How To Give Your Play Area a Revamp

You don’t need a full redesign to improve a playground flooring, but you do need a surface that works.

At Flexflooring, we often get called in by schools, councils, or site managers facing a familiar set of problems: cracking mats, puddling around equipment, or surfacing that no longer meets safety compliance. Sometimes it’s a trip hazard complaint from parents; sometimes it’s a reinspection deadline looming.

In most cases, resurfacing is the quickest, most cost-effective way to transform the space without needing to start from scratch. With the right materials and expert installation, you can boost safety, reduce ongoing maintenance, and make your play area more engaging for every child who uses it.

Why Playground Surfacing Matters for Children’s Safety

A child’s safety starts where their feet hit the ground. Before any swing is hung or slide is installed, the surface underneath needs to protect them when they fall because at some point, they will.

Over the years, we’ve visited countless school sites where grass mats have worn thin or poured rubber has split at the seams especially under climbing frames or swings, where impact is heaviest.

Properly installed, safety-certified playground flooring like RubbaFlex® sg offers:

• Reliable fall protection around play equipment
• Seamless coverage that prevents trips
• Slip resistance in wet or icy conditions
• Built-in design features that support active learning

We’re often called in to fix problems caused by low-cost playground flooring installations. The issue is rarely the rubber itself. It’s usually poor subbase prep or the wrong product for the setting.

Replacing old or failing playground flooring with a properly installed system can:

• Increase traction and impact absorption where it’s needed most
• Eliminate trip hazards and uneven transitions
• Add colour and educational value through embedded design
• Ensure reliable use year-round even after rain

It’s the upgrade that supports every other improvement. And when it’s done right, you won’t need to think about it again for years.

What Type of Playground Flooring Is Best for My Space?

The right surface depends on usage, age group, and budget. But every installation should meet BS EN 1177 standards for fall height safety. After hundreds of UK installs, we typically recommend one of the following:

Wet Pour Rubber (EPDM)

Our proprietary system, RubbaFlex® sg, is engineered for consistent shock absorption beneath climbing frames, swings, and trim trails anywhere that’s subject to repeated impact or free fall risk.

This seamless, poured-in-place surface combines rubber granules with polyurethane binder. It’s built for long-term resilience and can be adapted for colour and creativity with minimal seams. Meanwhile, bonded rubber mulch mimics bark but stays in place – a stable option for uneven ground that still provides fall protection.

What Kind of Base Is Needed for Playground Surfacing?

No matter which surface you choose, longevity and safety start with what’s underneath. At Flexflooring, we always inspect the existing substrate and specify the correct build-up from there.

For compacted stone or type 1 bases, we install a 25mm base layer before adding the 15mm top surface. If you’re working with solid tarmac or concrete, we can install RubbaFlex® sg at a minimum 15mm depth directly on top often saving time and budget.

Proper subbase preparation is the single most important factor in how well your playground flooring performs. Inadequate groundwork causes cracks, puddles, and costly callbacks. We’ve had to remove plenty of failed surfaces over the years usually where the prep was rushed or incorrect for the site.

Choosing the Right Flooring for Different Age Groups

A nursery doesn’t need the same setup as a public skatepark. That’s why we tailor each install to your age group and usage profile.

• Nurseries and EYFS settings: We recommend soft, cushioned RubbaFlex® sg, especially beneath climbing structures and trikes.
• Primary schools: Many schools choose wet pour for play zones and use rubber mulch for nature trails or storytelling corners.
• Public parks: Rubber mulch offers natural aesthetics with enough fall protection to meet regulations. We increase thickness around high-use equipment to reduce long-term wear.

Every Flexflooring surface is designed to comply with BS EN 1177 accounting for the maximum fall height of your equipment.

How Can I Make My Playground More Engaging and Accessible?

A new surface is your opportunity to shape how children run, explore, and interact with their environment.

Once you’ve selected the right surface type, you can take the next step: customising it to boost learning and engagement. Our teams often embed vibrant graphics that double as learning tools helping children engage with numbers, letters, or role-play zones without even realising it. Incorporate trails, roadways, number grids, or themed paths to shape interaction and movement.

It’s also the right moment to consider accessibility. We often add smooth, step-free routes between entrances and key features, ensuring the playground flooring works for all users.

Fast Installation with Minimal Disruption

We schedule installations to avoid disruption working during school holidays or out of hours. Most jobs are completed in just a few days, depending on access.

Our teams handle everything from ground prep and drainage to finishing touches. Rubber systems like RubbaFlex® sg cure fast, meaning areas can reopen shortly after install.

How Much Does Playground Flooring Cost to Install?

Wet pour flooring or ‘rubber crumb’ solutions offer a safe environment for children in schools, nurseries and outdoor recreational areas. It is difficult to provide an exact cost for wet pour flooring systems because each project is unique.

There are several factors which need to be taken into consideration when quoting for projects whether that’s for commercial or domestic environments. Generally speaking:

• Black RubbaFlex® sg installations can range from £50 to £80 per m², depending on the required depth. This surface is usually installed using a Non-UV stable binder.

• Black rubber granules are the most cost effective, with coloured rubber granules costing slightly more

 

These figures are drawn directly from Flexflooring’s own installs and reflect both material and installation costs. Site access, base condition, and fall-height requirements all play a role in final pricing.

Want to see how we’ve helped schools and councils across the UK?

Browse our playground flooring case studies to see what a professional installation looks like from surface design to result.

Speak With Experienced Installers Who Know Playgrounds Inside Out

If your play area isn’t delivering the safety, creativity, or resilience children need, upgrading the surface is the smartest starting point.

Flexflooring has installed thousands of square metres of playground flooring across the UK. From nursery corners to large public parks, we’ve worked with the full range of playground settings, and we know the wear patterns, safety specs, and practical challenges that come with each.

Whether you’re redesigning the entire space or starting small, we’ll help you create a surface that works hard every term and holds up year after year.

Call 01622 747909 or email sales@flexflooring.co.uk to discuss your project. We’ll assess your site, advise on the best surface, and provide a no-obligation quote tailored to your needs.

Flexflooring, Safety and creativity, built in.