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Playground Installation Checklist

You’ve purchased a beautiful and safe playset for your kids. Now for the installation. The Rooster has consolidated installation lessons-learned over the years and summarized them below. Enjoy!

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The month before

☐ Layout your playset footprint on grid paper according to the manufacturer's diagram.

☐  Check the grade of your yard so the playset has good drainage (at least 2” per 10’).

☐  Orient the playset to avoid tree roots, retaining walls, in ground sprinklers and other hazards.

☐  Allow at least a 3’ buffer around the playset so the kids can navigate around the equipment.

☐ Avoid getting too close to fence gates or places that need to be maintained with a mower.

☐ Plan access to the site and allow for at least 6’ (gates, fences, landscape, neighbor property).

☐ Plan the type of surface for your play area (rubber mulch, wood mulch, grass, artificial turf). See https://www.roosterrubber.com/homeowners for downloadable manuals.

☐ Plan the type of borders for your play area (rubber timbers, plastic 8”, wood). See https://www.roosterrubber.com/borders for ideas.

☐ Call Rooster Rubber at 816-241-6400 for a quote on materials, installation, or both.

☐ Calculate the quantity of rubber mulch, weed barrier and borders at the Rooster’s mulch calculator: https://www.roosterrubber.com/

☐ Order materials several weeks ahead of time so any special items can be acquired.

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The week before installation

☐  Order and stage materials (borders, surfacing, weed barrier, etc.) at the site.

☐  Confirm install date with crew.

☐  Plan to be available so issues can be addressed promptly.

☐  Review installation diagram with installation lead, especially access to the site.

☐  Treat the playset project area with grass/weed eliminator.

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Installation - Site Prep

☐  Layout the borders according to your diagram (use string and stakes to keep a straight line).

☐  Tack down, but only enough to keep in position and allow the weed barrier to slide underneath.

 

Weed barrier-

☐  Start on the lowest part of the project area and lay down the 1st strip of barrier.

☐  Secure strip to ground with 6” sod staples (3 per square yard, except seams, which are every 15”).

☐  Secure the first strip. Then overlap the next strip by 6” or so, like how roof shingles are arranged.

☐ IMPORTANT! Try to achieve the tightest, smoothest surface as possible (see attached picture).

☐ Extend the barrier underneath the borders.

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Borders -

☐ Secure the borders once the weed barrier is down.

☐ Leave an opening so you can maneuver wheelbarrows or other equipment inside the area.

 

Rubber mulch installation...

With lifting equipment:

☐ Lift the sack using the stirrups on the top with forklift or similar that can safely lift 2,000 lbs.

☐ Position in area where it can be raked out (1 sack per 214 sq ft - 4”; 285 sq ft – 3”).

☐ To open a sack, make 2 vertical slits – 1 on each of 2 sides. Then make horizontal slit near the bottom on those same 2 sides.

☐ Warning: stand back about 3 feet from the sack when making the final cut. The mulch will exit under pressure.

☐ Rake out until level.

☐ Move borders back and secure to the ground.

☐ With garden hose, spray the mulch down to wash paint dust off.

 

With manual equipment:

☐ Slit sack open – stand back about 3’ so mulch has room to spill out.

☐ Shovel into wheelbarrow and move to the project site.

☐ Rake out until level.

☐ Move borders back and secure to the ground.

☐ With garden hose, spray the mulch down to wash paint dust off.

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Site drainage tips.

☐ 1-2% grade provides sufficient drainage.

☐ For larger sites, consider a French drain.