Surface Material
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Pros
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Cons
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Grass/Dirt
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- For minor falls, grass or dirt will cushion a blow.
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- These materials do not absorb the shock of a major fall.
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Sand
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- 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
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- 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
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Pea Gravel
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- One of the cheapest alternatives
- Attractive appearance
- Easy to find in most hardware stores and nurseries
- Some shock absorbency
- Easy and fast installation
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- 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
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Mulch
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- 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
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- Can be tracked into the house
- Needs to be replenished periodically
- Depending on the climate you live in, mulch can attract undesirable insects
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Wood Chips
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- 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
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- 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
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Shredded Rubber
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- Good shock absorbency level
- Doesn’t attract insects, rodents, or animals
- Easy to install all on your own
- Requires little maintenance to upkeep
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- 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
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Rubber Mats
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- Resilient
- Long-lasting
- Extremely shock absorbent
- Rubber mats come in a variety of colors to choose from
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- 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)
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Poured-in-Place Rubber
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- Resilient
- Long-lasting
- Extremely shock absorbent
- Can be made to look like several surfaces
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- 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)
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