Top Tips For Maintaining Playground Equipment

Proper upkeep of outdoor playground equipment will greatly improve its lifespan and save you thousands of pounds. Children are not that dissimilar from adults, they love having fun. However, for children, fun means running, jumping, climbing and sliding. And it is essential that when they’re doing this that they are as safe as possible. Here are some of our tips for maintaining playground equipment.

Purchasing new playground equipment every time older equipment needed maintenance would be quite expensive. So, how can you make the most of the playground equipment you have and still keep up with safety? Maintaining play equipment is how. Proper playground equipment maintenance will also help your equipment withstand tough weather.

Regardless of whether your equipment is new or old, it would be good to set up a regular playground equipment maintenance schedule. Maintenance can be performed by you or it can be handled by a professional. It may sound obvious but many people often forget to do it or simply don’t have the time to. Before you purchase,you should think about how it is going to fit in with your pre-existing equipment and the environment it’s in. Take time to think about your environment and understand your needs before you start shopping for your playground equipment. Think about where the play structure will be used and how often it will be used.

The most common reason for damage starts as small signs of wear that get neglected over time. The key part of a playground equipment maintenance plan is regular checking. The idea of frequent checkups is to make your playground equipment always stays in a safe and sound condition. There is no harm in catching minor issues before they become a danger to children using the poorly maintained playground equipment.

The big thing is to make sure everything is always in a stable condition. If you see any hazards in these checkups, ensure you repair them before they become a danger. Don’t take any chances, regardless of how insignificant it comes across as.

There’s multiple approaches to playground equipment maintenance. The simplest method is the precautionary method. This method means you should focus on the small things that may reduce the playground equipment’s integrity; this means doing things like tightening loose bolts or replacing missing ones.

By doing this, you know that your playground equipment maintenance is taken care of and all is safe and all possible injuries are avoided. This is essential if the equipment has a slide, or if the equipment is of high traffic.

This system also requires checking for rust on metal structures and any cracked or warped areas in plastic equipment. If you find any of these issues, be sure to remedy this immediately. neglecting issues like these can cause large damages that cost a great deal of money. It is much more economical to keep up with playground equipment.

If you would like your equipment to last, one of the best things to do is to keep it clean and dust-free. Dusting should take place every day if possible because dust can do more damage to your equipment than you may think. Make a rigorous cleaning scheme and ensure it is enforced.

Most of the time cleaning equipment is simple as all that is required is soapy water. Avoid chemicals as they can lead to harm. You should use a sponge or damp cotton cloth to wipe all areas. Cleaning is meant to be intensive, especially in frequent touchpoints. These points tend to attract lots of dirt, dust and act as a breeding ground for germs and viruses. 

Repairs that are done correctly will help in maintaining play equipment and keep up safety standards. It should also reduce the overall amount of maintenance of play equipment.

When your playground equipment is a decade old or more, you can expect to start seeing signs of aging. Most commonly, this is just general wear and tear. The sensible thing to do in this case is to formulate a replacement plan, so you are ready for when this equipment needs an update.

When it comes to replacing old equipment, there’s no need to rush into it. you should take your time to find the ideal play equipment. There are multiple factors to consider before purchasing too, like the material it is made of, age appropriateness, the needs of the children and the amount it is used. This makes it the perfect time to get equipment that can get more use than some older models.

Furthermore, another thing to consider is overall playground layout. A key question that should be asked is if the playground environment is correct for the equipment you are considering purchasing. Working out things like this will help keep the costs down and make things a bit easier, and make the process of upgrading a success.

Maintaining play equipment isn’t only about the structures, you should check the surface material frequently and make sure it is still in a fitting condition. Make sure to keep in mind that your surface material plays an essential role, and can make the difference between a scuffed knee and a broken bone. Make sure that all surfaces are in top condition before you consider the play structures. Therefore,you should factor surfaces into the budget, especially if you chose rubber mulch, wood chips, or sand. Even if it isn’t replaced, make sure it is raked and leveled frequently, especially under slides and swing sets.

Conclusion

Playgrounds play an essential role in bringing communities and families together. They get children active and can bring out a deep connection and conversation between them. However, you need properly maintained playground equipment for it to be a playground. Therefore, you need to maintain play equipment to have a safe playground.  

You should do everything in your power to safeguard children in the playground, and well maintained equipment is key. To make sure your playground keeps providing an important service to your community, take the time to create an intensive playground equipment maintenance schedule. Thank you for reading our Top Tips For Maintaining Playground Equipment.