Choosing the right playground surfaces is the most crucial decision you'll make when planning or refurbishing a play area. We offer comprehensive, high-quality playground surfacing and repair services designed to ensure every landing is safe, every surface is durable, and every project meets strict EN1177 surfacing standards. Whether you need a simple play bark top-up or a full wet pour rubber surface installation, we're here to help you find the perfect, cost-effective playground flooring solution.
We know that every play area is unique, so we offer a wide variety of play area surfaces to suit every budget, design, and specific need. Start exploring our most popular categories today:
Playbark and Playsand: Traditional, natural, and low-cost loose-fill options for excellent cushioning.
Rubber Chipping and Rubber Bark: The natural look of bark combined with superior durability and low-maintenance, bonded rubber for safety.
Bouncy Bond Bonded Rubber: High-performance, seamless safety surfacing with excellent impact absorption.
Clean and Repair: Comprehensive services to keep your current playground flooring in peak condition, including rectifying shrinkage or damage.
The Daily Mile with Bouncy Bond: Solutions specifically tailored for creating safe, dedicated running or walking tracks.
DIY Bouncy Bond: Materials and guidance for smaller, straightforward installation projects.
Wet Pour Rubber Surfaces: The ultimate highly durable, customisable, and seamless safety surface for high-traffic and high-fall-height areas.
Loose Fill Surfacing Installation: Full installation service for natural options like play-grade sand and bark.
Why Choosing the Right Playground Flooring is Important
The correct playground surfacing is not just an aesthetic choice; it’s a non-negotiable safety and accessibility feature. When gravity takes hold, you need assurance that the safest possible landing surface is there.
Safety First: The right material acts as a cushioning layer that absorbs impact energy, significantly reducing the severity of injuries from falls. This is vital for equipment like climbing frames or slides.
Compliance and Standards: Quality surfacing ensures your play area adheres to stringent commercial safety regulations and standards, such as the crucial EN1177 surfacing standards.
Longevity and Durability: Choosing the correct material, like durable wet pour rubber or bonded rubber mulch, means less maintenance and a much longer lifespan, often 10–15 years or longer with proper care.
Accessibility and Inclusion: A smooth, firm surface like wet pour or rubber matting is essential for ensuring playground accessibility for all children, including those using wheelchairs or walkers.
We’re experts at conducting a playground inspection of your current area and recommending the best type of playground safety surface for your space, taking into account the equipment you have installed.
Popular Playground Surfaces for Commercial Areas
Different play area surfaces offer unique benefits, from high impact absorption to aesthetic appeal. Here is a look at the most popular options to help you make the best choice:
Wet Pour Rubber
Wetpour is perhaps the most popular modern safety surface. It's a combination of rubber granules and a binder, creating a smooth, cushioned, and seamless layer.
Benefits: Designed for high impact absorption (perfect under climbing equipment), is highly durable, and easily customisable with vibrant colours and fun designs.
Aesthetics: You can create 2D and 3D visuals, graphics, and specific zoning to enhance the play experience.
Ideal For: High-traffic areas and around any equipment with a high fall height.
Mulchbond (Bonded Rubber Bark)
Mulchbond is a bonded rubber bark surface that gives you the best of both worlds: the look of natural wood mulch with the superior durability and safety of bonded rubber.
Benefits: Provides excellent fall protection, is low maintenance , blends seamlessly into natural or eco-conscious play areas, and is often made from recycled rubber.
Ideal For: Playgrounds seeking a natural aesthetic while maintaining high-performance safety standards.
Artificial Grass & Grass Matting
These options are excellent for creating a natural, green look that is still incredibly durable and safe.
Artificial Grass: Offers the lush look of natural grass combined with the durability of synthetic materials. It's a low-maintenance, safe surface that stays vibrant all year round, even in high-traffic zones.
Grass Matting: An innovative solution where the matting allows real grass to grow through, providing a slip-resistant, protective layer underneath. It offers added durability and fall protection in grassy areas prone to heavy use.
Loose Fill Surfacing (Sand & Bark)
Loose-fill materials are classic and cost-effective, though they require more maintenance.
Play-Grade Sand: A natural material that offers good impact absorption and a sensory-rich experience. It needs regular maintenance to prevent compaction and contamination.
Play-Grade Bark: An eco-friendly option made from treated wood chips. It provides excellent shock absorption and a natural aesthetic.
Safety, Durability, and Regulations
When planning your outdoor play surfaces , three factors are paramount: safety, long-term durability, and compliance with all regulations
Fall Height Protection
The most crucial factor in choosing children’s play surfaces is the Critical Fall Height (CFH) of your equipment. The required thickness of the surface material must be adapted to the CFH.
Rule of Thumb: Surfaces like Wet Pour rubber or bonded rubber mulch are typically rated for higher CFH, while loose-fill materials like play-grade sand need to be a minimum of 12 inches deep to provide adequate cushioning.
Our Promise: All our bases are perfectly paired with our products to ensure they adhere to the CFH regulations.
Playground Safety Regulations
Adhering to safety standards and regulations is non-negotiable.
EN1177: This European Standard is the benchmark for testing impact-attenuating playground surfacing. Our work is always compliant with this standard.
Accessibility: The UK Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments to be made to ensure accessible surfacing for individuals with disabilities. Accessible surfaces must be smooth, firm, and provide adequate traction.
Can We Install Playground Flooring?
Absolutely! We don't just supply the best playground safety surfacing; we also provide a full, professional installation service.
Our service is fully bespoke and carried out by experienced, accredited members of our team. Our installers are fitted with RPII accreditation and DBS checks, giving you complete peace of mind.
The installation process involves several key steps to ensure a safe, long-lasting surface:
Site Preparation: Clearing the site, grading the terrain, and ensuring proper drainage.
Base Preparation: Installing a stable base layer, like crushed stone or gravel, for support and better drainage.
Surface Application: Applying the material evenly and according to manufacturer guidelines for optimal performance and safety.
We manage the entire project, ensuring a seamless transition from your old surfacing to your new and improved playground surface.
FAQs
What is the best surface for a playground?
The best playground surface depends on your intended use, the height of your equipment, and your budget. The best safety surfaces typically include impact-absorbing, resin-bound rubber surfaces like Wet Pour and bonded rubber mulch. Loose surfaces like bark and sand are also options but require increased maintenance. All our safety surfaces comply with standards like EN1177 to reduce the risk of injury.
How long does playground surfacing last?
The lifespan of your playground surfacing depends on the material and maintenance. Durable options like wet pour rubber and bonded rubber mulch can last 10–15 years or longer with proper care. Loose-fill materials require more frequent replenishment.
How is playground surfacing maintained?
Maintenance involves regular cleaning to remove debris and periodic inspections to identify any wear or damage. Loose-fill surfaces need replenishment , while rubber surfaces should be checked for cracks or lifting. We offer regular maintenance and cleaning services to help ensure your play area is always in tip-top condition.