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How To Repair Poured In Place Rubber Playground Equipment Surfacing

Posted on: 15th August 2011
Filed under: Product How To

Poured in place is an outstanding playground surface that requires little to no maintenance. However, as with anything it can be damaged and vandalized. With the exception of fire, most everything can be affordably repaired. The playground in this video was first hit with a weed trimmer and then a loose lawn mower blade. For future reference, you do not need to mow this surface.

Mistakes happen, for whatever reason. The important thing when there is an area to repair on poured in place is to fix it as soon as possible. Do not allow the repair to go through a winter as it can wreck the whole surface. In the time before the repair, make sure to either tape off or mark with a cone the affected area so that further damage can be prevented.

A manufacturer approved in-house crew of professional installers with years of experience laying rubber and building playgrounds will do this repair. The repair will take two types of EPDM, yellow and black to match the original surface. These rubber particles are generally mixed with a large gas-power mortar mixer. For convenience, this crew is mixing by hand. The SBR rubber buffing material is shredded black tire rubber. This rubber gives the poured in place its bounce. It is also mixed by hand.

After the affected area is cut out and removed, the SBR is applied along with a healthy dose of binder so that the materials will adhere together properly. For the time being colors will not match. The older rubber is slightly faded. However, in 2-6 months the repair will fade and should appear seamless. Other possibility in repairs is to cut out the affected areas and insert designs such as logos, words, or kids foot games including hopscotch.

Equipment in the Video:

Playground Removal How-To

Posted on: 9th August 2011
Filed under: Product How To

Famously Asked Question: Can we move our playground after we install it?

It takes time, effort, and luck. This video shows how-to move a single post swing. First we dig around the concrete footing. Eventually we push the swing at a slight angle and start hammering away the footing. Specialized eye-wear should be used to protect against flying concrete chips. Hammering should be done with a large sledge hammer. Once the footing is detached, the swing can be moved. This swing post is ready for re-installation. Sometimes rust, deterioration of metal, etc. may rule out this option. The finished site is now ready for expansion of the building.

During the removal process equipment can become damaged. Most manufacturers offer replacement parts for sale. Should anything break or become damaged during a move, the product warranty will most likely be null and void. An outright purchase of new parts would be required.

Playground Removal Suggested Tools:

  • Original Instructions for Equipment
  • Protective Eye-Wear
  • Shovel
  • Sledgehammer
  • Spade
  • Wheelbarrow

Equipment in the Video:

Steel Park Shelter Product Review

Posted on: 20th July 2011
Filed under: Product Review Board

The All Hip Steel Shelter is the creme de la creme in outdoor shelters. The beams and roof are constructed of steel. This heavy-duty construction adds a considerable amount of cost to the shelter and labor for construction. In comparison, a fabric shade canopy is up to 75 percent less in retail. Unlike a fabric shade, you do not need to remove the roof in the winters or during severe weather. The video offers a close-up look at a shelter during installation and post-completion.

The shelter from the video includes 24 feet long posts. These long posts come in one-piece and thus are considerably heavy. This weight is easy to manage with a forklift. We suggest a minimum of 4-6 people if you decide to hand-unload a steel shelter. Generally, your shelter purchase will ship on a flatbed truck. This allows you to unload from the side, whereas if we sent the shelter in a traditional enclosed freight container unloading would be difficult.

The shelter from the video is not yet complete. This site awaits installation of a concrete pad or solid surface such as landscape stone. A solid surface allows universal access to the shelter be persons in wheelchairs. The owner will place portable picnic tables and benches under the shelter once the pad is ready for use. Account for all of these options with your personable sales representative. Contact us for assistance in estimating installation and site amenity costs.

Our steel shelters are a superior product for outdoor recreation areas at parks, neighborhoods, schools, etc. Other shade structures are available including fabric shade canopies. Check back for more videos and helpful how-to online guides. Choose AAA State of Play as your reliable park and playground equipment supplier.

Common Questions on Steel Shelters:

  • How many colors are offered?
    • There are too many colors to list. Ask us for an updated color chart.
  • What goes well with a shelter?
    • All site amenities, including picnic tables, benches, and grills. Try some playground equipment.
  • Can any Joe Blow install a steel shelter?
    • There is no reason why you cannot. However, when deciding to perform a self-installation, please remember that with the steel shelter, there is no room for error, requires great skill in leveling with precise measurements, and is not a one-man-job.

Equipment in the Video:

Black Rubber Mulch How-To

Posted on: 19th July 2011
Filed under: Product How To

Rubber mulch is one of our most requested playground surfaces. The popularity of rubber mulch comes for a variety of reasons: renewable, safe, long warranty, clean, so on, and so on. The list of benefits for using recycled rubber mulch is almost endless. A recycled tire on a playground in turn reduces landfill, creates jobs, and is one of the safest surfaces for playground use. Watch the video to view a basic installation of black rubber mulch.

What should you expect when ordering mulch? (Watch the Video)

  • Each 2,000-pound sack is strapped to a pallet
  • Each sack includes sewn-in handles for moving with forklift
  • Do NOT transport long distance by the sewn-in handles as they can tear
  • Bags are very durable in shipping
  • Require use of a razor blade for opening
  • If lift-gate service is not requested, a forklift will be needed
  • Bulk delivery available in many parts of the country (orders of 20 tons or more only)

Tips for Installation:

  • Find/Rent a skid-steer with fork attachment or forklift
  • If no forklift available, request lift-gate at time of order
  • Pallet jacks can be used if there is a solid path near the playground
  • Open the bag closest to where you want the mulch to reduce labor
  • Handles sewn into the bag assist with skid steer use
  • Chain and/or straps may be needed to pull bags out of trailer

Uses for Rubber Mulch:

  • Playgrounds, of course
  • Landscaping
  • Shooting Ranges
  • Outdoor Kickboxing and Martial Arts

If you are ordering 7 tons or more, the delivery carrier will likely require you to have a way to unload the mulch. From viewing the video, one can begin to understand some of the basic techniques a professional installation crew undergoes when installing rubber mulch with heavy machinery. Remember when using machinery to take all safety precautions including hardhats, safety footwear, and other precautions including closing the play area to prevent use.

Equipment in the Video:

Playground Structures Deck Layout How-To

Posted on: 16th July 2011
Filed under: Product How To

AAA State of Play is a leading supplier of commercial playground equipment including playground structures. As such, we provide live support for installation as well as paid installation services. The video below is one part of a series of explaining the general process of installing a traditional playground structure.

Structures in the video:

The deck layout is one of the first and most important steps in constructing the playground. After direction and placement of the structure is determined, decks must be laid out to mark holes for the main support posts. These holes must be dug to an average depth of 18 inches in-ground. Most playground structures accommodate post lengths for 18 inches of post in-ground for anchoring and an additional 12 inches submerged by protective surfacing. Therefore, if you are only applying 6 inches of surface, hole depth will be 24 inches as you have a total of 30 inches of post to play.

Most structures come with a site plan including measurements between posts and decks. These measurements are used to place decks on the ground in position to where they will eventually be connected to posts. As you see in the video, hole position is very important. Off a few inches in a single hole, and your post will not fit, requiring the hole to be dug again. You will use a tape measure and other tools to precisely mark on the ground the position of posts before digging. This method also provides the construction team to measure the safety are to verify the structure placement does not have any hazards such as existing equipment, trees, curbs, etc.

Deck Layout Suggested Tools:

  • Tape Measure
  • String Line
  • Stakes for String Line
  • Marking Paint