Rubber Playground Surfacing Comparison

When designing a playground, maximizing safety is always a top priority, and rubber playground surfacing has emerged as a top option. While plenty of focus goes into the equipment that’s chosen for the playground, it’s equally important to choose a playground flooring product that’s safe and suitable for the equipment installed. But you also need to consider factors like your budget, the installation process, and maintenance needs.

Rubber playground flooring excels for many reasons, but each type of rubber surfacing offers different pros and cons. Let’s look at how some of the top options compare to help you determine which is best for your project.

How Rubber Playground Surfacing Compares

Rubber playground surfacing is known for qualities like durability and safety. Depending on your playground design, certain types of rubber might be a better choice than others.

Rubber Playground Mulch

Rubber playground mulch is present in many playgrounds today. This loose fill provides cushion and creates a forgiving surface. Rubber playground mulch is durable, but this flooring option isn’t without drawbacks.

Because rubber playground mulch is loose, it’s easily kicked away as kids play, and it can end up on surrounding surfaces, on playground equipment, and even out of the play area entirely. High-traffic areas, like the spaces underneath swings and in front of slides, can experience significant displacement, and the base beneath the rubber mulch may become exposed. With less fill in these areas, kids can be injured by a trip or fall, and maintenance crews are tasked with raking the mulch back where it belongs.

It’s also possible for rubber playground mulch to conceal safety hazards, like debris that has been tracked or brought into the play area. While rubber playground mulch is forgiving underfoot, it’s not accessible for wheelchairs or other mobility equipment, which limits a playground’s handicap accessibility and inclusiveness.

Poured Rubber Flooring

A pour-in-place (PIP) playground surface is another popular option, and poured rubber playground flooring offers several advantages over crumb fill. Pour-in-place rubber flooring can be customized and installed according to the playground’s specific needs and dimensions. This flooring can be poured thicker for enhanced shock absorption and an increased fall height rating.

This poured-in-place rubber playground surface offers the durability of rubber, making it a long-lasting option that’s suitable for high-traffic playgrounds. With a poured rubber surface, a playground can be designed to be handicap accessible.

Poured rubber does have disadvantages. While it doesn’t need the constant maintenance of crumb-fill flooring, it can crack over time and create tripping hazards. High-traffic areas, like the spaces in front of slides, naturally see increased use, so the flooring in these areas can wear faster than surrounding areas.

A poured rubber surface tends to be one of the most expensive options, especially if you need to install it thick enough so that it has a high fall height rating. Installing, repairing, and replacing a pour-in-place playground surface requires a professional, which significantly increases its cost. If one area needs to be repaired, you may have to replace a much larger section of the flooring. Seams and separation are an ongoing concern, especially when you have areas that are newly repaired, contrasting with older sections of flooring.

Rubber Playground Tiles and Mats

Like poured-in-place flooring, rubber tiles and mats create a consistent surface that can be handicap accessible. Most of these tiles also offer fall height ratings, so you can choose a tile option that is well-paired with the height of the equipment on the playground.

When comparing mats and tiles vs. poured-in-flooring, mats and tiles have a distinct advantage if you ever need to replace worn or damaged sections. It’s easy to replace individual tiles, rather than large sections of flooring. This saves both money and time while making it easy to keep the entire playground flooring in good condition.

Tiles are also designed to be easy to install. They feature interlocking edges that create strong connections that won’t pull apart during use. Because the tiles are conveniently sized, they can be easily carried and installed. You’ll also find that most playground tiles are resistant to UV rays, can withstand extreme temperatures, and offer an ideal surface to maximize traction and safety during play. Rubber tiles generally tend to be less expensive to purchase and install than poured-in-place flooring.

It’s also possible to combine tiles and mats with other flooring types, particularly with a poured rubber floor. Laying a heavy-duty playground mat over a pour-in-place rubber floor adds durability to the floor. Options like swing mats and slide mats protect the flooring from increased wear, maximizing its lifespan.

The above comparison can give you a sense of pros and cons and price options, but our team is here to help, too. Contact us today with any questions, and we’ll do our best to help.

Contact Greatmats for Your Rubber Playground Flooring Needs

At Greatmats, we stock an extensive selection of rubber tiles and mats ideal for playground installations. Whether you’re looking for a DIY-friendly option suitable for outdoor use or need a tile that features a specific fall height rating, we can help you find the right rubber playground surface for your needs.