When you have your own personal backyard playground, it becomes necessary to consider every aspect of the playset. What do you want it to be constructed out of? What kinds of accessories would you like your kids to play with? What kind of playground surface do you want, and what kind of border will you implement to contain it?
Wood is the recommended material for your playground structure because it will not overheat in the sun and is durable and sturdy. There are numerous accessories to select from based on the children's ages and preferences. Rubber mulch is a preferred surface material to use because of its safety qualities. As for the border material, there are three most popular materials - wood, plastic and rubber.
If you select wood to border your rubber mulch play area, it is recommended that you select redwood or cedar for the border timbers. These are some of the hardest woods, making them resistant to decay and weathering. They are also sustainably harvested, making this choice more environmentally friendly than selecting other woods. Make sure if wood is your border choice, purchase lumber that has not been treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA), as it contains arsenic, a known carcinogen. This treatment, used to protect wood again weather, insects and mold, was phased out by 2004 but any lumber purchased that was harvested before then could contain this dangerous substance, so be aware.
Plastic is a great choice, as it requires no maintenance, is a durable material and great at keeping loose surfacing like rubber mulch in place. Plastic border timbers are usually made from recycled material, again assisting in the green movement of today. For unusually shaped borders, plastic is a great choice because it has hinged joints, so you could make your play area into a hexagon if you wanted rather than a square.
While plastic and wood borders are probably the most common playground border materials, rubber can be used to create curved borders, a feature that is unique to the other two. With a selection of rubber mulch surfacing and a rubber border, you can customize colors and shapes to match exactly what you want in your backyard. Loose fill like rubber mulch is a desired playground surface when safety and durability are the number one concerns. Not all rubber mulch is the same though so make sure you ask about high quality rubber mulch.
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