This quick guide will run through the playground surfacing installation process for our most popular materials, including tarmac and asphalt. We hope this will keep you clued up about what the process involves from start to finish so you can feel confident about any upcoming installation projects.

Asphalt playground surfacing: what does the installation involve?

Medium textured asphalt is the most popular surface for play areas. This material can help achieve extra grip, especially for sports courts. At A&MT, we also specialise in applying an anti-slip resin based material which comes in numerous colours.

Site survey

Before we go into the details of the playground installation process, the first port of call will be to speak to a member of our reputable team. They’ll talk you through your requirements, answer any questions you might have and arrange a free site visit at a time to suit you.

We won’t just discuss the surfacing, we’ll also talk you through other essentials such as drainage, borders and line markings.

Resurfacing

If a school playground is large enough and has a good, solid sub-base, it can be resurfaced using a road laying machine. This method can save a lot of time and enable the play areas to be used the following day. Usually a play area can be prepared in a day and resurfaced in a day or two. The complete works can be carried out over a long weekend or half term to ensure minimal disruption.

For smaller areas, a mini paver can be used, or we can hand lay asphalt where we cannot gain access with machinery.

Finishing touches

We take levels to ensure that there are adequate built in falls for drainage. If there are no drainage systems, we can construct them.

For the finishing touches, we can also apply markings for games, or even design walkways for designated areas.

What does A&MT offer?

At A&MT, we have the latest commercial-grade equipment to ensure the work is completed quickly and to a high standard. We’ll leave your school playground surface smooth, neat and tidy. With a no quibble guarantee, we make sure our clients are 100% satisfied with the finished product. Contact us today.

From the surfacing material to the finishing touches, there are plenty of considerations when getting school playground surfacing. We’ve got a step-by-step process to help you get your unique playground project off the ground, and have a better grasp of what’s involved.

Get a site survey with the experts

Your first port of call should be to find a local surfacing contractor who specialises in playgrounds. By calling them out for a free site survey, they can take a good look at your site. If you already have a surface in place but want improvements or a resurface, they can decide the best course of action. They will listen to your requirements and take onboard the unique requirements of your site. With their expert advice, you can make the right choice on surfacing material and drainage solutions.

Know your options

Knowing which surfacing materials are best for your play area is important. The age range of the children, size of the playground and use of each area will be taken into consideration.

For play areas with apparatus that are used by younger children, soft pour rubber is often recommended. This is because it absorbs impacts from trips and falls to minimise the risk of injury. However, by far the most common playground surfacing material is medium textured asphalt which is hard-wearing and affordable.

To separate different areas or to help define boundaries, you can also choose from a selection of coloured asphalt.

Drainage

Drainage is an essential component for playground surfacing. Having too much surface water can become a health and safety hazard. We’ll talk you through the drainage options, and impart our professional advice to help you choose the right options for your play areas.

Line markings and surface designs

This is where you can be truly creative. When it comes to line markings and surface paintings, the options are endless. From playground games to sports markings and pathway markers, we will work with you to achieve a fully bespoke playground surface that is practical and presentable.

Contact the team at A&MT today to arrange your free site survey and get your bespoke playground project off the ground. We’ll listen carefully to your requirements and ensure you’re 100% happy with the finished product.

There are plenty of benefits to adding coloured finishes to your playground surfaces, from marking specific play areas and game zones to adding ground markings that the children can utilise for team games and independent learning and exercises. But, what is the best type of playground surface for this? Let’s take a look.

Soft rubber (Wetpour)

By far the best playground surfacing material for a coloured finish is soft rubber, also known as wet-pour. It’s available in a range of eye-catching colours, so you can design a unique playground space for your school or public leisure facility. It has a bouncy quality which helps to minimise the impact from trips and falls, making it a safe surface. This is particularly recommended for play areas that are used by younger children, such as nursery and pre-school, and primary school age. It’s ideal for playgrounds with any climbing apparatus, such as climbing frames, slides, monkey bars, fireman’s poles and swings. The soft, supportive surface will help cushion some of the impact, reducing the likelihood of injury.

What other options are there?

Coloured aggregates

To mark specific play area zones and sports areas, you can also use coloured aggregates or simply have line markings painted on the ground. Encouraging team and sports activities for children of all ages is paramount to their overall health and development. Line markings can be used for sports, team games, learning activities or even to encourage independent play.

If you’re looking for a coloured finish for your playground surface, speak to A&MT. We’re specialist school playground surfacing contractors who can help you create a play area that not only looks the part, but is also safe to use. Contact us today.

In this quick guide, we’re looking at the different types of playground markings we can add to help make your premises more presentable and fun.

Sports markings

Perhaps you have a designated netball or tennis court? We can provide the line markings to ensure your students have access to a professional sports curriculum. If you’re looking to get your school involved in competitive sports, making sure you have sufficient line markings is important. Our team uses preformed thermoplastic to create highly durable markings for a wealth of recreational and competitive sports games.

Fun activities

For younger children, we can also add a range of fun activities, such as a chess board, snakes and ladders game, maze, hopscotch and loads more. In fact, when it comes to adding educational or interactive games onto your playground surface the options are endless. You can opt for just about any colour of the rainbow too, meaning you can make your playground look that little bit brighter.

