Playground Surface Maintenance

Preventing accidents and injuries on the playground starts with safe surfacing. Traditional playground surfacing, such as wood chips, dirt, and astroturf, requires substantial ongoing maintenance, and many organizations struggle to keep up.

To keep the children at your school, park, daycare, or pool safe and to get the most out of your investment, adventureTURF recommends Poured-in-Place (PIP) rubber surfaces or playground tiles. These materials offer the best durability and lowest maintenance. However, it’s important to keep in mind that all surfacing materials require some upkeep to ensure their longevity and safety. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about cleaning and maintaining your playground surface.

There are two main types of surfacing: loose-fill and unitary. The maintenance you’ll need depends on the material you have in your play area.

Examples of loose-fill surfaces include wood chips, engineered wood fiber (EWF), and rubber mulch.

Unitary surfaces include artificial turf, poured-in-place rubber, and interlocking rubber tiles.

Temperature changes and poor drainage can further deteriorate surfaces like engineered wood fiber, synthetic turf, and wood mulch. They become less resilient and lose their quality over time, especially after a rainstorm followed by drops in temperature. This is another reason adventureTurf recommends poured rubber surfacing, as it is largely weatherproof.

A hole in playground rubber flooring is usually one of the last signs of deterioration. The binders used to hold the rubber together can degrade over time under harsh UV rays. As the glue breaks down from sun exposure and foot traffic, more granules become dislodged and the wear layer becomes thinner. This is when you start to see loose granules on the playground and on the kids. If the surface isn’t sealed, the cracks that form weaken the wear layer even more. These cracks not only become tripping hazards but also allow the base layer to be exposed.

When the base layer is exposed, the problem becomes more serious and expensive to fix. If there are just a few holes, both the base and wear layers must be patched. But if there are holes everywhere, a complete recap is necessary. This involves adding another half inch of wear layer to the system. It’s important to patch the base layer with base layer material before adding the wear layer.

This is why it is essential to have your poured rubber floor installed by experts like adventureTURF. Getting the job done right the first time can prevent many of these issues down the road.

If you are not properly maintaining your playground and its surfacing, you are putting the children who use it at risk and are opening yourself up for liability. Check out our playground safety page for more information.

All playground flooring materials require some maintenance. Loose-fill surfacing tends to require more attention than solid surfaces.

Even though engineered wood fiber is long-lasting, topping off the mulch every few years ensures optimal performance. Maintain the desired depth by regularly raking the surfacing material, especially in high-use areas.

Engineered Wood Fiber usually requires you to install a proper drainage system to prevent water pooling and flooding. Inspect and address any issues with the drainage system regularly.

Although engineered wood fiber prevents significant weed growth, occasional weed development may occur. Remove weeds promptly by hand or with the help of a professional weed killer that is safe to use around children.

A crucial step in maintaining rubber mulch is ensuring proper installation. By getting the installation right, you can prolong the life and appearance of the rubber mulch.

Keeping your rubber mulch clean is essential for its overall care. You can use a leaf blower to quickly remove leaves and debris from the surface. For a more thorough cleaning, apply a mild soap to the mulch and rinse it off with a hose. This removes surface debris and eliminates grime, ensuring the mulch remains visually appealing and functional. You can keep your rubber mulch looking fresh and vibrant by incorporating regular raking into your maintenance routine.

While unitary surfaces require less maintenance than loose-fill products, there are still important considerations to keep in mind. Rubber tiles can separate or come loose from the glue, high-traffic areas may become worn, and edges can come loose. Factors like weather, sun exposure, vandalism, and the passage of time can also cause damage.

One key aspect of maintenance for unitary surfaces is carefully reviewing and inspecting them for flaws or failures immediately after construction. Poor workmanship during installation, such as improper application of glue or a sub-base that hasn’t been properly installed and compacted, can lead to problems like ripped joints or separation of poured-in-place and tile surfaces.

Unlike real grass, spills and stains on artificial turf require immediate attention to maintain its look and feel. For everyday spills, you need to act quickly to prevent stubborn stains. Blot up the liquid with a towel or absorbent material, rinse the area with water and detergent, and then flush out the cleaner with cool water.

To extend the lifespan of your artificial turf, clear debris from the grass regularly. Rinse the turf with water to remove dust and pollen, and cross-brush the grass in high-traffic areas to prevent matting.

Maintaining and cleaning rubber floor tiles is important for their longevity and appearance. Whether your rubber tiles are interlocking or permanently installed, knowing how to care for them is crucial.

For removable rubber tiles, it’s best to clean them individually by hand to prevent any damage to the underlying floor. Using a wet sponge mop can lead to stains, mildew, and mold. Use a cleaning cloth, mild dish soap, and warm water to clean rubber floors with tiles, as scouring pads can cause damage. Air dry the tiles before placing them back.

Regular sweeping and dry vacuuming are recommended to prevent dirt build-up and maintain the quality of the rubber flooring. Vacuum between interlocking tiles using the hose attachment to keep the underlying floor intact and prevent dirt accumulation.

Occasionally, wet vacuuming can benefit permanently installed rubber tiles. Once a month is usually sufficient for indoor rubber gym floors and play areas. Prior to wet vacuuming, sweep and mop the floor to remove surface dirt.

For deep cleaning, add a non-abrasive cleaning solution to the floor and let it sit for 10 minutes. Larger or dirtier areas may require changing the water and using more detergent.

While poured rubber surfaces offer the best durability and safety, they still require a little TLC to keep them looking great and performing at their best:

Proper playground maintenance includes resealing your rubber surface. Over time, the top color layer of the rubber floor can wear away, causing damage and deterioration. Don’t wait for major damage, as then you may face repairs down the line – detect and repair early.

To maintain the vibrant colors and integrity of the surface, adventureTURF recommends resealing as needed. This simple step rejuvenates the rubber surface and restores its original condition. By reinforcing the binders damaged by UV rays, the sealer extends the longevity of your poured-in-place rubber surface. Wear and tear will vary for each playground, but often it can take close to 10 years before it is required. If you find that your surface is showing wear, contact adventureTURF to discuss our recommendations.

No matter what type of playground surface you have, it will require regular maintenance to keep it safe for children and looking its best. If your playground surfacing consists of wood mulch or is old and damaged, we highly recommend switching to a poured-in-place rubber floor. For more details about the merits of PIP rubber floors, take a look at our comprehensive guide.

adventureTURF has been your leading expert in rubber flooring for over twenty years. From schools and daycare centers to community pools and play areas, we provide top-notch playground flooring installations across the United States.

As your trusted park and playground company, we offer a comprehensive turn-key solution for any project. Our team handles everything from site preparation and debris removal to retaining walls and drainage solutions. With our landscaping expertise and a wide range of safety surfacing options, including poured-in-place rubber and rubber tiles, we ensure success for every flooring project.

Unlike other contractors, our dedicated crews are fully focused on playgrounds and rubber surfacing. We have mastered industry-leading techniques to guarantee high-quality results that meet product specifications and safety standards.

For more information about how poured-in-place rubber flooring can benefit your playground, or if you are in need of playground repair, call us or fill out a contact form. One of our friendly adventureTURF representatives will provide you with a free, no-obligation quote. Keep your playground a tip-top place to play with adventureTURF!