In the summer, natural hazards can begin to have a larger impact on certain outdoor surfaces. With forethought, you can choose responsible and high-quality Summer safety surfaces. Our surfaces can help your site to withstand and avoid the harmful aspects of the season.
PlaySmart’s surface installation team has over 20 years of experience. Therefore, we are well-equipped to help you make the best choice for all-weather surfacing. Here are some of the most important considerations to keep your surfacing development safe for the summer and beyond.
Natural Grass Protection Matting
Natural grass lawns and play fields are very vulnerable to the changeable extremes of the British summertime weather. Hot sun for extended periods can lead to yellowing and balding, and heavy rainfall on dry ground causes flooding and further damage.
Finding a durable, sustainable flooring solution to protect your natural grass without losing the qualities of real grass surfaces is therefore a priority for many this summer. Luckily, PlaySmart has a range of grass based summer safety surfaces for you.
Hybrid Grass Solutions
Hybrid grass uses synthetic fibres alongside natural grass growth, masking imperfections and reinforcing damaged or at risk areas of lawn. Using plant-based plastic fixing pegs, we fix the grass rolls to the ground. This works to prevent moving or slipping, even under heavy activity. Therefore, this solution is a hugely popular option across the UK.
Using hybrid natural and artificial grass creates a soft lawn surface that looks green all year round. The addition of synthetic fibres to natural grass lessens the pressure and damage experienced by the fragile natural grass. Therefore extending its lifespan, even in harsh weather conditions.
Rubber Grass Protection Mats
On playgrounds, hot weather can increase the risks of falls,. This is because the soil becomes hard and grass dies back, unable to act as a playground cushioning material. If this is a concern, grass protector matting is a great solution to protect both natural surfaces and playground users.
The boggy, waterlogged lawns new build sites often see can be due to compacted soil from overuse or the use of heavy clay soil for large flat surfaces. This may cause subsidence in poor quality rubber mats. Therefore, ground surveys are undertaken as part of the installation process to advise on your site’s individual needs. We often recommend different sub-bases or the SmartPlay shock pad system to provides an extra layer of subsidence protection.
Sun Damage to Surfaces
This year we are seeing more and more clear skies with very hot sun. Although great for outdoor activities, this can cause a variety of damages to your surfaces. With risks of cracking, fading, or even melting, it is more important than ever to protect your surfaces from the summer heat. PlaySmart’s flooring options are designed to beat the heat and avoid costly flooring repairs and playground maintenance.
Artificial Grass Temperature Resistance
All weather pitches for various shared spaces use artificial grass. It has become the preferred choice for turf for local authorities and new build developments. One of the key questions to determine the quality of synthetic grass is: ‘To what extend does artificial grass get hot in the sun and does this cause damage?’
Direct sunlight even on the hottest days is not enough to melt or bend the high quality artificial grass blades and, unlike natural grass, plastic will never wilt! However, magnification from unlucky placement of windows and reflective surfaces can cause small patches of damage if not addressed.
When planning where artificial grass lawns are appropriate, always be on the lookout for these sorts of hazards and react accordingly. If this does unexpectedly occur, replacements and artificial grass flooring repairs are simple due to the easy installation process. But as always it is best to plan ahead to avoid these issues that can add extra cost to your surfacing budgets over time.
Rubber playground flooring comes in many forms that can have varying resistance to weather conditions. Rubber playground flooring can be used to create wonderful patterns with vivid colours that you don’t want to fade over time.
EPDM mulch is an excellent solution to issues of UV colour fading and bleaching. We use virgin rubber shred and high quality binding agents in our EPDM. This is because these materials last longer with minimal playground maintenance or rubber repair required. Therefore, PlaySmart’s RubbaSmart, JungleMulch, and various other summer safety surfaces are available with an EPDM protective layer. This reduces UV colour damage, extending the surface’s lifespan.
Are your Surfaces Safe for the Summer?
For more explanations of hazards to summer safety surfaces, explore our fire-risk and fireproof mat advice in our FireSmart article. Or, for tips on creating a safe play environment for kids this summer, visit our seasonal outdoor playground hazards blog.
Are you ready to explore your surface options with PlaySmart? You can book a call with our team or request your Free Quote today. Simply visit our contact page and fill out our handy form.