Playground Surfacing Buying Guide
Prices may vary by region and volume. Please contact BYO Recreation for installation details and quoting specific to your play area 800-853-5316.
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Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) - Not to be confused with wood chips
- Advantages: Low initial cost; Ease of installation; Attractive natural appearance.
- Disadvantages: Holds moisture; Decomposes over time.
Pricing: $14-36 per cubic yard (about 60 cents - $1.50 per square ft) plus delivery. This is delivered “dump truck style” and then needs to be spread out.
Can be installed easily over dirt/grass and needs border timbers.
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Rubber Mulch
- Advantages: Non toxic; Odor free; Non-staining (except black can sometimes rub off on clothes and skin); Does not generally need to be replaced or renewed each year; Animals and insects are not attracted to Rubber Mulch.
- Disadvantages: Recycled rubber mulch may need to be raked periodically to maintain appropriate depths in high-traffic areas.
- Pricing: $5 - 6 per square foot plus delivery, $643 per ton for Color. This is delivered “dump truck style” or in 2 ton supersacks and then needs to be spread out. It can be installed easily over dirt/grass and needs border timbers.
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Artificial Turf Playground Surfacing
- Advantages: Surfaces are wheelchair accessible and easy to walk on; Surfaces require very little maintenance over time and are easy to clean; Cooler surface temperatures.
- Disadvantages: The area under the surface usually requires preparation; Turf requires professional installation; May curl and cause tripping if not installed correctly.
- Pricing: $11-15 per square foot for basic delivery and installation. It can be installed over pretty much any surface. It will need to come up to an edge (fence, building, rubber curbs). Has the best material warranty.
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Poured in Place Rubber
- Advantages: Low maintenance; Easy to clean; Surfaces are wheelchair accessible and easy to walk on; Material not displaced during play; Almost no limitations for free-flowing graphic design potential.
- Disadvantages: Surface requires professional installation; Possible high surface temperatures during sunny conditions; Difficult to Repair large cracks or vandalism.
- Pricing: $9-15 per square foot delivered and installed. Price varies greatly on thickness and quantity ordered. Needs to be installed over concrete, asphalt or crushed stone sub base.
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Rubber Tiles
- Advantages: Surfaces are wheelchair accessible and easy to walk on; Surfaces require very little maintenance over time and are easy to clean; Very durable surfacing.
- Disadvantages: The area under the surface usually requires base preparation; Surface requires professional installation; Rubber tiles may curl and cause tripping if not installed correctly.
- Pricing: $12-16 per square foot delivered and installed for a 4ft fall height. Price varies greatly on thickness of tile and quantity ordered. Needs to be installed over concrete or asphalt.
