Rubber strips are used across countless UK industries — construction, automotive, marine, HVAC, manufacturing, electronics, and even home DIY. Yet despite being such a simple component, choosing the wrong type of rubber can lead to early degradation, poor sealing, leaks, or chemical failure. Picking the right rubber strip ensures durability, safety, and long-term performance.

This comprehensive guide walks you through the different types of rubber strips available, how each performs under UK conditions, what to look for in terms of hardness and thickness, and how to match each product to your exact application. Whether you need something UV-resistant for outdoor use, sponge-soft for cushioning, or chemical-proof for industrial environments, this guide will help you make the right choice.

What Are Rubber Strips Used For?

Rubber strips are extremely versatile and can be used for:

• Weather sealing around windows, doors, sheds, caravans, and marine hatches

• Gasket creation for plumbing, HVAC, machinery, and electrical enclosures

• Noise and vibration damping

• Thermal and draught insulation

• Edge protection on sheet metal, panels, and furniture

• Impact reduction

• Food-safe sealing (silicone products)

• Fuel and chemical exposure (Viton products)

Each application demands a specific rubber type, so understanding the properties of each material is essential.

Types of Rubber Strips (By Material & Purpose)

Below you’ll find a full explanation of each rubber strip available in the range — rewritten, expanded, and optimised around your products.

Solid Neoprene Rubber Strip 5m Long (General Purpose Solid Rubber)

Specification:
Solid Neoprene Rubber Strip, 5m Long × 50mm Wide (various thicknesses available)
Hardness: 65 Shore A
Temperature Range: –20°C to +90°C

This neoprene strip is an excellent all-rounder for weather sealing and general sealing applications where durability matters. Resistant to water, oil, grease, UV light, and fuel, it’s perfect for environments that need a reliable, commercial-quality seal. Its medium-firm hardness (65 Shore A) delivers long-lasting structure while still providing enough flexibility to adapt to uneven surfaces.

Best for:
General sealing, oil-resistant gaskets, outdoor weatherproofing, workshop use, vehicle seals.

Expanded Neoprene Sponge Strip – Self Adhesive

Specification:
EPDM/CR blend, DA320 closed-cell sponge
Hardness: 43 Shore A
Temperature Range: –40°C to +70°C
Adhesive: Yes (one side, with yellow removable backing)

This compressible sponge strip provides a soft, cushioned seal ideal for vibration damping, sound reduction, and irregular surfaces. Its closed-cell structure ensures waterproof performance, while the self-adhesive backing allows quick, clean installation.

It’s commonly used in:

• Caravan and boat sealing

• Vehicle doors and boots

• Vacuum press systems

• Smoke sealing

• Window and door draught sealing

• Flooring and staircase anti-slip applications

Not suitable for petrol or solvent exposure.

Expanded Neoprene Sponge Strip (Non-Adhesive)

Specification:
10m Long × 25mm Wide (various thicknesses available)
Temperature Range: –40°C to +70°C
Hardness: Soft, closed-cell

This sponge strip offers the same soft compression feel as the adhesive version but is delivered without adhesive, making it suitable for bespoke installations, mechanical fixing, or uses where adhesive cannot withstand the environment.

Waterproof, UV-resistant, and acid-resistant, it’s perfect for external sealing and acoustic damping.

Solid Neoprene Rubber Strip – Self Adhesive (Pack of 2)

Specification:
2 × 2.5m Strips, 1.5mm Thick (choice of widths)
Hardness: 65 Shore A
Adhesive: Yes

A convenient pack of two solid neoprene strips, each with self-adhesive backing. These are ideal for light-impact protection, edge guarding, sealing, and all projects requiring a clean, quick installation.

Water, oil, UV, and fuel resistance offer strong durability even in industrial or automotive settings.

White Silicone Rubber Strip Weathering Strip

Specification:
5m Length × 50mm Width (various thicknesses available)
Temperature: Very wide tolerance
Food Safe: Yes
UV/Weather Resistance: Excellent

This white silicone strip is extremely resilient under UV, radiation, ozone, and outdoor exposure, making it ideal for industries where hygiene and temperature resistance are critical.

Used in:
Automotive, catering (food containers/seals), construction, lighting, HVAC, marine, energy systems, electronics.

