Rubber playground mulch is the best mulch to use for playground surfacing, but rubber interlocking play tiles will offer better shock absorption than any mulch material. Rubber surface material is the ideal material for playground surfacing due to its ability to offer superior shock absorption compared to other surfacing options. Safe play mats are made of recycled rubber crumb that derive from vehicle tires, giving them excellent environmental and abrasion resistance. In addition, the safety properties of interlocking tile playground surface options are not compromised by harsh weather or the wear of children playing. Furthermore, the overall cost of interlocking play tiles will eventually be less due to its easy maintenance.

What is the Best Playground Mulch?

The best playground mulch is recycled crumb rubber mulch due to its excellent environmental resistance and moderate shock absorption; however, its safety properties can be compromised by changing weather conditions and wear. Rubber mulch is a loose-fill playground surfacing option that is made from post-consumer vehicle tires making it the superior choice for playground mulch over other loose-fill playground surface options, including wood mulch and pea gravel. Made up of vehicle tires, crumb rubber surface material will be extremely durable and environmentally resistant. Tires are highly durable products that will not be damaged by environmental factors, such as UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture. They are also highly shock absorbent and abrasion resistant, allowing it to remain functional in harsh outdoor settings. Due to these factors of vehicle tires, the same durability and resilience can be seen in the performance of recycled crumb rubber playground surface options. Despite its excellent outdoor and abrasion resistance properties, as a loose-fill material, its shock absorbent properties can be significantly altered by weather and the wear of children playing. Loose-fill materials “require frequent maintenance to maintain optimal performance, which is decreased due to age, usage, erosion, and weathering. The lack of maintenance may lead to unintended injuries as children fall onto surfaces that do not provide appropriate cushioning” (playgroundsafety.org). Because loose-fill rubber mulch can be severely compromised by environmental and physical factors, the most recommended playground surface option is an interlocking crumb rubber tile surface.

Crumb rubber interlocking play tiles are made of the same materials that rubber mulch is made of, but in the form of solid tiles. Unlike loose-fill rubber mulch, these interlocking play tiles will offer superior shock absorption capabilities that will not be compromised by weather or wear. Their interlocking mechanism makes it easy to create a customized playground surface that will provide sufficient padding around the playground equipment. Like rubber mulch, rubber interlocking play tiles will not be damaged by harsh environmental factors when used and left outdoors. Because they are solid products, they can offer a level and uniform surface that will not be compromised by environmental or physical factors. Depending on the thickness of the safe play mats, they can weigh anywhere between 10 to 28 pounds per tile. Strong winds and other harsh weather conditions will not be able to displace the interlocking play tiles and they will maintain a uniform shock absorbent playground surface.

• (a) What is Playground Mulch Made Out of?

  Playground mulch is made out of either recycled crumb rubber or wood. Recycled crumb rubber mulch is made of repurposed vehicle tires that have been shredded into a loose crumb material whereas wood mulch can either made of shredded wood, wood chips, or bark. Rubber mulch will last longer than wood mulch because it derives from durable vehicle tires that are designed to face the harsh conditions of abrasive terrain and weather conditions daily without deteriorating. Contrastingly, wood mulch derives from organic materials that will deteriorate over time in outdoor settings. Both types of loose-fill materials come with their own set of disadvantages with the biggest one being frequent maintenance to maintain sufficient shock absorption. Loose-fill materials are easily displaced by weather or the wear of children playing compromising their shock absorption capabilities. These disadvantages can be avoided with the use of rubber interlocking play tiles. The rubber materials used to create interlocking play tiles derive from post-consumer tires giving them the same excellent resistance against UV, ozone, oxygen, and moisture. Because interlocking play tiles are solid products they will not be displaced by weather or the wear of children playing allowing for reliable shock absorption throughout the entire playground.

  (b) Is Rubber Mulch Safe for Playgrounds?

