Rubber Playground Tiles or Rubber Mulch: Which One is Better?
Setting up a playground for your kids? Safety is a primary element that we all look for when choosing a playground surface. After all, this is the place where your kids will spend time performing heavy footstep activity and you need to ensure that you choose the best flooring options to offer safety.
When it comes to choosing playground flooring, there are several factors that need to be considered to make the right choice. Among several other flooring options, rubber mulch and rubber playground tiles are the popular ones.
Rubber is a versatile material which is ideal for the use of playground flooring. However, which one is a better choice among the two rubber flooring options, is the main question.
To help you out on your quest to find the best rubber playground flooring option, we have listed the pros and cons of both rubber mulch and rubber tiles. Go through them and find out which one is more efficient and advantageous for use.
Rubber Mulch
Rubber Mulch has been used for playground surfaces for a long time and has been used in a variety of play areas for indoor and outdoor settings. If you are looking forward to using rubber mulch for playground flooring then it would be a smart approach to consider its pros and cons before installing it.
Pros of Rubber Mulch
- Resists fungal growth and other pest infestation. Pest infestation can impact the flooring of the playground. However, the rubber mulch resists the growth of fungus and other pest infestation keeping the surface safe and secure.
- Provides great shock absorption. Proper installation of rubber mulch results in offering standard fall height absorption and cushion impact during intense footfall activities such as running or jumping.
- Rubber mulch offers great durability. If you choose to invest in rubber mulch flooring then it can be a value for money investment because of its great durability. It has weather-resistant properties that further makes them durable and last for a lifetime.
- You won’t have to spare too much time, effort and money for its maintenance. Since rubber mulch flooring is low maintenance. Simple raking the floors and water hosing down the surface is enough for its maintenance.
- Rubber mulch is available in a variety of colors that installers can choose as per their preference or playground theme.
Cons of Rubber Mulch
- You need to install a barrier in order to avoid spill from rubber mulch nuggets. They can spill over the play area if the flooring is not properly not bordered with rubber or other material barriers.
- Rubber mulch is an expensive flooring investment at least at the initial installation stage. The overall cost can be cut down due to its durability and low-maintenance.
Rubber Playground Tiles
Rubber playground tiles are a go-to flooring option for most playground surfaces. Preschool, indoor play area, kids’ gymnasium and plenty other play areas use rubber playground tiles flooring option. But before you install this ubiquitous flooring option make sure to assess its pros and cons.
Pros of Rubber Playground Tiles
- Rubber playground tiles have an interlocking system which gives them a smooth and sturdier finish. Interlocking edges further amplifies the overall functionality of the playground surface.
- Rubber playground tiles are handicap accessible. This means that mobility equipment such as walkers, rollers, crutches, strollers and wheelchairs can easily be used on this flooring.
- Similar to rubber mulch, rubber playground tiles are resistant to bugs, molds, fungi and other pest infestation. You can avoid the growth of these organisms if you use rubber playground tiles.
- Just like mulch, the rubber playground tiles are weather-resistant and can withstand rain, scorching heat and other weather elements.
- Rubber playground tiles are easy to maintain as they can be cleaned with a convenient cleaning regime.
- They look extremely attractive and are also available in different sizes and colors.
Cons of Rubber Playground Tiles
- They can be pricey at the initial stage of installation.
- Improper installation can lead to slips or falls.
Both rubber mulch and rubber playground tiles are favorable playground flooring options with a great range of advantages. Consult with an expert before making an installation.
