Coming into the cooler months means that your playground is going to be under harsher environmental conditions than it was when the kids were out happy and playing in summer. This means that you’ve got to prep to make sure that everything is in tip top condition to survive the coming months. Today, we take a look at some of the best ways to prepare your playground for fall.
1. Test all your equipment
When was the last time you had a good hard look at all the equipment on your playground? Now is the time to do some. Test out all moving parts for smoothness, and oil if they feel like they are seizing, and go over each surface to look for signs of wear and tear, or aging.
2. Get in the experts
While you’ve tested out all your equipment yourself, it always makes sense to get in the real experts to ensure that your playground remains safe over fall and winter. You are able to get a Certified Playground Safety Inspector to come out to your playground and assess it for safety. They’ll be able to provide tips and tricks for a safer zone.
3. Recoat any surfaces that are aging
Any surfaces that appear to be aging, such as wooden surfaces where paint or lacquer is chipping off or wearing thin should be recoated at this point in time. Because the cold weather can be harsher on your playground, it’s important to recoat before any further damage is done.
4. Recoat metal so that it doesn’t rust
Painting your metal fixings that may be prone to rust is essential before the rain comes. Rust is highly dangerous for children who are climbing about on your playground. It’s easy to pick up a tin of anti-rust coating from the local hardware store to prevent your equipment from rusting out in the rain.
5. Consider switching to a better ground covering
If you have wood chips as a floor covering, then it might be time to consider switching to rubber or a different surface protectant. Wood chips can easily freeze in cold weather which makes them a safety hazard for children due to them being solid rather than pliable.
6. Make sure you have adequate drainage
When the rain sets in you want to make sure that it doesn’t pool on the ground, or even worse, freeze, making your playground a no play zone. You can do this by ensuring that you have adequate drainage on your flooring, or adding extra. Some playground surfaces are better than others when it comes to drainage, such as bonded rubber or poured in place rubber. Think about upgrading your playground surface if you have found in past years that pooling water has been a problem.
Whirl construction can help with upgrading your playground equipment or playground safety surfaces. Look to us for the best materials in playgrounds that will last through all seasons for many, many years to come. All our products are compliant with local and US laws regarding playground safety.