Last year was one of the hottest on record and experts say this summer could eclipse the record numbers we witnessed last season. Our team of experts wanted to see the effects of summer heat on playground equipment and conducted…
What is Poured in Place Rubber? Poured in place rubber playground surfacing consists of two layers of rubber granules bonded by a urethane binder. The bottom layer, known as the cushion layer is what provides the impact absorption for the…
What Are Natural Playgrounds? Natural playgrounds are play areas that are designed and created to incorporate building materials and landscaping that comes from nature and are a great option for park playgrounds. Using nontraditional materials like ruff timbers and logs,…
Many people have a bit of sticker shock when they see how much commercial playground equipment costs. They often ask me, “why is this stuff so expensive?” I wanted to take some time today to explain all that goes into…
While wood may seem like the perfect material to build durable commercial playground equipment, it also has many flaws. Wood is susceptible to the elements more so than any other playground material. Even special treated lumber, such as Yellow Wood…
We have completed our first video on how to install poured in place rubber playground surfacing. This is the most comprehensive poured in place rubber surfacing installation video to date. You may watch the video here: HOW TO INSTALL POURED…
When it comes to space, or the amount of room available for a commercial playground it’s important to plan carefully to maximize the amount of equipment and activities that can safely fit into the area. One of the smartest ways…
Rubber mulch for playgrounds is made from recycled tires. These tires are cleaned, shredded, and processed numerous times with the end result being a very attractive and more importantly safe product to use for playground surfacing. Rubber mulch provides the…
Just because something has been designed to be safe, does not mean that it will be used safely. Children have a tendency to find an alternative use for every object that exists in the world, your pots are drums, grass…
Commercial playgrounds are relatively simple in design, the installation of these structures is not simple or easy by any definition of the word. A playground that is not installed correctly is a disaster waiting to happen. So what steps can…
Maintaining a commercial playground structure will dramatically increase it useful life, it does not take much effort and will be a sure way to keep your playground not only looking its best but also being as safe as possible for…
One of the easiest ways to incorporate more learning activities into a commercial playground equipment is by paying close attention to the playground panels you select. Playground panels are used to create a barrier around elevated decks on playgrounds. These…
The easiest way to determine what type of playground equipment you should be installing is by first looking at the equipment itself. All manufacturers of commercial playground equipment will design equipment with a specific age group in mind. These age…
Most large commercial playgrounds will be installed the same way. This article will provide a brief overview of what the correct procedure is for installing commercial playground units. Keep in mind that specific hardware and mounting applications will differ among…
Every playground company has different terms and lengths for their specific warranties. In general though, your commercial playground warranty should carry a lifetime warranty on all metal components and at least a ten year warranty on all plastic components. Anything…
When it comes to poured in place rubber, a good binder is everything. You must test your binders before you use them on large applications, and always do a small test sample of the binder prior to installation to make…
Priming is the first step to creating a long lasting and durable poured in place rubber playground surface. It can be time consuming, but without proper priming, your poured in place rubber surface will not last as long as it…
If you have not done all of this things up until this point, please refer to our previous article, ” How to Install a Commercial Playground – Part One. At this point in time we are ready to begin installing…
In short, applying poured in place rubber playground surfacing to a vertical surface is possible, although very difficult. Any of the methods above will work and last a long time if done correctly. Ultimately, the only way to get a…
There are two things that most people overlook when planning a commercial playground. The first thing they tend to overlook is the people that will be watching the children. Most of us will want to spend as much money as…
We believe it’s important to remember that kids will be kids on playgrounds. Accidents are going to happen, in fact, getting a “boo boo” is an important learning process for young children, it teaches them to be cautious in careful….
The truth is that we need to start bringing in fresh minds and new companies with new ideas into the playground design process. With world markets more accessible than ever before, we should be able to include technology into our…
So the next time you visit your local playground, sit back and relax, watch the children play and pay close attention to the social interaction, you will be amazed by what all goes on in their tiny little worlds, its…
Sail shade structures are by far the most expensive type of shade one can purchase. This is because each shade is custom designed and stitched. A whole array of people from engineers, to metal worker and seamstresses are involved in…