The Differences Between Wetpour And Rubber Mulch

If you’re looking to create a safe and durable surface for your playground or outdoor area, you may be considering options like Wetpour or Rubber Mulch.

In this article, we will explore the key differences between Wetpour and Rubber Mulch in terms of material composition, installation process, cost, durability, maintenance, safety, and aesthetics.

We will also discuss why choosing Wetpour over Rubber Mulch may be the better option due to greater safety standards, longer lifespan, lower maintenance costs, customisability, environmental friendliness, and accessibility.

Let’s find out which option is the right choice for your project.

What is Wetpour?

Wetpour is a type of safety surfacing commonly used in playgrounds and recreational areas.

It consists of a mixture of rubber granules and a binder, typically polyurethane, which is poured and trowelled to create a seamless, cushioned playground surface.

The use of recycled rubber makes wetpour an environmentally friendly choice, while its ability to absorb impact and its compliance with critical fall height standards ensures enhanced safety.

How is Wetpour Installed?

The installation process of wetpour involves several steps, starting with the preparation of a solid sub-base to ensure stability and proper drainage.

Once the sub-base is prepared, the next step is to mix the rubber granules with the binder.

This mixture forms the core of the wetpour surface and provides the necessary flexibility and impact absorption.

Careful blending of the ingredients is crucial to achieve a uniform consistency.

After the mixing process, the rubber granule-binder blend is poured onto the prepared sub-base.

Resin bound surfacing techniques are employed to ensure a durable and smooth finish.

Skilled workers then use trowels to spread and level the mixture, creating a seamless and even surface that is ready for use.

What are the Benefits of Wetpour?

Wetpour offers numerous benefits, making it an ideal choice for playgrounds and recreational areas.

Its primary advantage is the enhanced safety it provides, reducing the risk of injuries from falls.

Moreover, wetpour surfaces require minimal maintenance, offering a cost-effective solution in the long run.

The material’s durability ensures that it can withstand heavy foot traffic and harsh weather conditions, making it a reliable option for outdoor spaces.

One of the standout features of wetpour is its customisability.

This allows for endless design possibilities, enabling the creation of vibrant and interactive play areas that cater to specific themes or preferences.

The versatility of wetpour extends to its compatibility with various playground equipment.

Whether it’s slides, swings, or climbing frames, wetpour can be seamlessly integrated with different structures, enhancing the overall play experience for children.

What is Rubber Mulch?

Rubber mulch is a type of safety surfacing created from recycled rubber, often used in playgrounds, landscaping, and gardening.

Unlike traditional wood chips, rubber mulch provides a longer-lasting, more resilient surface that does not decompose or attract pests.

How is Rubber Mulch Installed?

The installation of rubber mulch begins with the preparation of the installation site, ensuring it is clean, level, and has proper drainage.

Once the site is prepped, the next step involves spreading the rubber chippings evenly across the area.

This process requires attention to detail to ensure a uniform coverage that will provide effective cushioning and protection.

To guarantee stability and prevent shifting, you may consider opting for bonded rubber mulch surfacing.

This specialised application method involves binding the rubber particles together, creating a durable and secure mulch layer that stays in place even under heavy use.

What are the Benefits of Rubber Mulch?

Rubber chippings offer several benefits, including increased durability and low maintenance, making them a popular choice for playgrounds and landscaping.

One of the key advantages of rubber chippings is their outstanding safety benefits.

Due to their shock-absorbing properties, rubber chippings significantly reduce the impact of falls, making them ideal for playgrounds and recreational areas where children play.

This cushioning effect helps prevent serious injuries by providing a softer landing surface compared to traditional materials like wood chippings or gravel.

Rubber chippings are eco-friendly as they are made from recycled tyres, promoting sustainability and reducing environmental waste.

Their long lifespan outlasts other options, ensuring lasting protection and aesthetic appeal.

What are the Differences Between Wetpour and Rubber Mulch?

Understanding the differences between wetpour and rubber mulch can help determine the most suitable safety surfacing for playgrounds and recreational areas.

While both options provide effective playground surfacing, each has unique characteristics that make it suitable for different applications.

Material Composition

The material composition of wetpour and rubber mulch significantly differs, with wetpour primarily made from rubber granules and rubber mulch consisting of recycled rubber pieces.

Wetpour is typically composed of virgin rubber granules bound together with a polyurethane resin, offering a seamless and impact-absorbing surface ideal for playgrounds and sports areas.

On the other hand, rubber mulch utilises recycled rubber pieces from various sources, such as old tyres, processed into chunkier granules or nuggets for loose-fill applications like landscaping and pathways.

Installation Process

The installation process for wetpour involves pouring and trowelling a mixture of rubber granules and binder, while rubber mulch is spread and leveled on the installation site.

