Yes, rubber mulch is generally considered superior to sand for playgrounds due to its exceptional shock absorption (offering better fall protection), superior accessibility for wheelchairs, lower maintenance, and longer lifespan, though it comes with a higher upfront cost than sand. While sand is cheaper initially and natural, it offers poorer fall cushioning, limits wheelchair access, can hide objects, and gets affected by weather, whereas rubber provides consistent safety and easy upkeep over time, making it a better long-term investment.
When playground rubber mulch is used at its recommended depth of at least six inches, it offers superior fall protection. It's twice as effective as wood mulch and three times better than sand. This makes playground rubber mulch a top choice for areas under swings and at the base of tall slides.
Cons of Rubber Mulch
Rubber mulch can also get very hot in the sun. This can be problematic for plants that prefer cooler soil temperatures. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential leaching of chemicals from the rubber into the soil.
Wood based materials, including engineered wood fiber (EWF) mulch, are the most commonly used playground surfacing materials because they are easily accessible, easy to install and have a much lower initial cost than other playground surfacing options.
However, depending on your budget and specific needs, materials like pea gravel, sand, and rubber mulch for any playground surface can also be excellent choices, and you can add rubber tiles to heavy traffic areas to mitigate displacement.
Safe for Playgrounds
With over 200,000 playground injuries a year, safe rubber mulch is a must. Rainbow Mulch uses non-toxic rubber designed for safety, with no recycled materials. Our products are ASTM tested to protect against falls from 20 feet with only 3" of coverage.
Engineered Wood Fiber Is the Best Playground Ground Cover
More and more, playground designers and builders are turning to engineered wood fiber as their first choice for playground cover. It's readily available, ADA compliant, economical, long-lasting, low in maintenance and above all —safe.
Wood chips are also a natural-looking, organic choice for your commercial playground. You can get mulch in brown, which is most popular, but also black as well. They are easy to install and are generally a low-cost option -- relatively inexpensive at $60 to $70 per yard installed -- so they won't break your budget.
Rubber mulch is one of the most affordable playground surfaces on the market. It's safe, colorful, and typically made of recycled materials. The downside of rubber mulch is that it can be displaced easily and needs to be raked and/or refilled frequently to maintain appropriate depths.
How deep should my rubber mulch be? 1-2 inches depth is enough rubber mulch for landscaping and gardening needs. American Society for Testing Materials requires a depth of 3-6 inches to meet playground safety standards.
Heat Absorption
Does rubber mulch get hot? Rubber absorbs, retains, and radiates heat, so its surface can become uncomfortably hot for children and pets. Not only that, the extreme heat may also damage surrounding plants, especially during the warmer months. It's not the best option for warmer areas.
Finally, avoid large, bark type mulch or big wood chips. Since these big pieces take a long time to decompose, and they end up depriving the soil and plants of nutrients.
Unlike wood or gravel, closed-cell sponge rubber mulch doesn't absorb water, ensuring fast drainage and preventing puddles, mold, or mildew. It stays resilient under heavy use, resists breakdown, and is made with safer materials than recycled tire mulch.
Sand was one of the first materials used, as it was affordable and readily available. But soon planners realized that wet sand can be just as hard. Something safer was needed! “Loose fill” materials such as wood chips and pea gravel became common surfacing choice.
Rubber Mulch
It is rated as the safest ground cover on the market as it provides superior drainage, minimizes dust, repels insects and most importantly absorbs fall impact, keeping your children safe.
Rubber is extremely flammable. It also burns faster and longer than other types of mulch and may release toxic fumes if it catches fire. Wildfires have become more of a risk in certain parts of Canada. If your area is at risk of wildfires, rubber mulch might not be a good choice for your property.
Engineered wood fiber, more commonly referred to as wood mulch or wood chips, is a popular loose-fill option made from shredded, processed wood designed especially for playground use. Wood chips are one of the most cost effect surfaces, and are perfect for large spaces or projects with limited budgets.
Kid-Safe™ Playground Mulch is an engineered wood fiber/hardwood chip that has been specifically designed by the manufacturer to meet the stringent requirements of several certifying agencies. Essentially, Kid-Safe™ Playground Mulch acts as a cushion that breaks falls.
Each 40 lb bag covers 1.5 cubic feet and 75 cubic feet will cover 150 square feet at 6″ depth (17 foot fall rating) 100% recycled rubber and 99.9% wire free.
A place that landscape fabric is highly recommended is under non-decomposing products - such as river rock or rubber mulch. Those materials do not break down, therefore do not create a future problem. They actually help keep the landscape gravel from sinking into the soil and needing replenishment as often.
Start by preparing the site: Remove debris, make sure that the ground is level, and ensure proper drainage to prevent water from pooling. Install a weed barrier to reduce future maintenance, and add playground border timbers to keep the mulch contained and create a neat appearance.
Playgrounds: Rubber mulch is the safer choice due to its shock absorption properties. It can reduce the risk of injury if children fall, meeting many playground safety standards. Pathways and Driveways: Pea gravel's natural appearance and superior drainage make it the better option for these areas.
Woody Shrubs for Low-Maintenance Plantings
The best safety surfaces typically include impact-absorbing, resin-bound rubber surfaces like Wet Pour and bonded rubber mulch. Loose surfaces like bark and sand are also options but require increased maintenance.
Playground Grass is the most affordable surfacing solution for playgrounds in the long term, as it's guaranteed to meet (and exceed!) ASTM 1292 standards for eight years at eight feet. Our critical fall height testing shows that Playground Grass actually supports falls up to 15 feet.