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:

• Poured In Place Surfacing

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:

• Single Post Swing

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:

• Williams Creek School Playground Structure
• All Hip Steel Shelter

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:

• Katherine Modular Playground
• Recycled Rubber Mulch (2,000 lb Super Sack)

Structures in the video:

• Double the Fun Playground Structure
• Bluegrass Recycled Plastic Structure

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

S-Hook Pliers are built to withstand many years of use. The pliers shown in the video is 3 years old and operated on a weekly basis 30-50 times (roughly 2,500 times a year). As a commercial grade S-Hook is much thicker than store bought hardware, closing requires great force. S-Hook Pliers easily perform the task while saving time in the process. Should you not be able to buy S-Hook Pliers due to cost or as you require a one-time use of the tool, there exist several alternatives for closing an S-Hook. One of the most challenging parts of closing an S-Hook without pliers is gaining leverage. Finding a tool that acts as a vice is your best substitute to the pliers.

Alternatives:

• Chain Cutters (use the inside of the handles as a vise, works well)
• Bobcat or Mechanical Machine (find a place where components act as a vise)
• Mallet Hammer (requires a hard surface and is very challenging)
• Request or Purchase D-Shackles/H-Shackles instead of S-Hooks (hardly any effort involved)

There are 2 ways to anchor a Wally the Whale to the ground:

1. Surface Mount with Concrete Anchors
2. In-Ground Mount with J-Bolts

Surface mounting is not recommended unless there is no alternative. Should you have a concrete pad in place, it may be necessary to cut and dig to pour additional concrete so that the footer is of proper depth. As a spring ride will receive much use, the connection to the ground must be secure. A 4-6 inch slab is not sufficient to surface mount a spring ride. The footer is recommended to be 18 inches wide and 18 inches deep.

In-ground mounting is the process of attaching the spring plate to the ground with use of a concrete footer. This involves use of J-Bolts or other similar hardware. Seldom is such hardware included with a spring ride purchase. As there are endless ways to mount a spring plate, manufacturers rather end-users buy their own mounting hardware rather than offering and competing with national hardware chains.

As shown in the video, Wally the Whale assembles in minutes with basic tools and hardware. This playground equipment is great for volunteer groups and parents hoping to save money and install their purchase without assistance of a professional contractor.

An experienced installer can assemble the Geo Dome Climber in 2 hours or less. A total of 5 in-ground posts must be set in concrete for the permanent geo dome. When beginning on the climber, it is best to follow the instructions to the T. There are 4 different sizes of bars used on the climber. The tips will have washable paint in red, white, or blue. The unpainted bars are for anchoring in-ground. We suggest starting on the bottom row of bars and then slowly building up. The installation key provides a simple look at how to assemble. Any deviation from this will result in a faulty product.

Once the bars are all attached, the climber should still be loose. Tightening should never occur until the climber is completely assembled. The nuts have nylon threading that melts to the bolts, freezing them in place. If you tighten the bolts before final assembly, you will most likely be cutting bolts and replacing them as needed. When tightening the bolts, we generally start at the bottom and work our way around one level at a time. The last steps include preening off excess bolt and placing the included caps over the bolt to prevent injury.

Suggested Tools for Assembly:

• Shovel or auger for holes
• Marking paint to mark holes
• Impact driver or ratchet with socket set
• Cut off tool, reciprocating saw, or hacksaw to preen long bolts
• Rubber mallet to insert plastic safety caps
• Allen wrench included

Customers Perspective

The Geo Dome Climber is easy to install by following the instructions. This makes a geo dome ideal for DIY playground buyers assuming they have the right tools. Buyers also like the following:

• Affordable commercial grade event
• Meets needs of younger children
• Easy to supervise activity
• Portable designs for temporary playgrounds
• Paint and bracket upgrades for aesthetics
• Safety caps for bolt protrusions
• Easy-to-read instructions
• Cheap and fast delivery of product

Kids Perspective

Meets needs of younger children ages 2-5. Older children will require a Super Dome Climber. The basic design of the Geo Dome is enjoyed as children have multiple entries to enter and exit the climber. There is no right way up or down.

