Radtke is an expert in all things home improvement. He has worked as a construction manager for 10 years, allowing him the technical know-how to teach our readers on proper construction practices. His love and passion of home design mixed with his knowledge of construction allows him to write excellent pieces for homeowners looking to renovate.
How to Choose the Best Playground Surface
When it comes to choosing a playground surface, there are five things to consider:
- Safety. What will protect your children in case they fall? Will the ground cover become a choking hazard? Will there be fumes or other dangerous side effects?
- Visual appearance. How will the ground cover fit with your home and the rest of your landscape?
- Maintenance. How much time do you have available to care for the ground cover? Do you need to choose a low-maintenance material?
- Accessibility. Do you have children who use a wheelchair to get around? Do you need a ground cover that will make the playground more accessible by wheelchair?
- Budget. How much money can you afford to spend on your playground ground cover?
As you think about these five things, weigh the pros and cons of the following playground surface options for your backyard.
Photo by Iriana Shiyan on Adobe Stock
Grass
If your backyard already has grass, why not continue it under your playground? It can add a streamlined look, which looks great in your backyard.
Photo by Imagesupply on Dreamstime
One of the biggest disadvantages to grass, however, is that it takes a lot of work to upkeep. You need to water, mow, fertilize, aerate, watch for pests, and take other measures to keep your grass looking great.
When it comes to watering your grass, you must be very careful about the water hitting your playground equipment. The metal parts will start to rust overtime with too much water exposure.
Sand or Pea Gravel
Sand and pea gravel are one of the cheapest options. These fit well with most garden décor, and it’s safe for the environment. Keep in mind that these materials require a barrier around the playground space to keep everything in place.
Photo by Iriana Shiyan on Adobe Stock
Plan on adding plenty of sand (or pea gravel) to keep it loose. If it becomes too compact, it could harm your children if they fall on it. So, for an 8-foot-high playground structure, the sand should be at least 12-inches deep.
Photo by Py2000 on Dreamstime
On the other hand, sand and pea gravel are choking hazards for young children. These materials also make your playground into the perfect outdoor litter box for cats and other animals. You need to watch for feces and remove any you find as soon as possible.
Wood Chips or Mulch
Wood is relatively inexpensive compared to other types of playground surface materials. It’s easy to add around your playground structure. The wood is sturdy and durable, so it won’t blow away.
One of the drawbacks to wood chips is that they may attract roaches and other pests. The wood chips also need to be replaced every 2-3 years since wood is biodegradable.
Photo by Iriana Shiyan on Adobe Stock
Recycled Rubber
Recycled rubber has become a popular option in recent years. The shredded rubber pieces are made from old tires. This ground cover makes a great weed barrier around your playground. It’s soft to protect children if they fall, but it should be 12-20 inches deep for best results.
Photo by Olivier Le Queinec onShutterstock
You should be aware that in rare cases the recycled rubber has caught fire, releasing toxic fumes. Although this is uncommon, it would be important to remove all affected rubber before allowing children to return to the playground.
Solid Rubber
If you don’t want to use recycled rubber, get rubber mats or have the rubber poured into place. The solid rubber is beneficial because it’s slip resistant, drains well, lasts a long time, and is wheelchair accessible. It’s soft enough to protect children in case of falls, too.
Photo by aoya on Shutterstock
However, it’s not environmentally friendly like the other types of ground covers. The solid rubber options are also the most expensive choices for your playground surface.
Weigh the pros and cons of each one, and choose the best playground surface for your home based on the level of safety, visual appeal, accessibility, maintenance, and your budget.
Photo by Sebastian Czapnik on Dreamstime
-
Thinking about selling your home? Did you buy a property and it isn’t in the condition you expected it to be? There are many plans and designs that you need to draw up before you decide to remodel any kind of property. All the other projects that are detailed on this site will give you an idea of the size and costs your budget will need to be able to handle.
DS Lyu18 January 2016 -
Why replace your microwave when you can always repair the one you have lying around in your kitchen or kitchenette? When the microwave first came to be, the homeowners of yesteryear found it such a convenient appliance that it became one of the many major appliances that we use today.
DS Lyu25 January 2016 -
The average cost to remodel a bathroom is $5,000, however, bathroom renovation costs can range from $328 to $12,900. Here at House Tipster, we like to inform you of how much an average bathroom remodel can cost. Learn all about the refurbishment of your bathroom and the costs of a project of thise size with our bathroom remodel cost guide.
DS Lyu09 May 2015 -
Childhood memories mostly consist of all the times you’d gleefully play with carefree living. You’d bike around the block as your parents watched you and your neighborhood friends play with each other. They’d sit on their seats from a close distance on their porch to make sure that you were safe.
DS Lyu21 January 2016 -