Posted 2010-04-16 12:58 AM (#118908) Subject: WERM
Member
Posts: 31 Location: Way, Way Up North
We had our WERM flooring put in our 4 Star by the dealer with a "life-time warranty." There are now 3 BIG holes in it down to the aluminum. We want it fixed--dealer says it must be from the horse pawing. We say that well, it's a mule, and although he's almost a magician in his antics, he still can't paw on the left hind foot (last time we checked anyway). Then he says to put rubber mats on the floor. We say we didn't pay all the extra $$ for the WERM so we could put mats on top of it. Come to find out, after comparing our WERM floor with a factory-installed WERM floor, that ours is about half as thick. The dealer now refuses to repair it--actually, they won't even talk about it or return the phone calls. Finally, Dealer says okay--we'll stand behind our warranty--just deliver it to Oklahoma for a fix. Yeah right--that's at least 800 miles away +/-. We bought in Minnesota (anyone want to guess where?). Their other option is to trade it in for a whole new trailer and just get rid of the problem that way. Not particularly practical or helpful.Anyone else with this problem? How did you get the holes in your WERM floor fixed? Is there a patch kit available? I'm thoroughly disgusted.
Posted 2010-04-16 6:48 AM (#118910 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: Elkhart , Indiana
Hi Jellbelle try contacting werm they can patch the floor or sell you the product to do your self .call Scott Terpstra in Mich. 616-813-2269 maybe he can help . Good luck
Posted 2010-04-16 6:51 AM (#118911 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Location: Central Arkansas
I would contact WERM of OKC. I had the same problem on a 02 4 Star that was wermed in 03, a year after purchase. I also had a barefoot mule that cocked his left hind leg while traveling down the road resulting in a approx 6cm hole to bare metal. WERM of OKC sent me a repair kit until I would have the trailer in OKC at a show. When I did get the trailer back to OKC, they fixed it, no questions asked.
Posted 2010-04-16 7:30 AM (#118913 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Member
Posts: 31 Location: Way, Way Up North
6 cm wouldn't be so bad. My holes are more like 6 inches or better of aluminum floor! I'll make the calls. Thanks! Does anyone know what the standard thickness should be? I think we were ripped good on the installation (done by dealer who actually knows we're in the market for a new trailer and thinks we will buy from him again).
Posted 2010-04-16 8:46 AM (#118917 - in reply to #118913) Subject: RE: WERM
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by Jellbelle on 2010-04-16 8:30 AM
6 cm wouldn't be so bad. My holes are more like 6 inches or better of aluminum floor! I'll make the calls. Thanks! Does anyone know what the standard thickness should be? I think we were ripped good on the installation (done by dealer who actually knows we're in the market for a new trailer and thinks we will buy from him again).
Quote.... WERM is a virgin rubber material that is mixed with a binder, and poured in place and trawled onto the trailer floor, much like finished concrete. It dries to 5/8" thick, and is impervious to liquids and completely seals the trailer floor. No more removing mats to clean the trailer. It has a non-slip surface and horses can't paw through the material.
Posted 2010-04-16 9:39 AM (#118919 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Aluminum is a difficult material to coat with various surfactants. It absolutely has to be cleaned and properly prepped, before any durable adherence can be realised.
The Werm material has shown to be a durable product when properly applied. Bonding failures can usually be attributed to careless and incomplete preparation. It can be mended, and a dealer knowledgeable in its application, can effect the necessary repairs. I would contact Richard at Select Trailers ( 931-685-4040) for the correct information.
Posted 2010-04-16 1:11 PM (#118931 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Elite Veteran
Posts: 788 Location: Tenn/Ala.
Quote.... WERM is a virgin rubber material that is mixed with a binder, and poured in place and trawled onto the trailer floor, much like finished concrete. It dries to 5/8" thick, and is impervious to liquids and completely seals the trailer floor. No more removing mats to clean the trailer. It has a non-slip surface and horses can't paw through the material.
I'm not sure who is responsible for writing this, but it is a bit of a stretch. Rubber tires will wear out, rubber floor mats can be pawed through, and WERM can be pawed through if you try long enough.
At our dealership, we advise folks that if they have had an issues with a horse pawing through a mat, it can happen with WERM also. It isn't a frequent problem for us to see a mat or WERM pawed through, but it can happen. As has been stated, it is repairable. WERM's primary benefits are those relating to not having to remove mats for cleaning underneath. If it was "hard" enough to not show some wear from pawing, then I suspect it wouldn't provide the cushioning most folks want. But as many have found- there are many, many units with a ton of hauling miles where the WERM is just fine.
Posted 2010-04-18 9:30 AM (#118983 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Member
Posts: 44 Location: british columbia,Canada
I just picked up my brand new Bloomer trailer from the states ( I'm in Canada) I also had a WERM floor put in and it is the WORST job I have ever seen! It is very uneven and inconsistant.If you get a large enough repair kit...could a person resurface the entire floor?
