I'd like to build a play area for my son........?

Question

What would be the best outside flooring for the play area! We plan to put a climber, teeter totter, and other various toys in it. Since we live in the desert of Ca., I do not want to use sand because it gets so hot. I though about wood chips. How would I keep weeds from growing in it. I also plan to use railroad ties to border it. Any suggestions on what kind of flooring would be best?

Answer 1

JUs use a rug. cus it doesnt really keep heat.

Answer 2

Don't use wood chips ... they cause slivers and can cause serious abrasions when a child falls.  See if you can't get some 'neutral grey' foam tiles as are used in schoolyards ... the neutral grey doesn't get as hot as black, and doesn't reflect as much light as white.  Don't put a teeter totter into the play area, because they are DANGEROUS to children, and since you have only the one son he won't be able to play on it by himself.  Instead, get or build from scratch a construction that has wood, a roof in at least one place, various sizes of doors and windows, different kinds of 'ladder' and climber (rope, rocky, wood and rope, etc.) ... and make it very 'open' as to style so your son can 'imagine' it being different things, from a spaceship to a car or a house or ... so he can 'build his imagination.'  Indoors, be sure he has a room full of SPACE, cardboard boxes and tape, crayons and paper ... so his imagination doesn't have to 'turn off' until bedtime.

Answer 3

put down a weed cloth and make sure your wood chips are 2 feet thick and you will not have a weed problem and there will be lots of cushion for when your son falls

Answer 4

probably some grass.