The 8 foot high Heavy Duty Modern Tripod Swing comes in four standard sizes (2, 4, 6, or 8 seat). The majority of our in-house installers will construct the swing before digging holes. First, the yoke is placed on the ground and the in-ground legs are inserted and slightly tightened. The same is done with the top rail. The swing is then turned upright and positioned to the final destination. Once the legs are in line, holes are marked 4-6 inches on the inside of each post. The swing can stay in place when drilling, however should be moved for safety purposes. Each hole is drilled at the same angle as the swing. Holes cannot be drilled straight down as the legs must go in at an angle.

Holes will be approximately 24 inches deep. This swing should be 8 feet from the bottom of the top rail to the finished level of protective surfacing. Once the holes are drilled, the swing should be placed in the position as before. Each of the legs must be slightly moved into the hole. Once each leg is placed in a hole, the top rail must be leveled. This can be quite complicated when multiple swing bays are involved as each leg must be lifted or lowered to level the top. Once the top rail is level, the legs can be concreted in place. We recommend not placing the swing chain and seats on the swing until the concrete is cured. The swing hangers must be installed in specific spots on the top rail to meet national safety regulations for playground safety.

Suggested Tools

• Shovel or Auger
• Wheelbarrow for excess dirt
• Marking paint to mark holes
• Ladder to reach top rail
• Tape measure to attach hangers
• Impact driver or ratchet with socket set
• Level for Top Rail
• String Line for holes
• Tool to close S-Hooks
• Chain cutter depending on installed height
• Allen wrench included

Customers Perspective

The 3.5 inch OD top rail of the 8-foot high Heavy Duty Modern Tripod Swing provides extra strength to reduce bending as seen in lesser duty swings. Customers with playgrounds that serve a wide array of ages including children and adults require the sturdiest swing. Each swing comes with commercial grade hardware and seats including:

• Galvanized Swing Chain
• Swing Hangers
• S-Hooks
• Cut Proof Belt Seats
• All steel construction

Our standard Cut Proof Belt Seats can be exchanged for bucket seats or accessible seating. Customers enjoy this flexibility in regards to our ordering process. This heavy-duty swing is a favorite of customers as it lasts years without involved maintenance.

Kids Perspective

What do the kids think? Kids enjoy swings more than most playground equipment. The reasoning behind this is the motion involved. The swinging motion is fun and easy for all skill and age levels of children to enjoy. Belt seats are easy for children to get on and off. Seats bend accordingly and provide a comfortable and stable place to sit.

1. H-Shackles (most commonly used with tire seats and specialty belt seats)
2. S-Hooks
3. D-Shackles

The two most common ways for swing attachment is S-Hooks and D-Shackles. An S-Hook requires great pressure to close the hooks together. Although many tools can be used to close an S-Hook, S-Hook Pliers provide the ability to open and close an S-Hook with ease. S-Hook Pliers are a great investment for someone that installs or removes swings on a regular basis such as park maintenance, school districts, and playground contractors.

The typical playground owner has no need to buy a pair of S-Hook Pliers for a single use. In these cases, we suggest using the D-Shackles. A D-Shackle is specially manufactured to provide a safe attachment for public use. The D-Shackle is comprised of a bolt with a security head threads into a loop, safely securing the swing. The method is very simple and allows for fast dis-assembly as well. The security head prevents vandalism and reduces the possibility of anyone loosening the bolt.

As you can see in the video, we highly recommend using D-Shackles with coated swing chain, as the opening does not allow attachment with a standard S-Hook.

A few tips from the playground specialists of AAA State of Play:

• Measure and sketch your available space
• After a rainfall, check for drainage problems
• Know your total budget for the project
• When choosing equipment, ask about other costs (shipping, installation, etc.)
• DIY installations cost money too (concrete, tools, etc.)
• Buy your equipment and choose colors
• A customer service representative will schedule a date for delivery with you
• The installer or yourself will unload the equipment
• Make sure underground utility lines are marked prior to digging
• Use installation manuals to layout equipment
• Start assembly and finish project on time and in budget

Is your playground area walkable after a rainfall? A simple drain could effectively reduce the problems seen in the video below. The playground was originally dug out and filled with pea gravel. Many older playgrounds such as the one in the video suffer from drainage problems.

