Mulch safety surfacing is popular in playgrounds because it’s water-permeable and impact-absorbent. Traditionally, homeowners with playgrounds used wood mulch to provide a soft surface for their children. However, in recent years, rubber mulch has become a popular alternative. Is rubber mulch better than wood? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.
In this article, we discuss the relative benefits and downsides of wood chips versus rubber mulch and consider when you might wish to choose each material.
Durability and Maintenance
One of the biggest benefits of rubber mulch is its increased durability compared to wood mulch. Wood decays more quickly than rubber, especially outdoors, where it’s exposed to wind and rain. In addition, because wood chips are lighter than their rubber counterparts, they’re more likely to be kicked around or blown away. This means you might have to re-spread or redistribute the chips regularly to ensure your playground surfaces are evenly covered. Softroc rubber mulch also includes a binder, creating an additional anchor to keep it in place.
If you have a relatively small playground area or are simply looking to spread some mulch around a swing or climbing frame in your home’s backyard, wood mulch may be an affordable, convenient option.
Environmental Sustainability
If you’re looking for a natural, sustainable safety flooring option, wood chips might seem to be the obvious choice. After all, wood is a natural substance. However, rubber mulch can be sustainable, too. Softroc rubber mulch is made from 100% recycled materials. By choosing Softroc rubber safety surfacing, you’re giving waste rubber a new lease of life while making your home playground a safer place.
Cost Considerations
When comparing the costs for equivalently sized play areas or open spaces, installing a wood mulch safety surface costs less than installing a rubber mulch surface. However, the up-front costs of installation aren’t the only things to consider:
- Day-to-day care. Wood mulch is light and easily disturbed, so it requires regular redistribution to maintain even coverage across the play area.
- Aesthetics and weathering. Rubber mulch is available in a variety of colors and retains a consistent look for a long time. Wood is more likely to rot, especially if exposed to wind and rain.
- Expected lifespan. In general, rubber mulch should last many years longer than wood chips, saving you the material and labor costs of replacing your playground surface.
Homeowners on a limited budget may feel wood mulch is a better choice for their circumstances. However, those who can afford the up-front cost of installing rubber mulch in their playground save money in the long term.
Installation
Rubber mulch is denser than wood mulch and can be costly to install on your playground. However, once installed, the mulch should stay in place for a long time and require minimal maintenance. So, even though the up-front cost of installation is higher, rubber mulch can be a good value compared to wood mulch.
Safety
Rubber mulch offers better impact absorption than wood chips, making it a good option for safety surfacing.
One common concern about rubber mulch is the presence of volatile organic compounds. However, a recent EPA study has found that while rubber mulch does contain VOCs, the detectable levels are generally low. In some tests, the levels of VOCs found were no higher than in other background samples.
In contrast, wood mulch has poorer shock absorption than rubber mulch and is more vulnerable to catching fire in dry conditions. In damp environments, wood chips can attract pests and support mold growth. These issues present their own health risks, which must be considered when deciding between wood or rubber safety surfacing.
Aesthetic Appeal
Aesthetics are a very personal thing. Some people prefer the warm and natural look of wood chips. Others appreciate the versatility of rubber mulch because it’s available in so many different colors. Once installed, rubber mulch stays in place well, while wood chips can shift and collect in corners or get blown around, leading to a messy-looking play area.
If you like the look of wood chips, keep in mind that to maintain that warm, natural appearance, you must have grounds staff rake and clean the playground regularly.
Choose Rubber Mulch for Durable Safety Surfacing
If you’re trying to decide between rubber mulch or wood mulch, consider the up-front costs, the time it takes to install the safety surface and the maintenance requirements. Softroc rubber mulch for playgrounds offer good value, convenience, safety and durability.