A rubber playground surface is an excellent idea because it has a natural bounce to it and is very good at absorbing shocks. In short, choosing genuine rubber playground flooring means your child will be better protected and less likely to injure themselves if they trip or fall from the apparatus.
Of course, the idea of installing a rubber playground surface can be daunting, it appears complicated and you want a professional finish, just like the experts offer. The good news is that it’s not as difficult as it seems.
Plan First
Planning is essential as it allows you to work out how big you want or need the floor to be. This helps to ensure you have enough material to do the job properly.
Start by considering what items you would like to include in your playground. This will allow you to sketch a plan and work out how big each item is and how much space it needs around it. You’ll then be able to work out how much space you need for all the playground equipment.
This gives you a square footage that will allow you to purchase the right amount of materials. You will want the playground to be close to the house and in a dry spot, make sure there are no trees overhanging the area.
Mark It Out
Assuming you are going for a square or rectangular playground you’ll need four posts, irregular shapes will need more. Place a post at every corner and join them together with string. This marks the playground and allows you to assess its size and position one more time.
Remove the Turf
To start you’ll need to remove the turf from the designated area. You only need to remove a couple of inches. But, you will need to make sure that the bare earth you uncover is level. That means using a spirit level on a piece of 2×4 across the space to get an accurate reading. Move the soil around until it is level and tamp it down to make it as compact as possible.
Add Tiles
The easiest way to get a rubber floor is to use rubber flooring tiles, these are usually 2-2.5 inches thick. You will need to start at the perimeter of your floor! This means measuring from the centre to ensure you are laying whole tiles at the edge of your floor space. It is easier not to need to cut all the tiles as you lay them.
The outer tiles can be held in place using dowels, you’ll find dowel holes on the tiles. These interlock with the next tile to create rigidity and prevent the entire floor from moving. Alternatively, you can use a quad block system which allows the tiles to interconnect to each other.
Take your time covering the entire floor and then step back to admire your work. It’s easier than you think to create a rubber playground floor that keeps your children safe.
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