Drainage is generally not an issue with playgrounds that use our ParKurb borders as the protective surfacing will be above grade. Many playground owners want the playground to be level with the surrounding ground, however without proper drainage systems these types of problems will occur.

Engineered wood fiber is delivered on large trucks. Many customers do not understand what is meant by a truck delivery or delivery by tractor/trailer. The video below illustrates a typical installation of engineered wood fiber from delivery to clean up.

Engineered wood fiber is:

• Affordable in price compared to rubber
• Lasts many years when properly installed
• Readily available in most of the US
• IPEMA certified for use on public playgrounds
• Proven to prevent serious injuries from falls
• Natural and renewable

Contact a sales associate today to quote engineered wood fiber for your playground.
Toll Free: 1-877-826-2776 | Local & International: 1-317-826-2777

The Easy Rider Ponies come in 2 pieces, the pony, and the spring. Assembly is usually easy and will require tightening bolts from the spring plate to the base of the aluminum pony. The most common problem when installing the ponies is reaching the bolts, as they are located in the torso of the pony. This is easily performed with basic tools such as an open-faced wrench. Tightening by hand or with pliers is not possible. Use of a ratchet wrench and open-faced wrench provide the fastest and most effective installation. The footer for the rider needs to be 18-24 inches wide by 18-24 inches deep. J-bolts are included to secure the pony to your concrete footer.

Generally, we pour the footer and push the j-bolts through the wet cement, allowing them to dry before attaching the rider. However, to eliminate mistakes in placing the bolts, you can put the rider on the wet concrete with spring attached, using a frame for support and to prevent sinking. The pony should not be used for at least 72 hours from time of pouring cement. Total assembly time can run from 1 hour to 4 hours depending on soil conditions, available tools, etc. Should the bolts protrude three threads or more to the outside, they will need to be trimmed. A hacksaw or special tool may be required.

Minimum Required Tools

• Shovel
• Level
• Open-Faced Wrench
• Ratchet wrench with socket set

Customers Perspective

Easy Rider Ponies provide a durable and long-lasting playground spring ride. With five uniquely colored models to choose from, you can place multiple ponies in the same grouping without looking too similar. The aluminum body is hand painted and comes with a lifetime guarantee. Customers appreciate the following:

• Lifetime guarantee on aluminum construction
• 5 unique types of finishes
• All metal construction resists vandalism
• Low investment with long output
• Heavy-duty spring stays rigid

Kids Perspective

Younger children ages 2-5 will enjoy this unit best. Older children will not use Easy Riders except for sitting purposes. The handgrips and footholds let children control their motion. A playful animal is enjoyed by younger children and not too exotic for most public areas.

Assembly is a snap and a hammer away. The fully assembled version is well worth the time and money spent. Much plastic equipment like the Mushroom Cottage is difficult to construct, as they offer no room for error in manufacturing for proper assembly. The fully assembled version requires 5-10 minutes of installation time. The partially assembled Cottage comes with some parts assembled, but the majority unassembled. Assembly time of a partially assembled Mushroom Cottage can run from 1 to 4 hours depending on construction knowledge.

Large Interior for Multiple Children

Customers Perspective

The Mushroom Cottage is a good investment that offers a difficult to buy age group plenty of safe activity. Toddler playground equipment is often expensive and lacks fun due to safety constraints. The Mushroom is a theme playground event that utilizes each side and surface for some type of play activity. Teachers and playground supervisors enjoy the ease of supervision and amount of play offered. Easy-to-install means that professional assistance is not required. Even in direct sun, the bright colored plastics last for many years.

Kids Perspective

The Cottage offers a slide and a climber with a large interior playhouse. Simply put, the Mushroom Cottage is fun. Molded shapes on the floor give added benefit to young crawlers as they begin to explore. A toadstool chair offers exterior sitting as well as a bench seat. Multiple game events keep kids busy and are all age-appropriate to toddlers and crawlers.

