Top 5 Surface Materials for Playgrounds

When it comes to maintaining a playground, it is highly important to ensure that the ground is as safe as equipment. Children need a soft playground to land when they jump or fall. If the surface has a ground cover or safety surface material, it is the perfect way to get in the habit of checking the safety level of the floor to ensure pieces have not been kicked away or thrown out by little hands. If the level of the material is low, it is important to add more safety surface to your playground or consider new material. There are different types of playground materials available to choose from. Take a look at the top Surfaces for Playgrounds:

Rubber surface: It is the safest surface material for playgrounds. It requires the least amount of maintenance. Rubber surface comes in two forms, including Pour-in-Place and tiles. They are the most popular choices because they are slip resistance that allow easy ADA access for wheelchairs and strollers.

Artificial grass or turf: It is a less expensive alternative to a solid rubber surface. It requires low-maintenance and an ADA wheelchair accessible surface. It needs an occasional rinse-off, but water drains well from this surface that makes cleaning up a breeze easy. Another benefit of artificial grass is new manufacturing techniques that brought with them a higher quality, more-realistic grass texture products.

Rubber Mulch: If you are looking for a flexible rubber surface at affordable prices, this type of surface is the perfect solution. It is made by grinding up recycled tires that offer a soft cushioned surface for children to land. It also comes in at a fraction of the cost of the solid rubber surfaces.

Play sand and pea gravel: They are highly popular because of their affordability. These materials do not provide ADA accessibility. They provide any type of fall protection; however, it is recommended to have at least twelve-inch depth at all time. Some sand may contain harmful materials. To avoid this, buy sand or pea gravel only made for playgrounds.

Engineered wood fiber: It is a highly affordable and durable option for the playground surface. It is estimated that around 50,000 playgrounds in the United States use this type of material. This ground provides a safe and natural way to cover the ground along with an adequate amount of cushion as well as protection for children.