Applicator and method for applying melted rubber to pavement comprises a melting vat having a substantially planar bottom with a surface area, and a wide-area a heating element beneath the melting vat having a surface area more than half the surface area of the planar bottom of the melting vat and positioned beneath the melting vat. The heating element may be comprised of an aluminum oxide ceramic blanket. A double-walled construction of the vat with exhaust holes in the outer wall allows exhaust to evenly melt rubber in the vat to reduce burning of the rubber, flame blowouts, and improve fuel efficiency.