What Surface Should Go Underneath the Playset for Safety?

Grass/Dirt

• For minor falls, grass or dirt will cushion a blow.

• These materials do not absorb the shock of a major fall.

Sand

• Organic material
• Softer surface material than grass
• Can be used as a sandbox for kids to play in
• This is an extremely cheap alternative
• Sand is easy to buy, found in most hardware stores and nurseries
• Self-installed option without the need for a contractor

• Can be blown away with the wind
• Sand will get dragged into the house, making a mess
• Attracts unwanted animals that can carry and transfer bugs and diseases to children

Pea Gravel

• One of the cheapest alternatives
• Attractive appearance
• Easy to find in most hardware stores and nurseries
• Some shock absorbency
• Easy and fast installation

• Gravel will get kicked out of the play area and need to be reined in frequently
• Gravel can get caught in shoes or clothing items and transferred to the house
• Not as strong as some other surface materials that can be used

Mulch

• All natural material
• Biodegradable and environmentally-friendly
• One of the cheaper options
• Easy to find in most gardening or hardware stores
• Is soft and absorbs shock well
• Healthy option if playset is positioned right next to grass
• Can be poured without the need for a professional

• Can be tracked into the house
• Needs to be replenished periodically
• Depending on the climate you live in, mulch can attract undesirable insects

Wood Chips

• Soft, shock-absorbent material
• All natural material, so it will look great in an outdoor setting
• Biodegradable and environmentally-friendly
• Relatively cheap compared to some other swing set surface material options
• Healthy option if playset is positioned right next to grass
• Easy to install DIY

• May cause splinters (though unlikely)
• Easy to pick up and toss, making them tempting toys for kids to scatter across the backyard or lawn
• Not as resilient as the more industrial surface material options

Shredded Rubber

• Good shock absorbency level
• Doesn’t attract insects, rodents, or animals
• Easy to install all on your own
• Requires little maintenance to upkeep

• Not a natural surface material
• Highly flammable material and is toxic if inhaled while burning (not recommended if there is a chance of sparks or possible combustion in close proximity)
• Not environmentally-friendly

Rubber Mats

• Resilient
• Long-lasting
• Extremely shock absorbent
• Rubber mats come in a variety of colors to choose from

• While not the most expensive option, rubber mats are more costly than the above-mentioned surface materials.
• Sterile, unnatural appearance (synthetic materials such as rubber do not create the serene, rustic atmosphere that many homeowners want from their backyard space)

Poured-in-Place Rubber

• Resilient
• Long-lasting
• Extremely shock absorbent
• Can be made to look like several surfaces

• Most expensive option (poured-in-place rubber must be poured out professionally with the right equipment, making it an expensive option)
• Sterile, unnatural appearance (this can conflict with other more natural elements of an outdoor setting)