Short answer. EPDM under equipment with a fall height, and anywhere you want a seamless, wipe-clean, coloured surface. Artificial grass for open play lawns, around equipment where fall height is low, and where the budget or the look calls for green.
| Poured EPDM | Artificial turf | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall protection | Rated by thickness; 40 mm and up for climbing frames | With a shock pad, moderate; without, low |
| Surface heat | Dark colours get hot; light colours run cooler | Pile warms in sun; sand-dressed runs cooler |
| Cleaning | Seamless, hose and scrub | Brush; debris sits in the pile |
| Design | Any colour, shapes, games and numbers poured in | Green, with inlaid colour patches |
| Base | Concrete or asphalt slab | Compacted aggregate |
| Life | 10 years and more | 7 to 10 years |
| Cost | Higher per sq ft, slab included | Lower |
What we usually recommend.
EPDM directly under and around the equipment, sized to the fall zone, in a light colour; artificial grass for the rest of the play area. It gives the safety where it is needed, keeps the cost down where it is not, and looks like a playground rather than a car park. Details on EPDM playgrounds and artificial grass.
Questions, asked often.
Is EPDM safe for toddlers?
Yes. It is the standard surface under playground equipment worldwide, tested for critical fall height by thickness.
Does turf need a shock pad?
Under any equipment with a fall height, yes. On open lawn areas, no.
Where are you based and where do you deliver?
Warehouse and design office in Surat, Gujarat. Turf ships by road to every state; same day in Surat, next day to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, two to six days elsewhere. See where we build.
Got a ground?
Site visit, spec sheet and a turnkey quotation in 48 hours.
