Playground Surfacing in London
Commercial Play installs safe, colourful playground surfacing for schools and nurseries in London and across Greater London, to full British safety standards.
Commercial Play designs, supplies and installs playground surfacing for schools, nurseries and public play areas in London and across London. Every project gets specialist in-house design and installation, tested to full BS EN 1176 and 1177 standards.
London's schools, nurseries and academies work under real pressure on space, so we design surfacing that turns tight, hard-wearing playgrounds into safe, colourful areas. We install right across the capital, from Croydon and Bromley in the south to Ealing, Barnet and Enfield in the north.
Space is at a premium across London, so many schools turn worn tarmac yards into multi-use areas that pack play, sport and quiet zones into a small footprint. On heavily-used inner-London sites we specify hard-wearing wet-pour over a generous sub-base so the surface stays safe under constant use.
The right surface depends on three things: the Critical Fall Height of your equipment, how the space will be used, and your budget. We survey each site, calculate the required impact protection, and recommend the surface that gives the safest, longest-lasting result for the money available.
Every project is specified to your site, age groups and budget. These are the playground surfacing options we most often install in London.
Wet pour rubber in London
A continuous, porous rubber surface poured on site in almost any colour. Ideal for graphics, markings and Critical Fall Heights up to 3m. Slip-resistant, wheelchair-friendly and quick-draining.
Rubber mulch in London
A natural, bark-effect bonded rubber surface that suits woodland trails and forest schools. Fully porous, low-maintenance and a cost-effective way to hit high fall-height ratings.
Artificial grass in London
All-weather synthetic turf with a shockpad underlay for play areas, MUGAs and early-years gardens. Green all year with no mud, mowing or standing water.
Grass mats & reinforced grass in London
Rubber safety mats pinned into natural grass under swings, slides and gateways. Grass grows through for a natural look with firm, mud-free, fall-safe footing.
Playground Surfacing around London
We install across London and the surrounding area, including:
This is part of our playground surfacing service, which we deliver for schools right across England & Wales. We also install nearby in Reading, Milton Keynes, Brighton, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Norwich.
Why schools in London choose us
Tested impact protection
Every surface is specified to the Critical Fall Height of your equipment and independently tested to BS EN 1177.
Porous & quick-draining
Wet pour and rubber mulch drain straight through, so play resumes minutes after rain with no puddles.
Built for all-year use
UV-stable colours and hard-wearing binders keep surfaces safe and vibrant through British winters and summers.
Inclusive & step-free
Continuous surfaces give wheelchair users and buggies smooth, level access across the whole play area.
Serving schools in and around London
Playground Surfacing in London: your questions
Do you install playground surfacing in London?
Yes. Commercial Play installs playground surfacing throughout London and the surrounding area. Every project starts with a free, no-obligation site visit, then a clear design and fixed quote.
What should London schools consider when choosing playground surfacing?
Space is usually the constraint on London school sites, so the aim is to make every metre work. Continuous wet-pour with multi-use markings packs play and sport into a compact yard, over a sub-base built for heavy daily use.
Are you a London-only company?
No. We work with schools across England & Wales from our Midlands and South offices, so we cover London and Greater London regularly as part of a wider service. You get a local, on-site team backed by our own installers.
Which playground surface is safest?
Every surface we install is specified and tested to BS EN 1177 for its Critical Fall Height, so all are safe when correctly matched to the equipment above. Wet pour and rubber mulch reach the highest fall heights, up to the 3m playground maximum, when laid to the right depth over a compacted sub-base.
How much does playground surfacing cost per square metre?
Indicatively, wet pour is around 29 to 90 pounds per square metre installed and rubber mulch about 40 to 100 pounds, with sub-base prep adding roughly 18 to 30 pounds where new groundworks are needed. These are market ranges to confirm against a site survey, as area, fall height and access all move the figure.
Wet pour vs rubber mulch, which is better?
Both are porous bonded rubber. Wet pour gives a level, colourful, wheelchair-friendly finish for markings and graphics; rubber mulch gives a natural bark-effect look and reaches high fall heights for less per square metre, which suits tall equipment and woodland areas.
How thick does wet pour need to be?
Wet pour runs from about 15mm up to 100mm or more, set by the Critical Fall Height. As a guide, roughly 25mm suits a 0.6m fall and about 100mm suits the 3m maximum, built as an EPDM wearing course of about 6mm over a deeper SBR shock base bound with polyurethane resin.
Can you install over existing tarmac?
Yes, where the existing tarmac or macadam base is sound and level we can lay wet pour or a shock-pad system straight over it, which reduces groundworks and cost. We check the base on survey first, as a failing sub-base needs repair before any surfacing goes down.
Is rubber mulch better than bark?
Rubber mulch gives a similar natural look but does not rot, blow away or need annual topping up, and it holds a higher, more consistent Critical Fall Height. Loose bark and wood chip decompose and must be replenished, so bonded rubber mulch usually works out better over its life.
How do you maintain playground surfacing?
Wet pour and rubber mulch need little more than occasional brushing and clearing of leaves and debris, plus a check of the wearing course. We repair splits, worn patches and edges as they appear so small issues do not spread; see repairs and maintenance.
How long does installation take and does the playground close?
Timescales depend on area and groundworks, but the affected zone is fenced off while we work and while the wet pour polyurethane binder cures. We phase larger jobs where we can so part of the space stays open, and we confirm the programme on quote.
Is rubber playground surfacing safe and non-toxic?
Wet pour and rubber mulch use EPDM and SBR rubber granules bound with polyurethane and are widely used across UK schools under BS EN 1177. Rubber mulch is made from shredded recycled tyre, which also gives it a recycled-content and sustainability benefit.
Do you add markings or games to the surface?
Yes. Wet pour takes colour graphics and markings in the EPDM surface itself, and we also apply thermoplastic games and designs; see thermoplastic playground markings. For courts and pitches, see MUGA sports surfacing.
Planning playground surfacing in London?
Tell us about your space and we'll arrange a free site visit, design and fixed quote.