Posted 2010-04-19 8:26 AM (#119011 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Member
Posts: 44 Location: british columbia,Canada
Thank you for that helpful reply Duffy! I actually had it hauled to Washington from Texas and picked it up there...so didn't see it till way after the fact.
Posted 2010-04-19 9:54 PM (#119045 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Regular
Posts: 92 Location: Nebraska
Hi, I also have a trailer that had the werm delaminate from the aluminum floor. We had gone to another state to pick up a trailer that had been described to me to be free of damage, guess the seller didn't consider the rip in the werm floor to be damage. I took the trailer anyway because we had driven over 400 miles to get it and thought the must be some way to fix it. I found wermflooring.com and at the bottom left of the page is an 800 #. I spoke with Kris who was extremely helpful. Told us to remove all the loose werm and then call with the measurments of what we needed for a patch kit. The rip which had been about a 3"x12" area turned into about a 3'x3' space. We cut out the loose werm with a dremel and Kris sent the needed amount of patch, at no cost to us, and specific instructions for the repair. Even made time to give advice on this project on a Sunday. As far as the company goes, the customer service we recieved couldn't have been better. This rip was at the hind feet in the first stall and I don't know what would have come first, a horse with shoes on that worked it's feet constantly causing the rip and then delamination, or flooring coming loose and allowing the werm to rip easier. Just hoping we patched it properly and that it holds up. Joan
Posted 2010-04-19 10:57 PM (#119049 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Expert
Posts: 1871 Location: NY
sorry about that I just thought like some people do that in a hurry you forgot to look inside again sorry hope you can get it fix the dealer should make good on it or give you the money back that they charge you for the warming
Posted 2010-04-20 12:56 PM (#119069 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I have a question about WERM. I have not examined a floor that is treated with it so therefore I am just not seeing how it could give the cushioning that regular rubber mats give. Does it really compare to rubber mats in that respect ? Our trailer has a cushion anti-fatigue matting under rubber mats plus we bed with shavings. I haul alot of miles to rides, usually at least 250 one way, and then ride about 60 miles on the horse, then haul home. Cushioning against shock from road vibration and even road heat is very important for my horse's legs. Does WERM really provide that much cushion ?
Posted 2010-04-24 11:52 AM (#119308 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
New User
Posts: 2
I have a 4-Star with factory installed WERM that has been flawless. I use the trailer a good bit, my horse paws in it sometimes, but I have found it to be extremely durable. I clean and inspect my trailer frequently and the WERM is still prefect, even being 5 years old. I think a lot has to do with installation...based on what I've read here I would expect a lot less worries with a factory installed WERM floor than an aftermarket. As I said, mine is perfect!
I trailer my horses directly on the WERM with shavings on top. I feel like there is plenty of cushion and grip (MUCH less slippery than mats)....have never had a horse come off the trailer fatigued or sore.
Posted 2010-05-06 2:34 PM (#119819 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Veteran
Posts: 127 Location: rapid city sd
we have a werm floor on our 05 4 Star 6 horse and it get used weekly at least. It was too slick and not enough cushion. I put mats in over the werm and it works great. I like the fact that it seals up the aluminum.
Posted 2010-05-06 3:59 PM (#119822 - in reply to #119819) Subject: RE: WERM
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by whitewood on 2010-05-06 3:34 PM
we have a werm floor on our 05 4 Star 6 horse and it get used weekly at least. It was too slick and not enough cushion. I put mats in over the werm and it works great. I like the fact that it seals up the aluminum.
Don't you really mean... You like the fact that "you hope", that it seals up the aluminum.... You really can't be sure that it does. One little crack, pin hole, gap against the wall and with only a few drops of water or urine, the "metal mites" are slowly eating away at that aluminum floor. You can only HOPE, that it was installed correctly.
Posted 2010-05-06 5:54 PM (#119827 - in reply to #118908) Subject: RE: WERM
Member
Posts: 16
Location: UT
I've had a different problem with my WERM floor installed in 2003 on my wood floor. I've found that it's cracked along the boards. I haven't had much luck figuring out how to repair it. I'm contemplating replacing the floor with Rumber if the option is to haul to Minnesota. Thoughts?
Posted 2010-05-07 3:20 PM (#119873 - in reply to #119839) Subject: RE: WERM
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by lotti on 2010-05-07 9:41 AM
Retento,
Do you recommend using werm flooring? I'm buying a new trailer. thanks
I have never had a WERM floor. Thought at one time that it was the way to go.... Lately I've had my doubts about it, everything had to be just right when it is applied. At the moment I really think it's hard to beat a treated wood floor with some big thick cushy mats..... JMHO
WERM
