Cover for children's playgrounds from rubber crumbs: features and installation

By equipping a children's playground in the country or in their own yard, parents first of all try to make the child's games as safe as possible. But can you imagine children who do not like running, jumping and tumbling? Of course not! Children of any age like active games, which certainly lead to downed knees and bruises.

Correctly selected coating for playgrounds will help to soften the fall, and possibly prevent serious injuries. Today, on new playgrounds, you can see a bright rubber coating, which is increasingly gaining popularity in our country. What is it and how harmless is it for children? Let's see in more detail.

What is it and from what do it?

Rubber coating for children's playgrounds is made of small rubber granules, which are produced by processing old tires. In comparison with the usual sand or pebbles, this species has a lot of positive characteristics and is more functional. Rubber coatings are available in the form of tiles, rolled and seamless materials.

Tiles are made by pressing pellets cold or hot. The material is quite elastic, but it does not lose its softness, which is very important for the safety of children. Rubber coating for children's playgrounds in the form of tiles perfectly in harmony with paving stones, tiles and other square elements, which makes it possible to adhere to a certain style throughout the courtyard.

Roll and seamless coating allows you to decorate the children's corner in the form of a colorful carpet or green lawn. In the first variant, different characters of children's cartoons or simply beautiful patterns can be depicted. Its thickness reaches 4 cm, which is enough for a soft and safe movement of the child.

What are the advantages of this material?

The main advantages of the coating for children's playgrounds from rubber crumbs include:

- beautiful appearance;

- excellent strength of the material;

- safety in relation to children, animals and plants;

- long service life;

- resistance to ultraviolet and low temperatures;

- Elasticity;

- the material perfectly tolerates moisture, it does not form mold;

- weeds do not grow through rubber granules;

- in such coatings, microorganisms do not multiply;

- the springing properties of rubber minimize the injury for the child in the event of a fall;

- the coating for children's playgrounds made of rubber chips is easy to clean with water;

- in winter, ice does not form on such a site.

It should also be noted that thanks to the porous structure, the material passes through moisture well, and the playground dries quickly after the rain. This same quality makes it possible to use it near swimming pools, since water does not stagnate on the surface, and the child can freely move on it with wet feet. The softness of the material causes rapture and interest in children, and they are happy to frolic, tumbling and jumping on such a surface. A variety of drawings and bright colors do not leave indifferent even the youngest researchers. And, most importantly, their mothers may not worry that her beloved child will hit, making her first steps.

Are there any shortcomings in rubber coatings?

Like any other material, the cover for children's playgrounds ("baby") has a few not very pleasant qualities.

First of all, it should be said about its high cost for recycled material. The price of a rubber coating is an order of magnitude more expensive than the usual tile or concrete base, but if you consider the high degree of durability, then it is quite possible that it is worth it.

Do not forget about the fire risk of rubber. When the temperature exceeds 200 degrees, the material begins to melt, it can catch fire. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant fires near such a site.

Soft coverings for children's playgrounds can only be laid in dry and warm weather.

Can you make such a surface yourself?

Independently make a seamless rubber coating for playgrounds Can each owner with their own hands, without resorting to expensive help from specialists. To do this, you need to buy rubber chips, special polyurethane adhesive and solvent.

When buying material, you need to be guided by the following calculations: on 1m ² surfaces with a layer thickness of not more than 10 cm, 7 kg of rubber granules and 1.5 kg of glue will be required.

For better adhesion of the substrate and the coating, it is possible to pre-treat the surface with a deep penetration primer.

Of the tools you will need: spatula, rollers, measuring container, concrete mixer, plastic buckets.

It should be remembered that the work must be carried out at a temperature not lower than +10 degrees.

The technology of mounting a seamless rubber coating

First, prepare the surface to apply the mixture. For this, all foreign objects are removed, dust is swept away and all kinds of cracks are covered (if any).

On the whole base it is necessary to walk a copious layer of polyurethane glue, carefully rubbing it into cracks and cracks.

In the concrete mixer, the rubber crumb is mixed with the adhesive in the proportion indicated earlier. The resulting mixture is laid on the prepared base with a layer of at least 1 cm and properly leveled with a spatula. After that, the coating is carried by a roller, which is periodically wetted in cold water. To ensure that the rubber does not crack under the influence of low temperature during operation, do not press the roller hard during surface leveling.

At the end of the work, the rubber coating is left to dry completely for about a day. In the future, using paint compositions on such a surface, you can draw various drawings or apply markings. To cover for children's playgrounds does not lose its color, it is treated with matte varnish.

Conclusion

Despite the huge selection of modern materials, there are no analogues of rubber crumbs. Rubber coating for children's playgrounds is distinguished by its uniqueness and versatility. Today, this material can be found in completely different places, be it shopping centers, sports clubs, playgrounds, office and industrial premises, shower cabins, suburban areas, etc. Rubber crumb is very popular today, because the abundance of positive qualities, which are much greater than Shortcomings, can not help attracting the attention of the consumer.