |||||||
| 1/4" | 3/8" | 250 | -60° | 500° | Black | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 166 | -60° | 500° | Black | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 3/4" | 7/8" | 175 | -60° | 500° | Black | 000000000 | 000000 |
Open-Cell Polyethylene Foam | |||||||
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 167 | -45° | 500° | Yellow | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 11/16" | 7/8" | 117 | -45° | 500° | Yellow | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 7/8" | 1 1/8" | 100 | -45° | 500° | Yellow | 000000000 | 000000 |
Backer Rod Insertion Tools
Quickly set foam backer rods (not included) in caulk joints at a consistent depth without puncturing them.
Tools with a threaded handle are small enough to be kept in your tool kit, making them good for quick jobs with short runs of backer rod. To make them more ergonomic, add a pole handle so you can stand while installing a backer rod on the ground.
Tools with a backer rod holder are ideal for inserting long runs of backer rod quickly. They keep your backer rod organized and positioned, so you can press it into place with just one pass.
| Includes | For Max. Joint Wd. | For Rod Dia. | For Thread Dia.  | Material | Features | Each | |
| 1/8" Dia. Insertion Wheel, 1/4" Dia. Insertion Wheel, 3/8" Dia. Insertion Wheel, 1/2" Dia. Insertion Wheel | 1/2" | 1/8" to 1/2" | 3/4" | Plastic | Threaded Handle | 0000000 | 000000 |
| 1/8" Dia. Insertion Wheel, 3/8" Dia. Insertion Wheel | 1/2" | 1/8" to 5/8" | __ | Steel | Backer Rod Holder | 0000000 | 00000000 |