The Most Common Playground Maintenance Problems to Watch For

The safety and well-being of children are at the forefront of any school. And, if you have a playground, ensuring you’re undertaking proper playground maintenance is essential. While most people focus on the equipment itself, it’s also important to consider the entire environment! 

Here at A&S Landscape, we’re passionate about providing well-designed and robust school canopies that provide essential protection for playgrounds and outdoor dining areas. In this blog, we’ll dive into 4 of the most common playground problems and how a canopy can protect your pupils from dangerous old playground equipment. 

Let’s get into it! 

 

4 of the most common playground maintenance problems, and how to solve them 

Playground safety in primary schools and senior schools is essential for preventing injuries and ensuring that playgrounds remain a valuable space for play and development. There are two types of law that cover playgrounds in the United Kingdom: the common law and the statute law. Each one outlines the importance of the health and safety of users, so far as the playground is reasonably practicable. 

Learn more about how to create a safe school playground by reading our handy blog! In the meantime, though, we’ve got a list of 4 of the most common maintenance problems that affect play and social areas in schools on a regular basis. Let’s have a look at them in a bit more detail and see how one of our playground shelters can combat these problems. 

 

Wear and tear of playground surfacing  

One of the most common problems reported with playgrounds is the wear and tear of the surface, with cracks and holes forming across the area. When this problem does arise, it is important to act fast and ensure the damage is repaired. Constant exposure to harsh weather conditions, such as rain, snow, and even the sun, can cause surfacing materials to degrade. In particular, wet conditions can cause organic materials like wood chips to break down, while sun exposure can cause synthetic surfaces to crack and lose their ability to absorb shock. 

How a canopy can help: An investment in a canopy can directly act as a shield against the weather, blocking harmful UV rays and preserving the structural integrity and vibrant colour of your surfacing. Even in rainy conditions, a canopy will ensure that your playground stays dry and usable, preventing the growth of moss and algae. 

We recommend: Our playground shade sails. The stretch of high-quality fabric means you can create different shapes, and they’re available in a wide variety of colours. They’re large enough to cover elements of your playground and create a fun, safe environment for all pupils.

Glenwood School Shade Sail

 

Rust and corrosion of metal equipment 

Rust and corrosion can pose a serious threat to your playground equipment, significantly reducing its lifespan and the longevity of its safety. Metal playground equipment, such as slides, swings, and climbing structures, is susceptible to rust and corrosion, especially when exposed to moisture over long periods. If this corroded equipment becomes weak, it can break. And in some extreme cases, sharp rusty edges can cause cuts or injuries, while weakened structures might collapse or become unsafe to use. 

How a canopy can help: A canopy solution directly addresses this problem by shielding your playground equipment from the elements. Keeping your equipment dry reduces the risk of rust formation by preventing rainwater from getting into small scratches or cracks where corrosion can begin. 

We recommend: Our Maxima StarSail®. This modern yet functional canopy is ideal for playgrounds, as it’s snow-safe and wind-safe. You can choose a waterproof fabric to ensure that there is less chance of rust occurring.

Maxima StarSail (17)

 

Overgrown weeds and vegetation 

Another common issue that plagues playgrounds is overgrown weeds and vegetation. While it may seem harmless at first, it can actually lead to severe problems, such as attracting pests to conceal debris or rubbish. Weeds and tall grass can obscure playground surfaces, making it difficult to identify hazards such as holes or uneven surfaces. They can also cause tripping, reduce visibility for pupils, and attract pests that breach safety standards. 

If you want to incorporate plants and flowers into your school playground, have a read of our blog: Setting up a school garden for more information. 

How a canopy can help: By investing in a canopy, you’re providing a consistent layer of shade that blocks UV rays, limiting the amount of sunlight that weeds need to grow. For any weeds that do manage to grow, the shade provided will make them weaker and easier to remove manually. This is particularly useful if your playground has no existing tree cover. 

We recommend: Our Maxima Umbrella®. The wide span of this design makes it ideal for covering large areas, with our single-size units offering up to 8000mm x 8000mm. Supplied with waterproof PVC fabrics, this design is fabulous for combating rain as well as the sun. You can also regularly trim grass and remove weeds from around your playground equipment to prevent these problems from occurring.

The Willow Primary School Maxima Umbrella Canopy

 

Unclean equipment 

You might not know it, but unclean playground equipment can pose a variety of serious health risks and safety concerns for children. Not cleaning equipment properly can often lead to nasty substances building up on it, which increases the risk of children developing illnesses from the germs. As well as this, your equipment could also become stained, and it might even need replacing. 

How a canopy can help: While a canopy doesn’t replace regular cleaning and maintenance, it can significantly reduce the factors that cause equipment to get dirty in the first place. Keeping your playground dry also prevents it from getting covered in mud, dirt, and wet leaves. It can also act as a barrier against falling leaves, twigs, and bird droppings, preventing mould and mildew from growing in damp conditions. 

We recommend: Our Motiva Linear playground shelter. Widths of 10,000mm are easily achieved with this design, and wider still with additional features. It’s snow-safe and wind-safe, ensuring optimum protection from harsh weather conditions. You also have the option to add aluminium guttering and downpipes, meaning extra protection against your playground when it rains.

Motiva Linear (4)

 

Hear from one of our satisfied schools! 

Bickleigh Down Church of England school, in Devon, wanted to enhance their outdoor learning environment with a shelter solution, so they contacted us here at A&S to explore their options. 

With tailored steelwork and roofing material colours, our Motiva Duo was the perfect solution. The canopy worked perfectly as a shelter for part of their school playground, right next to the school building. The lovely curved roofline of the canopy cover was installed at an angle that added additional interest to the design. It’s a great addition to keep their playground area fun and existing, while prioritising safety for all pupils.

covered playground bickleigh down school

You can read the full case study here.  

 

Protect your playground and pupils with A&S Landscape 

Hopefully, this blog has pointed out some of the most common playground maintenance problems. By being proactive and regularly inspecting your playground, you can identify and solve any potential hazards before they become a serious problem. 

At A&S Landscape, we’ve got nearly 50 years of experience in providing schools and businesses with trustworthy and durable covered areas. You can rely on us to work directly with you to ensure your canopy project is as seamless as it can be. 

If you’d like a consultation or want to learn more about our services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our team will be more than happy to get back to you! 

 

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