Playground surfacing costs can vary depending on the thickness of the tiles as well as the quantity of the tiles; however, due to their recycled rubber composition, a rubber crumb play surface is the one of the most cost-effective playground surface options available. These padded play mats are made up of post-consumer vehicle tiles, allowing them to stand up well against physical damage as well as harsh environmental factors. Additionally, these safety mats for playgrounds offer excellent shock absorption and anti-slip properties that help promote playground fall protection. Furthermore, playground surfacing costs when using recycled rubber crumb tiles will be dwarfed when compared to the many safety benefits recycled rubber crumb can offer a playground surface.

How Much Do Rubber Playground Tiles Cost?

Playground tiles can cost anywhere from $20.00 to $45.00 (per tile) depending on the quantity and gauge of the playground tiles. Interlocking recycled rubber crumb play surface tiles are offered in four different thicknesses: 3/4", 1”, 2.5”, and 3”. While playground surfacing costs will vary depending on the surfacing’s physical features and quantity, volume discounts are available for 50 or more tiles. The benefits of their recycled rubber crumb composition are twofold and surpass the playground surfacing costs, making interlocking recycled rubber crumb tiles cost-effective products. A recycled rubber crumb play surface offers long life and better performance that requires less maintenance which, in turn, reduces the need for costly and frequent repairs. For instance, “Some tire-derived products have higher initial costs than competing products but often lower life-cycle costs because they last longer and require less maintenance labor. Also, tire-derived products often provide other performance benefits compared to competing products” (calrecycle.ca.gov). A recycled rubber crumb play surface is highly resistant against harsh UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture, allowing for long-lasting outdoor playground surfacing. This reduces the amount of unnecessary playground surfacing costs by providing durable and reliable indoor/outdoor safety mats for playgrounds.

In addition, the playground surfacing costs of recycled rubber are much lower than that of natural or synthetic rubber surfacing. Both natural and synthetic rubbers require more energy to process as they are brand new materials being created. For example, “Manufacturers prize scrap as a raw material input due in part to the cost and energy savings” (recycledrubberfacts.org). Recycled rubber products are not brand-new materials as recycled rubber crumb is essentially ground up post-consumer vehicle tire. The recycled rubber crumb is then re-adhered with a polyurethane adhesive to form a solid product or sheet. Natural rubber must be manually harvested from the rubber tree which includes the cost of manual labor as well as the additives and production process to make it a solid material. Synthetic rubber is made from petroleum-based chemicals that must be extracted from petroleum oil. The playground surfacing costs associated with choosing recycled rubber crumb play surface are surpassed when compared to the durable and long-lasting properties of recycled rubber.

What is Rubber Surfacing?

Rubber surfacing is a safe, shock absorbent, and non-slip flooring option that is ideal for playground fall protection. Rubber playground surfacing is made up of recycled rubber crumb that are derived from post-consumer vehicle tires, reducing the overall playground surfacing costs. Recycled rubber crumb is the perfect material to use for padded play mats due to its excellent indoor/outdoor versatility shock absorption and non-slip properties. Oftentimes, rubber surfacing for playgrounds comes in the form of interlocking recycled rubber crumb play surface tiles. The interlocking mechanism of rubber playground tiles makes it easy to customize the size of the playground surface which, in turn, helps create a safer “use zone” around the playground equipment for better playground fall protection. A use zone is the “surface under and around a piece of equipment which a child falling from or exiting the equipment would be expected to land” (cpsc.gov). It is important to have sufficiently padded play mats around playground equipment as most hospital visits from playground-related injuries are due to falls from equipment and onto a hard surface. The surfacing around the playground equipment should be a minimum of 6 feet in any given direction as children can be unpredictable (cpsc.gov).

A recycled rubber crumb play surface also offers enhanced traction, even in the face of moisture. Rubber naturally retains a grippy surface, even when moisture is present; however, with recycled crumb rubber playground tiles, traction is enhanced through its textured surface. Recycled rubber crumb is re-adhered to form a solid product, but because of the crumb rubber composition, instead of a smooth finish, the surface is textured with little grains of crumb rubber. This is an important property to have as many playgrounds are located outdoors where they may be prone to wetness from precipitation. Not only does a recycled rubber crumb play surface reduce playground surfacing costs, but it also promotes playground fall protection by providing a safe and padded surface.

Recycled rubber crumb is the ideal material for creating interlocking safety mats for playgrounds. Not only are the playground surfacing costs for recycled rubber crumb surfacing lower than that of other playground materials, but rubber crumb provides a long-lasting playground surfacing option that will also cut costs of frequent repairs. Due to their post-consumer vehicle tire composition, rubber playground tiles are highly resistant to damaging environmental factors, including UV rays, ozone, oxygen, and moisture. The recycled rubber crumb composition produces a textured surface that helps enhance rubber’s natural grippy surface. Best of all, the interlocking mechanism of the playground tiles allow for customizable sizing which, in turn, helps create sufficient surfacing around playground equipment for excellent playground fall protection against serious life-threatening injuries. Overall, the playground surfacing costs of recycled rubber crumb surfacing are well worth the playground fall protection.