When installing wetpour, the first step typically involves preparing the ground by ensuring it is flat and free of debris.

The rubber granules and binder mixture are then combined and poured onto the surface, followed by using a trowel to spread and smooth it evenly to the desired thickness.

In contrast, installing rubber mulch starts with laying a geotextile membrane to prevent weed growth.

The rubber mulch is then spread over the area and leveled using rakes or hand tools, ensuring an even distribution.

The process of installing wetpour can take longer due to the meticulous trowelling and curing time required for the binder to set properly, while rubber mulch installation is relatively quicker as it does not involve such curing processes.

Cost

The cost of wetpour and rubber mulch varies, with wetpour generally being more expensive due to its complex installation process and material costs.

On the other hand, rubber mulch is often more cost-effective in terms of initial installation as it is simpler to put in place and requires less material.

Whilst wetpour may have higher upfront expenses, it tends to be more durable in the long run, potentially saving money on frequent replacements that rubber mulch may require.

When considering long-term maintenance costs, rubber mulch might need more frequent top-ups to maintain its appearance and effectiveness, whereas wetpour generally requires minimal upkeep.

Durability

Regarding durability, wetpour tends to have a longer lifespan compared to rubber mulch, owing to its seamless and resilient nature.

Wetpour, being a poured-in-place rubber surface, offers excellent resistance to harsh weather conditions, UV rays and heavy foot traffic, making it a popular choice for playgrounds.

Its smooth surface also minimises the accumulation of dirt and debris, contributing to its longevity.

Rubber mulch offers good shock absorption and vibrant colors but may deteriorate quickly under extreme temperatures and heavy use, needing more frequent replenishment.

Maintenance

Maintenance requirements for wetpour and rubber mulch differ, with wetpour generally requiring less frequent maintenance due to its seamless surface.

While wetpour needs occasional cleaning and top-up of binder material to maintain its integrity, rubber mulch demands regular raking and replenishment to prevent compaction and ensure consistent impact absorption.

In terms of repair, wetpour may require occasional patching for minor damages, whereas rubber mulch can develop displacement and may need continuous adjustment to even out the surface.

Wetpour is more susceptible to fading from UV exposure, necessitating occasional application of UV-resistant coatings to preserve its colour integrity, unlike rubber mulch that holds up well against sunlight.

This makes wetpour a bit more labour-intensive for maintenance compared to rubber mulch, requiring a bit of extra care and attention to keep it in prime condition.

Safety

Safety is a critical factor in choosing between wetpour and rubber mulch, with both options offering compliance with critical fall height requirements to ensure playground safety.

Wetpour, a popular choice for playground surfaces, is known for its impact-absorbing qualities that help reduce the risk of injury from falls.

It offers a soft and cushioned surface that can effectively cushion falls from varying heights, providing a safe environment for children to play in.

Wetpour is designed to meet safety standards such as BS EN 1177, ensuring that it can withstand rigorous use while maintaining its protective properties.

Rubber mulch, on the other hand, is praised for its durability and ability to provide excellent impact protection.

Made from 100% recycled rubber, this material offers excellent shock absorption, preventing serious injuries in case of falls.

It is also tested to meet safety standards set by BS EN 1176, assuring parents and caregivers of its reliability in ensuring playground safety.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics play a vital role in selecting playground surfacing, with wetpour offering more customisable design options compared to rubber mulch.

Regarding colour options, wetpour is the clear winner, as it can be mixed to create vibrant, eye-catching hues that can spark creativity and imagination in children.

On the other hand, rubber mulch typically comes in earth tones like brown, black, and green, providing a more natural look.

Design flexibility is another crucial aspect to consider.

Wetpour allows for intricate patterns, shapes, and even educational motifs to be incorporated seamlessly into the play area, enhancing its visual appeal and creating a stimulating environment for kids to explore.

Both materials can elevate the overall aesthetics of a play area, but wetpour lends itself more to artistic expression, making it a popular choice for those looking to create a visually striking and engaging space for children to enjoy.

Why Choose Wetpour Over Rubber Mulch?

Opting for wetpour over rubber mulch can provide several advantages, especially in terms of safety standards, lifespan, and overall cost-effectiveness for playground surfacing.

Wetpour not only meets strict safety standards but also provides a longer lifespan and lower maintenance costs, making it a preferred choice for many play areas.

Greater Safety Standards

Wetpour meets higher safety standards, including compliance with critical fall height requirements and BS EN regulations, ensuring a safer playground environment.

Wetpour is designed to absorb impact and reduce the risk of injuries, particularly from falls.

The critical fall height requirement dictates the maximum height from which a child can fall without sustaining serious injury.

By meeting this standard, wetpour provides a protective surface that minimises the impact of such falls.

