7 Best Materials to Put Under Swing Set
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Author: Austin Stanfel
Are you a swing owner who cannot decide what to put under your swing set? Do you need someone to assist you with your decision? Then you have come to the right place.
Purchasing a swing set for your child can be the ultimate gift, as it offers outdoor activity. It benefits their health, helps them socialize, and improves their mental development.
However, deciding what to put beneath it can be a real challenge. While playing on their swing set, active kids will get a scratch or two. Nevertheless, many accidents can be prevented with one simple step: the suitable surface material, which can prevent thousands of injuries.
Fortunately, we have compiled a list of the top 7 materials to assist you in deciding what to put under your swing set. We hope you find them helpful.
How to Choose What to Put under Swing Set?
Before we get into our recommendations for the best materials to put under a swing set, let us first discuss the factors you should consider before deciding on the best option.
The best choice to put under your swing set depends on the playground’s age, the size of the swing set or playground, and the location of your swing set. The main factors to keep in mind are: –
Sustainability: One of the most important factors to consider is sustainability or durability. You should choose one that can last a long time. There are several viable options. The rubber mats are most likely the best.
Affordability: Affordability is always a concern. Choose material that is simple to obtain and provides fair value. Sometimes a choice may appear inexpensive, but its maintenance and upkeep could be so high that it might be a bad option.
Maintenance: Some materials require much upkeep. Wood mulch, rubber mulch, and sand all require regular shoveling to stay in place. Otherwise, they will disperse to areas where they are not needed. Rubber mats, on the other hand, are entirely hassle-free. You only need to put them down once, and they are suitable for life.
Appearance: Some materials appear more appealing than others. The wood mulch and pea gravel for the playground are good, as they give a natural vibe. Rubber mulch comes in a variety of colors.
1. Wood Mulch
Wood mulch is the first thing that comes to mind when deciding what to put under the swing set. It consists of shredded, chipped, or ground-up wood and absorbs and drains moisture, making it an excellent choice for surfacing playgrounds.
Wood chips are milled to achieve a fibrous consistency before becoming Engineered Wood Fiber. Because it contains no adhesives, there should be no harmful chemicals to be concerned about. Several organizations have certified it to ensure your children play on a safe, toxin-free surface.
Wood mulch provides adequate shock absorption, with nine inches of wood mulch protecting against seven-foot falls. They absorb almost as much shock as rubber mulch and have a more natural appearance.
Advantages
Economical: Wood mulch is typically less expensive to purchase and install. It is also easily accessible.
Excellent slip resistance: If you are worried about children who run around, wood mulch can keep them from slipping. Because wood absorbs and drains moisture, preventing a slippery surface.
It also has a natural elegance that can complement any type of greenery. It is also available in various colors, making it easier to match your landscaping. The three most popular colors are red, brown, and black.
Environmentally friendly: It contains no toxins or harmful substances that could harm your children or the surrounding plants and soil.
2. Rubber Mulch
Rubber Mulch is explicitly designed as a surface material in a children’s play area, which is why you will find it in many public playgrounds. It is made of recycled tires that have been shredded into small pieces. Because it is made of rubber, durability is assured, making it ideal for long-term use.
You can select various colors to match your outdoor spaces and swing set. It provides a high-quality, moisture-resistant surface and a cushion to absorb the shock of a fall.
Furthermore, because it does not splinter and is not sharp, it does not pose a choking hazard.
Advantages
Durability: Rubber lasts a long time. So, if you can keep your mulch where you want it, you will not have to replenish it as frequently.
More Effective: When it comes to shock absorption, this is the most effective surface material. Six inches of padding protects against falls of up to ten feet.
Low Maintenance: Rubber mulch is a low-maintenance surfacing option, which is why it is more expensive at first, but unlike wood mulch, it does not need to be replaced every year and may never need to be replaced at all.
Insect-free: Rubber mulch is safer for your children because it does not attract insects. You can also use this feature to protect your children from insect bites.
3. Pea Gravel for Playgrounds
If you are looking for a less expensive option, there is no better option than pea gravel for the playground. The material’s natural appearance helps it camouflage while still slowing or even stopping weed growth.
This material is like crushed rock but gentler to the touch and gives excellent shock absorption.
They are less expensive, require less maintenance, and do not rot. The only problem is that landing on them hurts. It is also challenging to stay balanced on them, especially on rainy days.
Advantages
Natural Aesthetics: Because pea gravel is made of small stones, it has a natural appearance. It has also been used as a low-maintenance substitute for grass.
Low initial cost: It is a good alternative for those on a low budget who need to purchase materials immediately.
Provides cleanliness: Pea gravels have a nice appearance, but that is not all there is to cleanliness. It also inhibits the growth of weeds and does not attract other animals, so your children will not be exposed to them.
No toxicity: It is free from toxic organisms. It will not even allow any kind of weed to grow in it.
4. Sand
Sand is the most used when looking for a material to put under a playset. Children are frequently taken to parks with sand; they enjoy running through it, and sand can absorb a significant amount of shock from a fall. It is not only inexpensive to buy, but it is also relatively simple to install.
Sand is undeniably the messiest option of them all. It can get into awkward places and stick to wet clothes. It, like wood mulch, is prone to being kicked out of the swing set area and ending up elsewhere in your yard.
Moreover, it also necessitates regular inspection because objects can quickly become lost or hidden in the sand. It might attract various animals and insects, making it a hygiene issue for you and your children.
Advantages
Shock absorption: Sands do not provide good shock absorption when compared to other materials to put under a swing set, but they provide ease and protection. Children enjoy playing on it as well.
It is low cost, and you can install it yourself without needing professional assistance.
Double up as Sandbox: Sand helps to reduce injury in the event of a fall, and you can use the extra sand to build a sandbox for your children.
Pleasing aesthetic: It is ideal for matching most playgrounds, especially clean ones. It enhances the beauty of your playground.
5. Grass under Swing Set
Many homeowners prefer to use natural grass under a swing set. This style easily blends in with the rest of the backyard and acts as a good springboard for falls and dives.
Furthermore, replacing the entire ground cover may not be feasible if you put up a small playset. Putting grass under the swing setv might be your best option.
Natural grass, while aesthetically pleasing, is the most difficult to maintain ground cover. This is due to the need to cut the grass. Natural grass can also support the growth of weeds, pests, mold, and other noxious weeds. You must constantly mow weeds, water, and fertilize that lawn.
Advantages
Economical:It is a low-cost option when no other surface materials are available.
Easily Installable: It is also an excellent option because you will seldom need to change anything.
Multiple Choices: With grass, you can choose between different types, from local to imported varieties.
Natural Appearance: Grass blends easily with the rest of the backyard, making everything appear natural and seamless.
6. Poured Rubber or Rubber Tiles
Poured rubber or rubber tiles are the safest surfaces for a play area. They are interconnecting tiles that protect an entire play area by being laid on top of existing grass. They are ASTM F1292 safety standard certified and have two installation layers: a wear layer and a cushion layer.
It is one of the best impact absorbers because of the thick, heavy, and long-lasting rubber used in its construction. They provide shock absorption as well as traction to reduce injury during play.
They may be expensive at first, but they require little maintenance. They can significantly improve playground safety, making them worth the cost.
Advantages
Low Maintenance: Low maintenance of the material mitigates the high installation cost because there is not much to maintain once installed.
No Choking Hazard: It is secure and free of pests and insects. You will also not have to worry about your children tracking anything inside because there will be nothing to track!
Slip-Resistant: Because artificial grass drains better than natural grass, it is more slip-resistant. Turf also provides a level playing surface that is slightly cushioned compared to grass.
Grass Appearance: The turf is made of rubber infill that is designed to look like grass.
7. Turf
Although natural grass has pros, synthetic grass or turf might solve your problem. You can have the neat appearance of a beautifully manicured lawn without the upkeep. It can also be softer and provide some cushioning for hard falls.
To improve protection and accident resistance, you can use various padding options beneath your turf lawn. This increases the impact absorption and safety character of this option.
Furthermore, the turf will not need to be trimmed or thinned while maintaining the appearance of natural grass. It is easy to keep artificial grass once it has been installed. Just a little washing here and there, and possibly some repairs if the material becomes damaged.
Advantages
Low Maintenance: The installation cost may mitigate by the material’s low maintenance because there is not much to maintain once it has been installed.
Safe and Clean: It is secure and free of pests and insects. You will also not have to worry about your children tracking anything inside because there will be nothing to track!
Slip-Resistant: Because artificial grass drains better than natural grass, it is more slip-resistant. Turf also provides a level playing surface that is slightly cushioned compared to grass.
Grass Appearance: The turf is made of rubber infill that is designed to look like grass.
Final Thoughts
When deciding what to put under the swing set, you must consider several factors, including shock absorption, upkeep, expense, and your child’s overall safety.
The most common materials put under a playset are wood mulch, rubber mulch, grass, turf, and sand. Other materials are also suitable for use and can provide your children with nearly the same level of safety. At the same time, they play on their swing set.
Regarding your child’s safety on the playground, there is no better provider than Creative Recreational Systems, Inc. They provide a wide range of services, including the architecture of the school and commercial playgrounds, NPSI-certified safety inspections, regular maintenance, and much more.