Comparing Playground Flooring with Rooftop and Patio Flooring
Related Product: Sterling Roof Top Tile Solid Colors 2 Inch x 2x2 Ft.
Perhaps you want to add some outdoor living space, business or customer area or play space. Or maybe it is time to upgrade the playground mats in your facility or daycare. Just like indoors, you should start your project from the ground up, selecting a type of outdoor flooring that will help make your space appealing, durable and safe. Flooring for the outdoors faces a number of challenges, the first being that it can stand up to the environment. Moisture, cold, heat, and UV light can do a number on any man made material, causing it to warp, shrink, crack and fade.
This leads us to rubber, a natural product so tough it can withstand the elements better than many synthetic materials. In many cases, you won't have to worry about mold, mildew or fading. Another benefit is that many outdoor rubber flooring products contain recycled materials, which is good for the environment, and your wallet.
Since your flooring will be outside, it is not as important to look for rubber flooring outdoor products that don't have an odor. While rubber outdoor flooring can be an investment upfront, it is durable enough to last for years with a simple cleaning each season. Surprisingly, many rubber playground flooring tiles work just as well as flooring for a deck as they do for a playground application. Generally you would chose a lighter weight tile for a rooftop or deck, and thicker playground flooring material, with a fall rating appropriate to your playground equipment for your play space. But rest assured that a rubber roof tile will be an inviting space for children to play.
Flat rooftops can be added outdoor private space when you live in an urban area, or even a rural area to get a great view of a lake or scenic landscape. But it isn't a good idea to just walk out on your roof and set up a bistro set. Some flat roofs are covered in a membrane that can be pierced by high heels or furniture Other roofs are covered in tar, which can get stuck to shoes, and be tracked inside. The solution is cover the roof with a sturdy rubber tile. Rubber is durable, waterproof, and non slip, making it perfect for your outdoor space.
Remember though, these rubber tiles aren't just for rooftops. Perhaps your deck or concrete patio flooring has seen better days. If refinishing or replacement isn't an option - or even a desire, think about recovering your damaged surface with a rubber tile. Let's look at a few examples from the selection of online flooring leader, Greatmats.com.
One option is Blue Sky Outdoor Interlocking tiles, which range in thickness from 1.75 to 3.75 inches. You would chose the thicker size for outdoor playground flooring options in order to increase the fall height, and a lighter weight when using on a roof, deck or other manmade structure. In either case, these interlocking playground tiles can be glued down, especially in smaller installations. Available in six colors, these tiles will work for playground and flat roof top, deck or patio installations. A bonus of these tiles over cheap playground flooring is that they allow for water to to flow freely underneath the rubber pavers, which is important on the ground, or on a roof or deck.
Another option that works well on top of flat surfaces like concrete, asphalt, decking or roof tops are Outdoor Paver Tiles. These 2x2-foot by 30 mm thick tiles come in four different colors. However, cheap outdoor playground flooring at this thickness must be glued down. If you prefer not to do this, it is recommended that you go with a 2 or 2.5 inch thickness.
For roof tops, Greatmats recommends a 2-inch thick tile to allow for water drainage. A good choice is Sterling Tile, which comes in six colors in a 2x2-foot tile, with a 2-inch thickness. These high quality tiles are great for home and commercial usage. Ramped edges and corners are available. Customers praise the drainage and tight interlocks of these tiles.
Sterling also has a line of playground flooring tiles which are durable and safety rated for fall heights up to 10 feet. Their playground flooring tiles are thicker, and will look and perform wonderfully for years.
For playgrounds, some of the options are Max rubber playground flooring which come in several colors and thicknesses, with fall heights ranging from 4 feet to 10 feet. The tiles are designed to allow rainwater to flow through the surface and away from the playground, which means fewer puddles, and more time on the playground.
Blue Sky Playground flooring is another line of rubber outdoor playground flooring ideas and patio tiles carried by Greatmats.com. This company works to save customers money on shipping by offering rubber playground tiles made in different parts of the U.S. in order to reduce customers' shipping costs.
Rubber is wonderfully durable, but with that durability comes weight, and shipping can add up. A knowledgeable customer service rep can direct you how to get these playground tiles cheap with a surface that best suits your needs. Regardless of which tile you chose, a rubber surface will provide years of enjoyment, good looks and safety on your roof, patio or playground.