What’s the most durable and long-lasting material for playgrounds? “It depends” is the simplest way to put it. Considerations such as environmental conditions (such as whether or not your area is experiencing flooding) and the availability and cost of local materials will play a role.
The pests? (Severe gusts of wind?), and most importantly, the recommendations of nearby construction companies. If you want your playground to last for years to come and be well-used by the community, you should choose materials that are easy to get, install, and maintain in the area.
Used tires have been the main building material for many of the playgrounds that we’ve helped more than 1,400 communities across the globe construct. Playgrounds all around the globe use tires due to their adaptability, even though they might not be suitable for all situations.
This post will go over some pointers on how to construct a tire playground and the advantages of using old vehicle tires for playgrounds. Come on, we can begin!
Then what makes recycled tires such a fantastic material for playgrounds all around the globe?
1. Availability – Tires are readily available in almost every community across the globe. While we have had more success in finding them in certain areas than others, we have yet to encounter a spot that couldn’t provide us with a couple of dozen old tires. (And we’ve been to some incredibly out-of-the-way locations.)
2. Easy To Build – No specialized skills are required for construction using automobile tires. The number of possible designs is practically infinite if you have a few tires, an electric drill, a knife, a few bolts, and a shovel.
3. Safety– Steel is used to construct most playgrounds for kids all around the globe, and this material can be dangerous. Steel parts exposed to direct sunlight can become dangerously hot, even burning, in regions with high temperatures. Additionally, children should be cautious around metal swing seats because of the hardness of the material and the risk of injury that comes with slipping or running into a child who is swinging on one. However, tires are forgiving if you trip and hit your head on them, and they don’t get nearly as hot in the sun (particularly when painted).
4. Longevity—Tires are designed to propel heavy machinery over rough terrain, often weighing thousands of pounds. They are long-lasting. They succeed. Additionally, they are impervious to typical environmental hazards, such as termites consuming wood or weather corroding metal. Truck tires are ideal for many of our designs due to their durability and low weight, but they are also significantly heavier.
5. Low Cost – Tires can usually be found for free or at a very low cost in most communities. We have constructed playgrounds for kids in areas where burning used tires, which releases harmful fumes, is a common waste management practice. People here are more than glad to let you buy their old tires! The local economy places “value” on used tires in other parts of the globe because they are repurposed into sandals and other goods. We have included the tiny price of tires that we have paid in these places into the budget.
Designs
If you’re looking for ideas for playground equipment, Playground Ideas includes more than a hundred designs that you can make from old tires. Most of the designs only call only a few bolts and an electric drill, and they all come with free, detailed instructions for doing it yourself.
Quality of the Tire
Make sure there are no protruding steel wires by thoroughly inspecting the tire’s surface before utilizing it. If you bury half of the tire and put the exposed portion in the ground, you can still use it even if there is a small area of exposed wires.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use it if the tire’s rubber is worn thin and wires are visible on half or more of its surface. Avoid putting children in danger by attempting to snip or grind down these exposed wires; doing so will not work.
Drainage
If you don’t take the necessary measures, tires can collect water, creating an ideal environment for mosquitoes to develop. This is one of the possible dangers of creating a tire playground. In regions where malaria is common, this poses a serious threat.
To top it all off, avoiding this issue couldn’t be easier! The method is as follows: near the base of each tire, cut or drill a hole on each component. Any precipitation can then drain away from the surface. After the playground is finished, check every part to make sure every tire has a drainage hole in case it becomes wet.
Painting and Art
Use high-quality oil-based paint to make sure the paint adheres effectively on tires. Paint may not adhere to used tires due to the high levels of oil and dirt that are typically present on them.
To further prevent children from coming into contact with any residual motor oil, wash the tires that will be used for the playground with detergent and water. After washing, let them dry completely before painting or letting them play on them. Doing this all at once at the start of the build is usually easier than trying to wash built-in elements.
To make sure all built-up dirt is removed before painting, you might want to give the area a quick wipe-down.
More Resources
See our Playground Builder’s Handbook for additional details on constructing playgrounds for kids out of recycled tires. Among the many useful tidbits included are suggestions on where to get tires, an explanation of how to read the size of a tire’s sidewall and instructions for cutting a tire quickly and easily.
Also included are instructions for creating and maintaining locally constructed playgrounds using a variety of materials.
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