Premium Rubber Strip 75 Hardness (Viton®)

Specification:
Genuine Black Viton® (FKM), 70–75° Shore A
Chemical Resistance: Outstanding
Temperature Tolerance: Extremely high

Viton® rubber is the top choice for harsh industrial environments where exposure to acids, oils, fuels, steam, and high temperatures is unavoidable. Its resistance to atmospheric ageing and chemical attack makes it unmatched for premium sealing applications.

Best for:
Aerospace, chemical plants, fuel systems, high-heat machinery.

Self Adhesive Backed HT800 Expanded Grey Silicone Rubber Strip

Specification:
3m × 10mm
Type: Medium-firm foam silicone
Adhesive: Yes

HT800 foam silicone combines the lightness of foam with the sealing strength of sponge rubber. It is engineered for electronics, telecommunications, and lighting enclosures, providing excellent protection against wind-driven rain, dust, impact, and vibration.

Also favoured for shock isolation and outdoor communication equipment.

White Expanded Silicone Strip SIL16

A versatile, general-purpose silicone sponge strip ideal for home and commercial uses. SIL16 offers excellent weathering resistance, long-term flexibility, and support for seals exposed to external conditions.

Used for:
Home sealing, window and door draught-proofing, outdoor applications.

EPDM Rubber Strip Black

Specification:
Solid EPDM, 60 Duro (medium grade)
Length: 5m
Hardness: 65/70 Shore A
Chemical/UV Resistance: Exceptional

EPDM is one of the most weather-resistant rubber materials available. It resists sunlight, ozone, temperature cycling, and moisture better than most other elastomers, making it ideal for glazing, roofing, pipe seals, gaskets, and outdoor sealing.

How to Choose the Right Rubber Strip for Your Application

Selecting the correct rubber strip depends on several factors. Below are the most important things to consider.

Environmental Exposure

Different environments demand different materials:

Softness and Hardness (Shore Rating)

Understanding hardness is essential:

• 43 Shore A → Soft, compressible (sponge neoprene)

• 60–70 Shore A → Medium firmness (EPDM)

• 65 Shore A → Standard solid neoprene hardness

• 70–75 Shore A → Very firm, industrial-grade (Viton®)

Soft sponge is best for vibration/noise damping and irregular surfaces; solid grades provide structural strength for seals and edging.

Material Performance Overview

Matching the Strip to Your Project Requirements

Choosing your rubber strip shouldn’t be complicated. Consider the following:

Indoor vs Outdoor Use

• Indoor: Neoprene sponge (adhesive or non-adhesive), SIL16

• Outdoor: EPDM, white silicone, solid neoprene

• Marine environments: EPDM, expanded neoprene sponge

• High temperature: Silicone and Viton

Thickness & Width Selection

• Thin (1–2mm): Light sealing, enclosures

• Medium (3–6mm): Weather seals, impact protection

• Thick (10mm+): Cushioning, vibration isolation

Widths vary across all products, with the expanded neoprene adhesive strip offering more than 20 width options.

Adhesive vs Non-Adhesive Rubber Strips

Use self-adhesive strips when:

• You want fast installation

• Mechanical fixing isn’t possible

• You’re sealing smooth surfaces

• You need temporary or semi-permanent sealing

Use non-adhesive strips when:

• High heat or chemicals could weaken glue

• The strip needs to be clamped, fitted, or bonded manually

• You’re creating custom gaskets

 Recommended Rubber Strips by Application

Where to Buy Rubber Strips in the UK

You can explore the full collection of neoprene, silicone, EPDM, Viton®, and HT800 strips here:

Browse the full Rubber Strips Category:

Conclusion

Choosing the right rubber strip is all about understanding your environment, your sealing needs, and how different materials react to temperature, weathering, oils, chemicals, and physical pressure. Whether you need a soft sponge strip for vibration damping, a food-safe silicone strip for catering equipment, or a chemical-resistant Viton® strip for industrial applications, this guide has shown you exactly which product suits which job.

With high-quality materials like neoprene, EPDM, silicone, HT800 silicone foam, and Viton® available, you can now select the perfect rubber strip with full confidence.

For more sealing solutions and protective materials, visit:  www.cornerprotector.co.uk