Core Playground Manufacturing Materials
Quality outdoor play equipment combines durable materials, safe design, and expert craftsmanship for long-lasting outdoor performance.
Since 1991, Creative Play’s design and operations team has carefully selected high-quality, sustainable materials to create durable playground equipment built to last. With decades of industry experience, we partner with trusted suppliers to source components that can withstand heavy use and harsh outdoor conditions.
Our commitment to quality, safety, and environmentally responsible play spaces ensures every playground delivers a safe, engaging, and long-lasting play experience for communities, schools, and families.
Our Four Main Materials
Square Timber - Quality Timber With Reduced Risk Of Splitting
Our most popular material, our square timber components, are sourced primarily from Drenagh Sawmills in Northern Ireland.
Precision-cut and sand-finished for heavy outdoor use, the timber is quarter sawn to reduce warping, splitting, and moisture penetration, improving both durability and playground safety.
Pressure-treated with Osmose Naturewood for protection against decay and insect damage, all timber is sourced from FSC-certified sustainable forests across the UK and Ireland.
We also source large timber sections from James E. Smith and round timber components from AE Evans.
Play-Tec PCR – Recycled Plastic Adding Colour To The Circular Economy
Play-Tec PCR is a robust, reliable plastic ideal for playgrounds and made from 80% post-consumer recycled material which is 100% recyclable.
This high-performance material complies with ISO 1183 standards, with added stabilisers enhancing durability and UV-stabilisation for a long-lasting, colourfast appearance.
Available in a variety of colours and thicknesses of 12mm or 19mm, Play-Tec PCR from renowned German company Rochling, is one of the safest and most sustainable options for outdoor play equipment.
Ekogrip – The Recycled Plastic Grip That Won’t Slip
Dutch company Ekon’s Ekogrip is an 89% recycled, sustainable plastic designed specifically for playground surfaces.
It features a durable recycled polyethylene base with a 2mm virgin thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) layer for added comfort and performance.
Its studded button structure creates a soft-touch, slip-resistant surface, providing excellent grip even in wet conditions.
The material is also easy to clean, wear-resistant, and available in black, black/blue, and black/anthracite, with thickness options of 9mm, 12mm, 15mm, and 18mm.
Steel Core Ropes – Tough Flexible Textures For Greater Playground Adventures
Steel core ropes from Swedish company Polyfix, a benchmark manufacturer in the play industry, deliver exceptional strength, flexibility, and durability for outdoor play equipment. These 16mm ropes feature a core of six steel strands encased in braided green nylon, making them ideal for climbing structures, clatterbridges, obstacle courses, and other challenging play features.
Designed to resist UV exposure and colour fading, the ropes maintain both their appearance and structural performance over time. Fully compliant with BS EN1176 safety standards, they are a key component in creating safe, long-lasting, and engaging playground equipment.
Our Playground Materials & Guarantees
Creative Play provides extensive guarantees to protect your investment in high-quality, durable, and safety-compliant playground equipment and surfacing. Designed using weather-resistant, low-maintenance materials, our playgrounds are built to deliver safe, engaging play for years with the correct maintenance and inspections.
Discover the full details of our guarantees and see how we help ensure long-lasting performance across every play project.
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