When installing a playground it is crucial to incorporate protective features into the design so as to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all its users. Playground rubber matting is one possible component that can be incorporated into a playground installation, and will go a long way towards maintaining a safe play environment for children. There are numerous benefits inherent to playground rubber matting. Primarily, creating a protected rubber play area is a sensible and smart choice that every playground owner should consider. Something important to keep in mind is that installing rubber play flooring has the potential to be a simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) process. Here we will focus on the actual step-by-step installation of rubber play flooring; an operation that is relatively easy, yet -if done properly – will ensure your playground is as well-protected as possible. Overall, the playground installation of interlocking rubber play flooring essentially comes down to a step-by-step process, which, with sufficient explanation, can be adapted and undergone by any enterprising and responsible playground owner.
DIY Grounds For Improvement
Step 1: Gather Materials. The three essential components of interlocking rubber play flooring installation are the rubber play mats themselves, the interlocking ribbed plastic pins required to affix the mats together, and a rubber mallet. Ensure that all your tiles are uniform and capable of bring affixed together. Obtain all these materials prior to beginning the installation process. Check to make sure that all parts are in good working order.
Step 2: Surface Preparation. Once you have all the necessary materials gathered together, it is essential to make sure that you install your playground rubber matting on a suitable foundation. The ideal type of spaces for playgrounds incorporating playground rubber matting will be areas that are smooth and level. Concrete, wood, and asphalt are the best surfaces, however compacted dirt will also work. Since the rubber tiles are heavy, when interlocked, they tend to stay down under their own weight. When installing on dirt, a geotextile fabric is a great barrier to keep weeds from growing onto the playground. Consult your local hardware store or nursery for choosing the proper weed barrier.
Step 3: Tile Preparation. After gathering the proper materials and selecting a satisfactory surface foundation, the actual title installation can begin. Interlocking rubber play flooring should be laid with the waffled side down on top of your selected surface and aligned next to one another to facilitate ease of installation.
Step 4: Insert Connector Pins. After placing your first tile on the surface, insert the ribbed connector pins halfway into the said tile’s connecting holes. You can use a rubber mallet to speed up the process.
“Eco-Sport 1-inch” Interlocking Rubber Flooring Tiles
“Eco-Sport 1-inch” Interlocking Rubber Flooring Tiles
- This rubber surfacing can be permanently installed using adhesive glue
- Great for use as gym flooring, flooring for a basement, outdoor deck surfacing, playground surfacing, trade show floors, and more
- Ramps available upon request. The sloped ramps are great for use as safe entry points and are useful for getting wheeled equipment onto the mats
Surface Protection: Since these rubber floor tiles are 1″ thick, each outdoor tile is perfect for protecting the base surfacing of an area. Heavy objects and/or a high volume of foot traffic can damage surfaces like wood. By installing this durable rubber surfacing, you are essentially adding a barrier between your area’s base surfacing and outside stresses like treadmills or sofas.
DIY Flooring: Another feature that makes these recycled mats so popular is their ease of installation. It makes a great do-it-yourself project, saving you the unwanted additional expenses of hiring third party installers. Each outdoor tile comes with pre-drilled holes on each side. These holes are meant for special connector pins (sold separately) that hold each tile firmly together. The beauty of interlocking floor tiles lies in their easy to install nature. Save yourself some extra time and money with these rubber floor tiles!
Step 5: Align Second Tile with First. Place a second rubber play mat tile alongside the first. Make sure the second tile’s connecting holes are aligned with the now protruding connector pins of the first.
Step 6: Push Tiles Together. Firmly press both tiles together my hand until both of the rubber play mats are nearly touching.
Step 7: Mallet in the Sides. Take a mallet and gently and evenly tap on the sides of the playground rubber matting until the tiles lock together. Using a mallet will allow for the creation of a secure and firm rubber play flooring.
Step 8: Repeat as Necessary. Repeat the above steps until you have a playground surface that is suitable for you needs. Additionally, the flooring can be expanded as much as necessary provided you have a sufficient amount of material.
Rubber Swing Set Mats 54” Diameter
Rubber Swing Set Mats 54” Diameter
- Easy to clean and water-resistant
- Exhibits excellent weathering and UV resistant qualities
Added Slip-Resistance in Landing Areas: By using a rubber mat for under swing landing area, you can increase the anti-slip qualities of the floor surface thereby increasing safety. A rubber mat is made with materials and properties that help reduce the floor’s slipperiness. Rubber has a naturally high coefficient of friction. These properties, in addition to diamond-plated surface texture, provide a roughened and added traction. This helps the users of the swing area to prevent slip-and-fall accidents by being able to stop at the landing area. Rubber playground mats for under swings help by adding much needed traction in areas that otherwise maybe damaged due to abrasion or grassy patches that may be blading.
Water-Proof, UV and Weather Resistant: Using a UV resistant rubber mat for a swing set ground cover is imperative since the swing set mat is expected to protect the floor surface below. This is especially important when the surface below is natural landscaping like grass and the area may have been damaged. UV and weathering resistance refers to rubber material’s ability to resist UV radiation and outdoor moisture (i.e., rain & snow). Having a waterproof rubber mat for swing areas also reduces the amount of water that can puddle up around areas that have been scraped away. This rubber swing set mat is 100% waterproof and any moisture left on the surface of the mat either will run off or will stay on top and will not get through the body of the rubber mat.
Step 9: Add Ramp Attachments. Once you have completed the playground installation of your rubber play flooring, you can add rubber ramp attachments to the perimeter of the surfacing in order to facilitate ease of access to the playground. The ramp installation is completed in the same way as the tiles are connected (via pins and malleting) and is one of the final steps of the installation process. You can also install a borer around the playground using wood or other edging materials.
Step 10: Inspect. Finally, review the completed flooring to ensure you have structurally integral and safe rubber play flooring for your playground area.
The installation of interlocking playground rubber matting can be an easy, step-by-step, “Do-It-Yourself” project. “Pins, pads, mallet” is a good mental mnemonic for remembering the proper installation order when it comes to interlocking rubber play flooring. In short, insert the pins, affix a tile to the one next to it, then mallet the sides to create a stable and effective foundational barrier. If a customer follows the proper steps as outlined above, there is no reason that they should be unable to create a safe playground experience for all via the installation of rubber play mats. In essence, the playground installation of these mats is a process that can –and should- be undergone by anyone hoping to increase the safety and usability of their playground.