Educational activities

If you want to encourage your pupils to spend more time outside, one option could be to take some of your lessons outdoors. The playground doesn’t just have to be for PE lessons. With numerical and letter-based playground markings, you could easily make your maths and English lessons a little more interactive. From competitive spelling tests to practising times tables, the sky’s the limit.

Waymarking

If you want to make pathways that are clearer and better defined, we can add bright lines with pedestrian markings to help students, teachers and visitors alike find their way safely around your play areas.

Speak to A&MT about playground markings

At A&MT, we use commercial-grade paint to ensure the markings not only look fantastic, but are designed to last. Speak to our team today to discuss your requirements and arrange a free site visit. We also complete playground surfacing, meaning we can provide a turnkey solution for your school, college or nursery.

While wet pour playground surfaces should stay in good condition for a considerable time, they may still need repairs completed from time to time. In this brief guide, we’re looking at what to do if your wet pour playground surface needs repairs.

Is it possible to repair a wet pour surface?

If you see cracks appearing, or the wet pour surface is peeling away at the edges, you’ll be pleased to know that these can be easily repaired. Whether your playground has weathered over time or wasn’t installed as well as it could have been in the first place, it’s important to keep your wet pour surface smooth so that it’s safe to use. Aside from that, it’s nice to provide a space that’s inviting for the children and that encourages them to play and spend time outdoors.

You may have fun shapes and patterns in different colours within your surface. If the individual parts are separating or lifting away, this is not only unsightly, it’s also a trip hazard. With the right wet pour installer, this shouldn’t happen, however if this has become a problem in your playground, you should have the shape or border resurfaced.

If you’ve recently had apparatus removed from a wet pour playground, you’ll likely have gaps in the surface. A groundwork provider in Peterborough should be able to seamlessly fill these gaps with smooth and colourful wet pour.

If your edges are peeling away, the base and top layer may need to be cut away and can be replaced with a colourful band.

What should you do?

The best course of action to repair wet pour playground surfaces is to find a local and reputable contractor. A&MT have been trusted since 1976 to provide a reliable playground surfacing service. We’re available 24/7 and listen carefully to your requirements to ensure your premises are both safe to use and presentable. Speak to us today to discuss your wet pour repair project. We work efficiently to ensure minimal disruption.

Playgrounds are not just for playtime. There are creative ways you can use playground surfaces for teaching your children as well. Weather permitting, it’s a great way to encourage children to be outdoors, get some fresh air and be active. There are plenty of engaging games and activities for children of all ages to enjoy, and which can help progress their education, social development and physical abilities.

Learning by numbers and letters

For reception-age children, you can add number based activities, such as hopscotch, or you could have allocated boxes containing letters of the alphabet which can be used to practice spelling. It’s certainly a lot more fun than the traditional spelling tests. It’s the perfect way to move some of your essential English and Maths lessons outside.

Activities like hopscotch also come with other benefits for young children. The practice of standing on one leg, for instance, will help improve their balancing skills.

Team games to improve social development

If you want to plan ahead before hiring a surfacing contractor, there are a wealth of team games for children to enjoy in the playground. Some of these can be enhanced with markings on the ground. Whether it’s a traditional ‘tag’ game, competitive baton racing exercise, or the over, under ball game, there are so many playground activities that can help children learn the importance of teamwork and embracing the competitive spirit.

Sports activities to improve fitness and coordination

Particularly where sporting activities are concerned, you may want to invest in anti-slip surfacing to minimise the risk of injury if a child falls over. Ball games and races are all good for improving coordination and teaching children the basics of sports, but you should provide them with a safe space where they can play, learn and compete with other children. In other words, they should be able to run without the risk of slipping on the surface.

Soft surfaces for safer play areas

Also, any areas with equipment such as open swings, climbing frames and fireman’s poles should have a soft landing area should a child fall. With Wet Pour rubber surfaces, you can even allocate specific play zones using different surfacing colours.

Speak to our team at A&MT today to discuss your playground surfacing options.

If you’re surfacing for a playground area, one of the key design considerations will be making sure the play area is safe to use. Mostly used by children, it’s important to keep them safe while they play. Choosing the right surface is a great place to start. From access paths to the play area itself, we’re listing the top three ways anti-slip surfaces make playgrounds safer.

• Minimise the risk of skids and falls

Children enjoy running around the playground, but common smooth surfacing materials like tarmac get slippery when wet. Wetpour anti-slip coating, also known as anti-skid aggregate, will keep children safe from trips and falls. Falls as a result of a slippery surface can cause pain and injury. But with the right anti-slip surface you can reduce the number of falls, which will also decrease the likelihood of your children sustaining cuts, bruises, or even head injuries.

• Reduce number of injuries

To reduce the severity of the fall you should also consider softer play area materials, such as wet-pour. With RoSPA reporting that as many as 50% of playground injuries result in a hospital visit, combining a softer surface with an anti-slip surface is recommended to lower the chances of a child getting more serious injuries from trip or fall in the playground.

While there is no legal requirement to provide protective surfacing for playgrounds, children should be given a safe environment to play around in.

• Pushchair and wheelchair friendly

If you have children or parents using a wheelchair, pushchair or walking on crutches, having an anti-slip surface if you have a ramp access way or sloping gradient is essential.

Speak to A&MT today. We’re specialist school playground surfacing contractors and with our wide range of materials on our books and plenty of industry experience under our belt, we work efficiently and can make sure all our clients have the right surfacing for their premises or landscaping project.