Surfacing is the part that decides whether a fall ends in a laugh or a trip to the emergency room. It is also the part most people forget to budget for. We sell all five surface types, we will tell you honestly which one fits your site and your money, and our own crews install it.
The five surfaces we sell
Every one of these is an approved playground surface when it is installed to the right depth and maintained. The difference is cost, upkeep, and how it holds up.
Rubber mulch
Recycled rubber nuggets. Does not decompose, does not attract insects, does not need topping up every spring. More upfront than wood fiber and less over ten years. Comes in a range of colors.
Engineered wood fiber
The cheapest way to get a compliant surface and the most common on school sites. It compacts and displaces, so plan on raking it back into the swing bays and topping it up. Order about twenty percent extra for compaction.
Poured in place rubber
Seamless rubber poured on site over a base. Wheelchair accessible, no displacement, no raking, and you can pour colors and shapes into it. The highest upfront cost of the five.
Rubber tile
Interlocking tiles in set thicknesses. Accessible like poured rubber, but you can lift and replace a damaged tile instead of patching. Good where you need a hard date on the install.
Playground turf
Synthetic grass over a shock pad. Looks like a lawn, drains, and needs no mowing or watering. Popular for daycares and for backyards where the playground doubles as the yard.
Borders, ramps and mats
Rubber curbing to hold loose fill in, ADA ramps so a wheelchair can get over the border, and swing mats and slide mats for the spots that wear through first.
Loose fill against unitary, straight
| Loose fill | Unitary | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Upkeep | Rake and top up | Wash and inspect |
| Wheelchair access | Difficult | Yes |
| Displacement under swings | Yes | None |
| Install time | Fast | Longer, cure time on poured |
| Best for | Budget projects, large areas | ADA routes, heavy traffic, long life |
How deep does it need to be
Depth is set by the fall height of your tallest piece of equipment. The manufacturer's ASTM F1292 rating for that exact material governs, and so does your inspector, but the CPSC handbook table is the starting point everyone works from.
The use zone is bigger than people expect
Surfacing does not stop at the edge of the deck. It has to run six feet past the structure in every direction, and a swing needs twice the pivot height in front and behind. That is the number that decides how much material you actually buy, and it is where most budgets go wrong.
How a surfacing job runs
- Send us the siteDimensions, the equipment going in or already there, and a photo if you have one. No charge for this part.
- We work out the area and the depthUse zone, fall height, material, and the quantity in cubic yards or square feet.
- You get a written priceMaterial, freight, and install if you want us to do it. No surprises on the invoice.
- Excavate and borderDig to depth, set the border, sort out drainage. Loose fill needs somewhere for water to go.
- Install and hand overFill, pour or lay the surface, clean up after ourselves, and walk it with you.
Send us the space
Tell us the dimensions and what is going on the site. We will come back with the surface, the depth, the quantity and the price. No charge for the drawing and no obligation after you see it.
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