• In order to offer you kids maximum amount of safety and at the same time offering them a good playing mode can be now achieved with the help of readymade playground equipment available in the market. There is no need to prepare a special playground for your kids where they can play for long hours.
• Now you can buy playground equipment that is readily available in the market. Well, these are the perfect playing tools for your kids which will assist them to gain adequate amount of physical and mental development. Now you can buy playground equipments that are available in different colors, design and shape.
• All you need to choose the right and safe place where you can install these playground equipments. Once installed, these playground equipments will be ready to serve your kids in several ways. These items are providing a safest place for your kids where they can enjoy their leisure.

In past decade commercial playground industry has now transformed from all American business to the mixture of the foreign products that are built on American brands. The transformation is direct result of the higher American wages, and cheaper as well as effective overseas trade, as well as profits. Few people also get impression, which foreign goods are totally inferior. In my knowledge they are of best quality & standards. For example, manufacturer in United States can ship the playground structure that is built form American parts & laborers. Nine out of ten times shipment may have something missing because of failure to do the simple checks prior to the shipment. The Chinese made structure also introduced in late 90s needs to have single piece of the hardware and equipment missing after many shipments. Lots of US playground makers are situated at depressed communities. Thus, good & reliable help is very difficult to find and unluckily finding the good help is very difficult to find, doesnt matter what circumstance and business.

• In order to keep the backyard playground equipment safe for your kids, you should offer more important to their features and safety measures while buying these items from the market. First of all you need to determine an ideal location where you can fix the backyard playground equipment for your kids.
• If you want to install it at the backyard, then first select a proper place and ensure that the place is the safest location for your kids to play with the backyard playground equipment. In addition to that you need to look for such place that is located at a good distance form potentially hazardous objects such as a tree, wires and rocks.
• Plan for a safety zone that you are arrange at least six feet around the playground equipment. If you can place these items away from direct sunlight, then you can offer additional safety for your kids from sun burn during hot summer days.

Selecting proper kids play equipment for the backyard doesnt need to be very hard. There are a lot of factors that you must consider prior to you buy the backyard swing sets and other play equipment for kids. Doing a few research in the different types available is wise choice. You must keep in your mind ages of children as well as whether kids play sets that you select will grow with children.

Naturally, in case, you have many kids of different ages then you would like to play set that can entertain them. But, you would like to have minimal risk of the injury so selecting one is safe for different ages is a best method to go. To find one play set for the kids of various ages cannot be very easy, however there are a lot of sites on internet devoted to the outdoor play equipment for kids so with a bit of research you must find what you are searching for.

• If you have always wanted to offer you kid the best playing modes that is safe and good for them, then its time to opt for the ADA playground equipment. Keep in mind that fun and safety are the bywords when you are looking for perfect playground equipment for your kids. Now you can install these ADA playground equipments at home on your own or you can even take experts help.
• These designs are durable on the use and several attractive colors have been added for them to ensure maximum fun for the kids. These ADA playground equipments have been designed in such a way and durable materials have been added for them that suits your budget as well as requirements. These playing equipments will last really long and now you can allow your kids to have more fun even at home during the weekends and holidays.

Kids playgrounds have also come very long way from swing sets & monkey bars. The modern playgrounds also feature things such as wave slides, rock climbing walls, crawl tunnels, and not to mention the steering wheels & telescopes. The playground creators have thought everything entertain & satisfy the child’s curiosity.

One of greatest things of the playgrounds is developmental advantages that they give kids children. The playgrounds allow kids to play very freely that helps the mental & emotional development. While kids are been allowed the free play in structured environment such as playground, they can use the imagination & be spontaneous that is essential tool to develop the strong sense of the well being. Parents & adults will feel very comfortable about safety of the playground sets. The commercial playground sets should pass test of the industry standards to be put on market. Often the hot topic, safety of the playgrounds is not very much the issue nowadays. The playgrounds sold use the minimal steel work in proper place of the soft plastic, nylon and rubber ropes.

• Normally, every child likes to play with equipment like swings, merry go round, sliding and giant wheel. These playground equipments will not only provide them entertainment but also some valuable physical exercise. Thus, playground equipments are playing a great role to improve childs physical fitness as well as entertainment.
• Playground equipment can be installed in garden, backyards, picnic place and Public Park and also in schools. The most important aspect of playground equipment is not only providing physical fitness and entertainment for your child but also it strengthens your kids mental status. It also helps them to develop their concentration during the study.
• You can provide more fun and entertainment for your child by providing them some wonderful playground equipments. Before installing these equipments in your backyard you should always keep in mind that what kind of space you can afford to install these equipments. You can get these equipments from market according to the space that you have to invest for installing playground equipments.