Adhering to BS EN regulations guarantees that the materials used are tested and approved, contributing to a playground environment that prioritises safety above all else.

Longer Lifespan

One of the key advantages of wetpour is its longer lifespan, which can outlast rubber mulch due to its durable and resilient nature.

Wetpour’s durability stems from the high-quality materials used in its construction, which are specifically engineered to withstand heavy foot traffic, harsh weather conditions, and UV exposure without degrading.

The seamless surface of wetpour also plays a crucial role in extending its lifespan, as it eliminates the risk of tripping hazards, reduces maintenance requirements, and prevents water seepage that could lead to damage.

In comparison, rubber mulch, while a popular choice for playground surfacing, may deteriorate more quickly due to its loose and scattered nature, making it susceptible to displacement, uneven settling, and decomposition over time.

Lower Maintenance Costs

Wetpour requires lower maintenance costs compared to rubber mulch, making it a more cost-effective option in the long run.

One of the main reasons for the reduced maintenance needs of wetpour is its seamless nature, which eliminates the need for constant re-levelling that rubber mulch may require.

Wetpour’s non-permeable surface makes it resistant to weed growth, decreasing the time and effort needed for regular weeding compared to rubber mulch areas.

This leads to a cleaner and more visually appealing playground or recreational space, with fewer disruptions for maintenance and repairs.

More Customisable

Wetpour offers more customisable design options, allowing for a wide range of colours, patterns, and themes to enhance the visual appeal of any play area.

With wetpour surfacing, you have the freedom to choose from an extensive palette of vibrant hues, from bright primary colours to subtle pastel shades, enabling you to craft a playground surface that perfectly complements the surroundings.

The versatility of wetpour allows for the creation of intricate patterns, such as geometric shapes, playful motifs, or even educational designs like alphabet letters or numbers, adding an engaging visual element to the play space.

Environmentally Friendly

Wetpour is an environmentally friendly option as it often utilises recycled rubber, contributing to sustainability and reducing waste.

Compared to traditional playground surfacing materials like rubber mulch, wetpour offers distinct advantages in terms of durability and long-term cost-effectiveness.

The use of recycled rubber in wetpour not only repurposes materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, but also reduces the demand for new resources.

This sustainable aspect of wetpour aligns with the growing global focus on eco-friendly practices.

Better for Accessibility

Wetpour provides a more accessible playground surface, making it ideal for inclusive play areas where children of all abilities can play safely and comfortably.

One of the standout benefits of wetpour is its smooth and seamless finish, which ensures that wheelchair users and individuals with other mobility aids can navigate the playground without any hindrance.

This feature not only promotes inclusivity but also enhances the overall safety of the play area.

The non-slip nature of wetpour further adds to its accessibility, offering a secure environment for children to enjoy their playtime without the risk of slipping or falling.

The customisable designs and colours of wetpour allow for creative and engaging play spaces that cater to diverse preferences and needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Wetpour and Rubber Mulch?

Wetpour and Rubber Mulch are two common materials used for playground surfaces.

Wetpour is a type of rubberized flooring made up of rubber granules mixed with a polyurethane binder, while Rubber Mulch is made of shredded rubber pieces.

How do Wetpour and Rubber Mulch differ in terms of safety?

Both Wetpour and Rubber Mulch provide safety benefits for playgrounds, but Wetpour has a higher impact absorption rate, making it more suitable for higher fall heights.

Rubber Mulch, on the other hand, has a lower impact absorption rate and is better for lower fall heights.

Which material is more durable – Wetpour or Rubber Mulch?

Wetpour is considered more durable than Rubber Mulch as it is a seamless surface, meaning there are no gaps for weeds or other materials to grow through.

Additionally, Wetpour has a longer lifespan and requires less maintenance compared to Rubber Mulch.

Are there any differences in installation between Wetpour and Rubber Mulch?

There are differences in the installation process of Wetpour and Rubber Mulch.

Wetpour requires a specialised team for installation, while Rubber Mulch can be installed by anyone with basic DIY skills.

Wetpour also requires a solid base, while Rubber Mulch can be placed on various surfaces.

What are the benefits of Wetpour over Rubber Mulch?

Wetpour has several advantages over Rubber Mulch, including a wider range of colour options, better durability, and a longer lifespan.

Wetpour is also a more hygienic option as it is non-porous, preventing the growth of bacteria and fungi.

Additionally, Wetpour is less messy compared to Rubber Mulch.

Can Wetpour and Rubber Mulch be used for other purposes besides playgrounds?

Both Wetpour and Rubber Mulch can be used for other applications besides playgrounds.

Wetpour is commonly used for sports surfaces, while Rubber Mulch can be used for landscaping and as a ground covering for gardens and outdoor areas.

Information For Wetpour Installation

Here are some other informative articles for Wetpour Installation in the UK: