Playground Surfacing

While commercial playground equipment is naturally the focal point of your outdoor space, the surface it sits upon is equally important. Playground surfacing is a critical component of play environments that ensures the safety, comfort, and accessibility of children while they engage in various activities.

There are several common types of playground surfacing, each with their pros and cons. Choosing the best playground surfacing for your space depends on a number of factors including the type of commercial playground equipment, expected foot traffic, maintenance capabilities, accessibility requirements, budget, and safety standards. More information on popular styles can be found below.

Ask yourself these questions to make sure you are getting the best surface for your playground:

5 Questions to Ask Before You Buy a Playground Safety Surface

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Burke Turf | Rubber Turf for Playground

Burke Turf® combines rugged durability with remarkable softness and beauty that allows it to be used in both sports and playground areas! With the look and feel of fine blade fescue or blue grass lawn, it is a perfect complement to any playground area and helps keep children of all abilities moving! Below the playground surface you’ll find a soft infill that is completely anti-microbial, to provide a lasting, healthy play environment. A shock and drainage pad provides shock absorption and impact protection from falls – the most common source of serious playground injuries. Burke Turf conforms to the latest CPSC, ASTM, and ADAAG standards for impact attenuation and accessibility. Learn More

Burke Tiles | Playground Rubber Tiles

A Burke Tiles surface is the perfect landscape on which to create a playspace that encourages kids of all abilities to keep moving and have fun! These eco-friendly tiles are easy to install, simple to maintain, and available in a beautiful palette of colors. Burke Tiles interlock on the entire edge on all four sides to prevent unsightly gapping! They are extremely durable and wear-resistant, and are designed to provide continual, dependable protection from serious injuries in the event of a fall and offer accessibility for all children to get into the heart of the play! Learn more

Poured-in-Place Rubber Playground Surface

Poured in Place (PIP) surfacing is an excellent option for playgrounds of all sizes! Consisting of rubber granules that have been combined with a polyurethane binder, PIP provides accessibility for children and families of all abilities, complements any design scheme with a variety of color options, and has a low maintenance cost!

Poured-in-Place surfacing from Surface America has the toughest top coat in the industry, with a leading 2.44 lbs. per square foot of material! We know that it is a better product because we warrant it for 7 years — or 10 years with premium binder. That’s the longest in the industry!

Engineered Wood Fiber | Playground Wood Mulch

Engineered wood fiber (EWF) is an economical playground surfacing popular in many playground spaces because of its high impact absorbing qualities and relatively low cost. Made from shredded wood, EWF offers a firm, slip resistant surface that, when properly installed, meets accessibility guidelines and keeps your kids safer as they play.

Rubber Playground Mulch

Rubber mulch is an exceptional playground surface that absorbs shock and reduces playground injuries. Made from recycled rubber tires, it provides superior cushioning and impact absorption. With little need for maintenance, rubber mulch dries quickly, is available in a variety of colors and works in virtually all climate conditions, but won’t decompose like wood mulch.