How to Install Outdoor Wall Padding

Outdoor wall padding is essential in protecting athletes in case they collide with a wall, fence, or other structure in your stadium or field. These pads offer specialized protection for your sports venue, contributing to a safer space for athletes while adding a clean, polished, and even professional appearance to your sports facility.

Once you order your padding, it’s important to perform the installation correctly, since that installation can contribute to the padding’s effectiveness and lifespan. We’ve included some tips below on how to install outdoor wall padding to help you get started.

How to Install Outdoor Wall Padding

The installation process for outdoor wall padding will vary slightly based on the type of padding you’ve ordered and the types of walls or surfaces you’re attaching it to. Some types of custom padding support multiple installation types, so you can choose the best option for your athletic facility, whether you’re working with a softball field fence or are installing the padding on a brick wall.


Let’s start with an overview of the different installation types and options you might see.

Bolt and Plate

Products like the Outdoor Field Wall Padding for Chain Link Fences feature a bolt and plate installation. You can use the bolt and plate attachment bracket to mount the pads on a chain-link fence. A galvanized steel lag bolt and aluminum backer plate offer plenty of strength for a secure mount once connected, plus the installation process is easy. You can also remove the padding when it’s no longer needed, such as when you’re done using a baseball field for the season or when you want to protect the padding from inclement weather.

T-Nut, Bolt, and Fender Washer

If you buy a product like the Safety Outdoor Stadium Chain Link Fence Pad, you can mount the hard-backed safety panels with a fender washer and bolt attachment method. You’ll install the bolt and fender washer hardware into preset “T” nuts from the back side of the panel. Once you confirm the panel is level, you can fully tighten the hardware.

Grommets

Products like the Outdoor Field Wall Padding with Grommets can be easily attached to a baseball fence or other wall. This padding features 1.5-inch vinyl flaps with stainless steel grommets placed every 12 inches along the pad’s top and bottom. You can use 50-pound-rated 14-inch nylon ties to attach the pad to the fence by running them through the grommets. You can attach the pads to walls using concrete anchors for a secure installation.

Z-Clips

Other products, like the Safety Pro Outdoor Stadium Pad Z Clip, are also very easy to install. You can attach the clips to the padding backing by screwing them into the plywood of each pad. You’ll also screw the other sides of the clips into the wall.

The Z-Clip design allows you to easily attach the padding to a concrete block wall or wooden studs. The mounting hardware is concealed behind the wall pads, and there’s no need to worry about whether the hardware could potentially injure athletes during a collision.

How to Choose the Installation Method That’s Right for You

Each of the installation methods in this guide offers different pros and cons, and they’re each suited for certain types of applications. If you’re looking for an installation method that also makes it easy to quickly remove the padding again, then look for a pad that can be installed with the bolt and plate or Z-clip method. If you’re going to be installing the padding long-term, then a method like the T-nut, bolt, and fender washer installation might be a better choice.


You’ll also need to consider the type of material that you’ll be mounting the outdoor wall padding onto. If you’re working with a solid surface, like a concrete or brick wall, then installation methods like grommets won’t be a suitable option. On the other hand, if you’re working with a chain-link fence, then grommets would be an ideal choice.

Order Outdoor Wall Padding from Greatmats

At Greatmats, we offer an excellent selection of outdoor wall padding products that are suitable for numerous applications, from installation on outfield fences to improving the safety of a backstop area. These products are all designed to be highly durable, plus they’re available in numerous designs, thicknesses, and sizes, including custom options.


Since we offer products with so many different installation methods, chances are you’ll be able to find the outdoor wall padding that’s just right for your application. Contact the Greatmats customer service team today with any questions; we’re also happy to provide product samples and shipping quotes.