  Rubber mulch is safe for playgrounds, but rubber interlocking play tiles are safer due to their solid compositions. Although both rubber mulch and rubber interlocking play tiles derive from post-consumer vehicle tires, because rubber mulch is a loose-fill surfacing material, its shock absorption is easily compromised by harsh weather and the wear of use. Contrastingly, interlocking play tiles are solid surfacing products in which shock absorption is not compromised by those factors. They are also easy to maintain compared to rubber mulch as rubber mulch will have to be frequently refilled to maintain its shock absorption. In addition, its customizable sizing installation process of interlocking play tiles allows you to create a surface large enough to provide ample safety padding around the equipment. Furthermore, compared to rubber mulch, rubber interlocking play tiles are available in 3/4", 1”, 2.5”, and 3” thicknesses, making it easy to find the correct thickness for ample shock absorption for the playground equipment present.

Is Playground Mulch Rubber?

Playground mulch is rubber, but it can also be made of other materials, like wood. Rubber playground mulch is great for outdoor settings as it will not be damaged by environmental factors due to its vehicle tire composition. Wood mulch, on the other hand, will eventually deteriorate when used in outdoor playgrounds because it is made of organic materials. Both playground surface options are loose-fill materials and will be affected by harsh weather as well as wear and tear. As loose-fill materials, they must be a specific depth to provide adequate shock absorption. Case in point, rubber mulch must be 10 to 12 inches deep whereas wood mulch must be 7 to 11 inches deep (cspc.gov). This depth can be altered which, in turn, affects the shock absorption of the surfacing. You can bypass all these disadvantages of rubber and wood mulch by using rubber interlocking play tiles. They are made from the same material as rubber mulch is, but they are solid products that will not be compromised.

• (a) Is Rubber or Regular Mulch better?

  Rubber is better than regular mulch due to its superior environmental resistance properties, shock absorption capabilities, and its ability to be safe and soft turf for playgrounds. Although rubber mulch can offer a moderate level of shock absorption, it is better to use rubber interlocking play tiles. Rubber playground tiles are made from the same material as rubber mulch: vehicle tires. Unlike rubber mulch, interlocking safe play mats are made with recycled rubber crumb that has been adhered back together to form a solid product. When the crumb rubber is re-adhered, it produces a surface texture that helps enhance rubber’s natural traction. In addition, rubber retains a low compression set that allows for a “bounce” that offers excellent padding between the hard subfloor and the force of a fall. This ability of rubber tiles cannot be achieved by loose-fill rubber mulch as their shock absorption can easily be altered by outside forces, including weather and wear.

  (b) How Much Does Rubber Playground Mulch Cost?

  Playground rubber mulch will eventually cost more than rubber interlocking play tiles due to its frequent maintenance. This soft turf for playgrounds is a loose-fill material that is constantly being displaced from the play area by weather or playing children. This type of rubber surface material must maintain a depth of 10 to 12 inches for it to offer sufficient shock absorption for playground standards, meaning it will need to be constantly refilled. The initial cost of rubber mulch may be less than rubber interlocking play tiles, but in the long run the tiles will last longer, reducing the overall cost. The cost of interlocking playground tiles ranges from $21.85 to $44.50 per tile depending on its thickness. Due to their inherent solid composition, environmental resistance properties, and abrasion resistance, rubber playground tiles will last longer than rubber mulch. This makes interlocking tiles a more cost effective and safe playground surfacing option.

Recycled crumb rubber interlocking play tiles are the ideal playground flooring option due to their durability, long-life, and easy maintenance. Safe play mats made of rubber are designed to provide superior shock absorption properties that will not be affected by harsh weather or the wear of children playing. Unlike rubber mulch, rubber play tiles are unitary playground surfacing options that will not be displaced by the factors that normally displace loose-fill materials, like rubber mulch or wood mulch. Both options offer soft turf for playgrounds, but the solid composition of rubber tiles makes it the best option over any other playground surfacing option. Both playground surface options offer long-life in outdoor settings; however, rubber play tiles are superior to any type of mulch and will offer better shock absorption and safety benefits as well as being a cost-effective option in the long run.