Though it might sound very terrible, most of the American makers are very reliable. They also stand behind the product in the good times & bad. Most of the U.S. military bases are needed to follow “Buy American Act”. This generally means every purchase should get made in entirety from the American products. Also, there are some manufacturers that give all American line of the equipment. This helps to insure a few amount of the jobs & keeps wealth to be located in U.S. The foreign products are introduced first as the components. The flashy roof in local park can well be the foreign made item. Chinese have the specific taste for the theme playgrounds that has led to development of many unique roofs, climbers, as well as slides. In US, lots of individuals see the Chinese structure as very cheesy. They are all overdone with the unnecessary components that are featuring the uncommon animals & shapes like parrot. Chinese are not just known for the playground equipment. In current times they have the single handed changed industry.

• If you are trying to obtain this goal, your play ground needs to be equipped properly. As per recent research, childhood obesity is a major problem for the entire country. To solve this problem, parents should encourage their child to do activities that are more physical. Physical activities cannot be done in the home. You will need to visit a public park or school to have more access to playgrounds.
• Many commercial playgrounds offer playing equipment for kids to have proper physical activities. Commercial play grounds provide regular exercise and many other fun activities for your children.
• Our commercial playgrounds are able to offer entertainment for children of all ages. By choosing commercial play ground events for physical activities, children can enjoy their games and at the same time develop health benefits. Play will also develop the mental and social interaction of a child.

Playing on a playground is essential for physical development of children. Colorful & innovative equipment must be installed to attract children to a playground. When choosing equipment, you should emphasize safety of children. For kids, there is not anything more inviting than the playground. Playground equipment is manufactured for kids of different age groups. Children are attracted to equipment such as swings, slides, seesaw, merry go rounds, climbers, and spring riders. Most commercial playground equipment is simple to install for the average contractor.

Commercial playground equipment is very safe for kids to use when properly installed and maintained. The slide is some of the most loved equipment among kids of different ages. Slides also come in many designs that include tunnel slides, spiral slides, bump wave slides, alpine thunder slides, tube slides, as well as many others. Slides are tubular, curved, flat, and half cylindrical to give safety to children when sliding.

• Parent groups seems to be more and more inclined for these products as they want to offer their kids maximum safety. Plastic playgrounds are durable and light in weight. Due to such reasons, these plastic playgrounds are easy to transport resulting in low cost shipping. You can even install these plastic playgrounds at your home.

Our plastic playground equipment is placed in picnic places, schools, baby care centers, recreation clubs, churches, about anywhere that provides learning and recreation. A playground must increase concentration, agility, dexterity, as well as physical strength of a child. The plastic used for playground equipment is molded rotationally and includes ultraviolet light stabilized polyethylene plastic. Unlike wooden equipment, plastic has a smooth finish & is safe for kids. Plastic is resistant to corrosion and vandals.

Many manufacturers now make use of Recycled Structural Plastic to build playground equipment. A main disadvantage of plastic playground equipment is a tendency to crack and a need for regular maintenance. Our plastic playground equipment is normally provided with five-ten year guarantee against deterioration and breakage. Every manufacturer has different specifications & warranty choices. Few suppliers such as Play Mart give 100 years warranty on products! AAA State of Play is one great source to locate good plastic equipment.

Try to climb on a car that has been parked in a parking lot all day in 100-degree weather. The seats feel like they are melting, forget about the outside. Grab some eggs, make breakfast, but do not let your children climb on it. This is why playground equipment is generally not a solid mass of metal, but is often built with bars and mixed components. Playground equipment manufacturers are not interested in children being hurt as the threat of lawsuits leads to serious financial consequences. When children are involved extra care and attention to safety must be a priority. Careless manufacturing will lead to lawsuits, deservedly so.

