Rubber mulch vs wet pour

Rubber mulch or wet pour… What’s the difference between these two rubber playground surfacing products, and which is better?

What is rubber mulch?

Rubber mulch is one of the most popular products available on the playground surfacing market. Made from shredded recyclable tyres, it’s a water permeable safety surface with the look of natural bark. Often used in gardens and sustainable landscaping due to its durability and low maintenance requirements, it also has superior weed growth suppression. Rubber mulch doesn’t require replacing like loose fill bark, and our JungleMulch is guaranteed last for at least 3 years.

safe flooring play area

Wet pour is a rubber surface, that provides a high quality, hard wearing, slip resistant surface that requires little to no maintenance. RubbaSmart, our brand of wet pour is installed in various thicknesses dependant on any play equipment in the area. The key benefit of wet pour is that it’s very easy to create complex designs, patterns and shapes, helping spark the imagination of any children using the play area.

Why choose rubber mulch?

Rubber mulch is vandal resistant and can be kept neat and tidy very easily due to it being a solid surface. It is a cost effective alternative due to its durability and can e used for paths, embankments, play areas or even weed control. For many applications, our JungleMulch does not require a sub-base, groundworks or edging details, saving money and time during the installation process.

The only downside to rubber mulch is that it is not suitable for nurseries, or play areas where young children will be crawling, as the product is known to release Carbon Black colour which can stain skin and clothing. This release of Carbon Black happens with every rubber mulch product on the market.

golf club mulch pathway

Why choose wet pour?

Wet pour is the number one choice for playgrounds that require complex designs, patterns or shapes. Wet pour is very colourful for a long period of time and offers a safe, non-slip surface which is ideal for playgrounds. Although often specified for its aesthetics, wet pour is also a high-quality safety surface and can be installed at varying thickness to provide a range of Critical Fall Heights.

The only downside to wet pour is it can often be out of budget; however, you should always consider the costs over the expected lifetime of the surface. Wet pour is also renowned for shrinking over time around the edges of the play area. However, this problem can be easily fixed through wet pour repairs.

rubber wet pour playground

So, which is better?

Both options are equally good in their own right, and the best product for you entirely depends on what you’re trying to achieve with the playground. If you’re wanting pattern design and long-lasting bright colours, wet pour is the best option. If you’re wanting a more natural look or a product that can suppress weeds, rubber mulch is the best option. If you need a slip resistant surface that’s suitable for nurseries and younger children, wet pour is better. And if you’re installing a pathway or trail and don’t want to carry out ground works, rubber mulch is better.

Rubber mulch vs wetpour, whichever rubber playground surfacing product you choose to go with, we hope this post helped you understand the difference between them and the key benefits of each.

If you’d like to get a quote or have any questions, feel free to call us on 01564 742811 or email info@playsmartuk.co.uk.

3 thoughts on “Rubber mulch vs wet pour

  1. Really informative read! I feel another advantage of wet pour is that it can be installed over slopes, mounds, or contours. This creates great visual and sensory impact. Although they are expensive, the benefits feel worth it!

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