Photo: Hickory Lane Inclusive Playground in Jackson, Wis., includes surfacing materials that are reminiscent of a beach to complement the playground’s theme.
By Soft Play
Creating a safe and inclusive school playground is paramount for productive playtime. Custom color surfacing materials enhance a play area’s visual appeal and provide safety. Kids will look forward to recess and parents will appreciate having a safe place to take their children after hours.
Discover where you can buy custom color surfacing materials for playgrounds and explore factors to consider before partnering with a provider.
1. No Fault Surfaces
Photo Credit: Courtesy of No Fault
No Fault Surfaces has been providing safe and secure surfaces since 1974. It developed the first poured-in-place rubber safety flooring, making it one of the best custom-color surfacing materials providers for playgrounds. Almost all of the company’s products contain recycled materials, most of which are eligible for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits.
Visit the No Fault Surfaces website to create your custom color blend of poured-in-place rubber flooring and have it sent along with your quote request.
Key features:
- Offers two types of poured-in-place surfacing: ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV)
- Features a five-year warranty for poured-in-place floorings
- Enables choosing colors or getting recommendations from staff based on project specifications
- Provides long-lasting warranty coverage
- Requires minimal routine maintenance
2. Landscape Structures
Landscape Structures offers various playground items, from equipment to surfacing solutions. It has championed environmental stewardship since 1998. Its team understands that good design matters in play quality, allowing you to embed various colors and shapes into your desired surfacing material. Regardless of your playground size, expect to get a personalized approach throughout the entire process. Visit the Landscape Structures website to compare different flooring options.
Key features:
- Champions sustainable practices in every project
- Has in-house, experienced designers to create your dream playground surfacing
- Offers 70 distinct color palettes and hundreds of color combinations
- Allows multiple surfacing types in a single playground
3. FlexGround
FlexGround is an International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association-certified (IPEMA) provider specializing in playground flooring, splash pads, athletic courts, recreational trails and aquatic parks. Its poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing can be customized with various patterns, colors and your school logo and is available in six types: standard, EnduraFlec, UltraFlex, Xtreme Playground, FlexPlay and FlexBond.
Choose UltraFlex if quality is your main deciding factor, as its two-layer system can protect students using swings and high-impact playground equipment.
Key features:
- Has six types of customizable poured-in-place options
- Offers a comprehensive color chart
- Designs playgrounds that create a three-dimensional play experience for students
- Transforms flat surfaces into multilevel play experiences
4. Little Tikes Commercial
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Soft Play
Consider Little Tikes Commercial if you’re building a school playground from scratch. You can buy custom color surfacing material and equipment for your play area that’s compliant with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity in every project.
If you don’t know where to start, Little Tikes Commercial staff can guide you through the various surfacing options and their age-appropriateness. Custom color options are available for No Fault® Poured-in-Place surfacing, rubber tiles and rubber nuggets.
Key features:
- Offers big sales
- Considers age-appropriateness when suggesting ideal surfacing materials
- Allows customization on various flooring materials
5. Play & Park Structures
Purposeful play is at the heart of Play & Park Structures, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based playground equipment provider servicing schools, parks and recreation centers, faith-based institutions and landscape architects. It specializes in designing playgrounds to support early development and growth among preschoolers, making it an ideal option if your institution mainly caters to this age group. Among its surfacing material options, only poured rubber, shredded rubber and tile flooring allow customization.
Key features:
- Prioritizes inclusive play
- Offers various thicknesses to provide your desired impact attenuation
- Lets you add logos and simple games like hopscotch and tic-tac-toe on poured-in-place rubber
6. Northwest Playground Equipment Inc.
The family-owned business Northwest Playground Equipment has been providing playground since 1996. It has worked with various elementary schools, creating inclusive and ADA-compliant play areas. The company also works with manufacturers with LEED certifications to support your school’s sustainability efforts.
Safety tiles and poured-in-place rubber offer plenty of design and color options, allowing you to create an aesthetically pleasing play area for students.
Key features:
- Offers loose fill and unitary surfacing
- Has color options and landscape features or hills for playground grass
- Provides a free site evaluation
- Employs professionals who can create interactive designs, provide on-site supervision and dedicate long-term support
Things to Consider When Choosing a Custom Color Surfacing Material
How do you know which surfacing material is right for your school? Here are some factors to consider before making a purchase.
Safety
Choose a provider that meets the fall protection standards of a certified playground safety inspector. Ensure your chosen surfacing material is fully tested for various fall heights to reduce the risk of injuries among students.
Accessibility
The ADA states that playground surfacing options must accommodate all individuals, including those using crutches and wheelchairs. Look for a provider that meets or exceeds ADA’s regulatory standards.
Durability and Maintenance Needs
School playground surfacing must be durable to handle regular use and easy to maintain to reduce the spread of disease-causing germs.
Customization
Work with a company that can turn your vision into reality. Prioritize a provider with a design team that can help make your school playground visually appealing without compromising safety. Consider incorporating educational designs like alphabets, maps, numbers and interactive games to transform your play area into a learning space.