The summer months always seem to serve as a reminder of dangers of heat, exhaustion, and dehydration. I recently received a call that an installer was on the way to the hospital. My first thought was that it was due to an injury, although unlikely due to our safety controls. Soon, I found out it was due to hyperthermia, known as a heat stroke. Fortunately the installer was treated and released within hours. Our installers have suffered heat strokes and often work nights instead of days at certain times of the year. When you are installing equipment make sure to keep yourself hydrated and take many breaks.

Although exhaustion and dehydration can be a cause of problems on playgrounds, summer heat and direct sun can be equally as problematic. Shade structures often solve the problem of direct sun contact. A simple ten-foot square shade for a picnic area can offer a place to cool off near the playground. This year New Yorkers learned was that style does not always function well in regards to playgrounds, and with playgrounds the safety of a child is more important than architectural design. The lesson is learned and will no doubt be repeated at other cities in the future.

The installation of a shade structure is by far the most difficult task for inexperienced installers, as it requires patience and strength, either in numbers or by individuals. Although a two-person installation crew can install a shade structure of practically any size, we suggest the use of 3-4 people, and more if available. The first step in installation of a shade is figuring out grade. If the grade is 2% or less, no site preparation is generally needed to construct a shelter properly.

First step is to dig holes and support the bottom of each hole with a flat concrete block. Each hole needs to be the same depth at grade. In other words, the holes may not be the same depth from the bottom of the hole to the soil, however at grade each hole should be level. This may require the use of a scope and laser for pinpoint accuracy, however most construction laborers can find other method if a laser is not available. If you are in a small town built on trust, your local utilities company or city maintenance may have a tool you could borrow.

The next step is to concrete one of the upright support posts. Make sure that the post is plumb and centered in the hole. You will want the measurements dead-on before concreting the first post. If a post if thrown off-center of a hole, the hole may need to be re-dug later, which makes installation very difficult. Once the concrete is set, installation of the structure is ready to continue. Fast set concrete should be used on the first post, as it will be ready in a matter of hours versus days.

The next step involves placing the other posts in the remaining three holes. Several stakes and straps may be needed for this process to keep the posts plumb and from falling over. The top frame of the shade is assembled next. First, attach the elbows to the posts. Elbows generally fit on top of the upright posts without any effort. They will be more permanently attached later.

The top frame is carefully assembled starting at each post. This process requires strength on all parties. A long top frame post must be lifted up and slid into the elbow at an upward angle. This must be done four times, one for each upright post. Once each top frame bar is installed into the elbows, the four bars must meet at the top and connect to a center support. This is often the most difficult part of the installation due to the shear strength required and the height.

The frame bars coming out of the elbows will likely be bowing down slightly due to gravity. Someone must climb a ladder (10 foot or greater); push up on all four bars, all while sliding in connecting yokes and a center bar. You will find the process much easier by having at least one other person on his or her own ladder to push a bar separately. The larger shade structures require more upwards force. Also, the larger the shade, the higher in the air the frame bars will rise. A cherry picker or boom lift is very useful in this process, although not always affordable in the construction.

Once the top frame is assembled, all hardware should be installed to set the frame in place. Several bolts and screws should be set in place a various points to secure the connections. The fabric canopy is the last piece of the puzzle. The canopy should have specific instructions on how to properly install the steel cable into the fabric. Black tape will be required for the end of the cable in order to be able to feed it through the fabric. Once the steel cable is installed, the fabric must be set on top of the shade structure. Make sure before you begin to align the canopy in the proper direction if it is a rectangle. Also the orientation is important as the fabric has a top and bottom.

The cable loops should be placed on the elbows. As the fabric is built to fit a specific size of structure, the fit will be very tight. It may appear too tight. Shade structures with fixed elbows may require use of a come along cable puller. Glide elbows do not require a come along. To use the come along a solid support must be used such as a truck, building, or heavy machine. You will be placing enormous force on the object so light and portable objects are not recommended. A person should be on a ladder guiding the cable loop and fabric to properly place itself over the elbow hook.

Now that your shade is constructed, it may be time for a break.

