Spring Cleaning! Your Surface Repair and Maintenance Guide
Understanding your outdoor space’s surface repair and playground maintenance requirements is vital for trade professionals and developers. Proper upkeep is key to extending the lifespan of installations and ensuring your development maintains safety standards. Winter weather can damage the integrity of surfaces, so now is the time to assess and repair your playgrounds, sports grounds, or other outdoor developments to prevent small problems from becoming larger hazards.
Maintenance practices differ depending on the surface material, levels of use, and even time of year; but don’t worry, PlaySmart is here to help you better understand the necessary upkeep for any surface.
Wet Pour Rubber Surface Repair
Wet pour rubber is popular in playgrounds to create a flat, secure surface with options for colour, shapes, and patterns. These safety surfaces must stay in top condition for the best impact absorption to maintain their safety ratings.
Hazards to Watch For:
- Puddling and flooding if installed with poor sub-base without drainage.
- Cracking from temperature changes that expand and contract the rubber.
- Colour-fade from overuse and UV exposure.
- Black carbon residue forms staining dust over the surface.
- Gaps forming at the sides of the rubber surface as the surface moves and contracts with cold.
If these hazards are common on your playgrounds, EPDM rubber toppers may be necessary. This hard-wearing, UV-resistant rubber has a higher tensile strength than SBR rubber options. Therefore, it lasts longer and is proven to experience less colour fade due to the True-Colour treatment of each rubber granule. PlaySmart’s wet pour comes with EPDM granules in the top layer, offering enhanced protection and colour maintenance.
Maintenance and Surface Repair Tips:
- Conduct regular inspections to identify early signs of wear or damage.
- Ensure a proper slope during installation to facilitate water runoff.
- Periodically clean the surface with a low-pressure hose to remove dirt and debris.
- Install EPDM wear pads to reinforce heavily used areas.
- Choose our DIY wet pour repair kits to cover cracks and potholes as a cheaper way to maintain older wet pour surfaces.
Rubber Mulch Maintenance
Recycled rubber mulch is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly surfacing option. While durable, it still requires ongoing care.
Hazards to Watch For:
- Loose fill granule loss from high foot traffic.
- Dirt and staining increase colour fade.
- Weed growth through the rubber.
- Debris lodged in the rubber that may harm children playing.
Maintenance and Surface Repair Tips:
- Installation with weed-proof membrane.
- Sweep the surface regularly to prevent debris buildup
- Use a low-pressure washer to clean the surface.
- Promptly repair areas where granules have loosened to maintain surface integrity.
Rubber mulch is a much more durable solution than loose-fill options like play bark. With proper install with the right binder, degradation will only occur under a lot of stress or after a long period of time. On installation, the recycled rubber is free from contaminants like metal wire or toxic chemicals that can pose safety hazards. Therefore, the most important maintenance tip is to keep the surface clean and regularly inspect for any changes.
Artificial Grass Maintenance
Developers often choose artificial grass as a low-maintenance surface alternative to natural grass lawns. However, it still requires regular care and upkeep with regular artificial grass maintenance.
Hazards to Watch For:
- Compacted fibres under high foot traffic.
- Drainage issues from poor installation with improper sub-bases
- Melted plastic from direct heat or fire
- Frozen grass blades in winter snapping underfoot.
- Lifting or shifting of the artificial grass mat rolls
Maintenance and Surface Repair Tips:
- Brush the surface regularly to keep fibres upright and distribute the infill evenly.
- Inspect and clear drainage channels to prevent water accumulation.
- Spot-clean spills and stains immediately to avoid discoloration.
- Replace damaged sections promptly to avoid further deterioration.
Hybrid Grass Surface Repair
Hybrid grass is a great alternative to artificial and natural grass that combines the benefits of both. However, by bringing in natural fibres, there are more surface maintenance requirements.
Hazards to Watch For:
- Overgrowth of Natural Grass creates uneven surfaces
- Lifting or shifting of the netted grass rolls.
Maintenance and Surface Repair Tips:
- Semi-regular mowing at a consistent level equal to the pile of artificial fibres.
- Aerate the soil beneath the hybrid surface to promote healthy grass growth.
- Strong fixings to avoid shifting with secure pegs.
Ensure the Longevity and Safety of your Outdoor spaces with Surface Repair and Maintenance
Although surface repair and regular upkeep may seem time-consuming, with a set schedule for inspection and maintenance, larger problems can be avoided. Also, with high-quality materials and proper installation, the majority of the most common problems can be avoided entirely.
Get in touch with our team by booking a call or getting a quick quote for your new surfaces with the forms on our contact page. Or, if you need rubber surface repairs, our DIY wet pour rubber repair kit makes it easy to keep your surfaces looking as good as new.