Achieving a look like none other generates the appeal of rubber curbs. Each rubber timber can bend around to cut corners in ways that plastic timbers cannot. Solid rubber curbs can be used in landscaping and playground applications. A rubber curb is an attractive alternative to traditional wood timbers, and requires far less work in regards to sawing, hammering, and measuring. Unlike wood timbers, each rubber curb comes predrilled and ready for installation. Few people realize the amount of effort and work involved in installation and construction of wood borders.

A professional installation of a wood landscape border will require many tools, not limited to the following: shovel, spade, cordless drill, drill bits, hammers, nails, spikes, rebar, sledge hammers, level, router, chainsaw, wheelbarrow, string line. These tools will be required to make the wall level and straight. Bends with wood are nearly impossible to achieve and several cuts with a chainsaw will be required. A router is used to grind the edge of the top timber and round the edges, reducing the chance off injury as most wood timbers come with 90-degree angles. A cordless drill and drill bits are used to make room for rebar stakes.

The do-it-yourself (DIY) crowd will enjoy building a wood timber wall. With basic construction knowledge and limited tools you can easily build a border containment system for your playground or landscape. Those looking for a simplified solution should contact AAA State of Play for information related to plastic landscape timbers and rubber curbs with predrilled holes and standard lengths. Professional installation may be available in your area depending on the amount of mulch and timbers you require. However, in most cases a landscape contractor is more affordable than a playground contractor.

Will the playground industry soon meet the same fate as so many industries before it? Most every country manufactures some amount of playground equipment locally. However, every country also imports equipment. AAA State of Play has sent American made materials to China, Alaska, North Pole, Korea, etc. Our offering of foreign made materials is currently limited due to supply chain problems in regards to lead times. The majority of our equipment is made in the USA. Many government projects require American-made goods. It is fair to say that most playground manufacturers offer something made overseas. We have visited many so called American-based manufacturing plants, and much space is in use as a storage warehouse for imports. Many times the manufacturers are importing equipment made in other parts of the USA. However, many USA plastic manufacturers do not possess access to the low price materials and machinery components than that of their foreign-based counterparts.

One can easily look at the Chinese playground manufacturers with much of the same distaste as the apparel manufacturers of the past once looked upon foreign-based materials. Currently many Chinese based playground manufacturers create structures with too much theme and not enough traditional equipment. Chinese structures and components are often overdone, although just as structurally sound as their American counterparts. Giant space ships, boats, castles, animals, and tree houses are popular overseas, but only on a limited scale in the USA. Until the themes are toned down and lead times can be reduced, American playground companies will keep the advantage. Shipping time and appearance will hold most overseas manufacturers back until more traditional equipment and new freight alternatives are available.

New inventions in freight is one major way overseas-based play equipment could enter the USA market. Prototype blimp airships will be able to transport several hundreds of tons of cargo across oceans in the matter of days instead of weeks at a comparable cost to ocean freight. Once affordable and instant international freight is more available every industry will change. Currently most freight airplanes can only take around 30 tons of freight at a time. As a result of limited space and high price of jet fuel, the price of airfreight is too expensive for playground equipment. Since the new blimps will likely be designed to be crew-less, in that a ground operator will be in control, the opportunity of error will be greatly reduced, as will overall costs. A blimp will also reduce injuries when transporting freight to remote areas such as the ice round routes. Many companies will be competing for working prototypes of a freight blimp, as the potential rewards to a manufacturer are limitless, as well as the extent of the impact across industries.

At AAA State of Play, we recommend that all items be accounted for before installation begins and within 48 hours after a delivery of play equipment. Many manufacturers will not assist in sending missing parts if they are not accounted for with 48-72 hours of receipt of goods. This entails that an individual counts what arrives with what is on the packing slip. A packing slip is usually with the installation instructions. It details all parts required and shipped. Although missing and damaged parts are a rarity, some instances do occur, and when they do we want our customers to understand exactly what to look for.

When unloading a shipment, if you notice any damage to the packing, stop what you are doing and take photos. When signing for the delivery, make note of any shortages and visible damage. This is the first line of defense against any damage or missing goods. Once you have unloaded your equipment, start with the parts. By the numbers count the parts, the boxes, posts, decks, ect. This will help ensure that once you start an installation, you will be able to complete the install without stopping because of a shortage. Contact a sales representative for more information regarding other instructions for receiving goods.