Why the Material You Choose Matters for Playground Longevity

Built Once. Built Right.

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Why the Material You Choose Matters for Playground Longevity

A new playground should be exciting for children—and reassuring for the people responsible for maintaining it.

When evaluating playground equipment, it’s easy to focus on the design, colors, features, and price. But there’s another decision that can have a significant impact for years to come: what the playground is made of.

Wood and metal have long been common playground materials. But both materials can change significantly as they are exposed to weather, moisture, sunlight, heat, and everyday wear.

That’s why Play Mart builds its structural posts and decking with Recycled Structural Plastic (RSP)™—a durable material designed to stand up to the demands of outdoor play.

What happens to playground materials over time?

Every playground experiences weather and wear. The difference is how the materials respond.

Wood can develop cracks and splits as it dries and weathers. It can also splinter, develop gouges, fade, and require ongoing staining or sealing. Moisture, insects, and decay can create additional maintenance concerns.

Metal can fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight and can become slippery when wet, particularly on slides and rails. Metal also absorbs and retains heat, making exposed surfaces hot to the touch in direct summer sun. Depending on the material and finish, corrosion can become another concern over time.

Recycled Structural Plastic takes a different approach. Color runs throughout the material, so it never needs staining or sealing. RSP is pressure-washable for simple, low-maintenance upkeep and resists rot, insects, and decay.

Why Play Mart developed RSP

RSP isn’t simply recycled plastic used in a different form. It is a structural material that Play Mart created for the posts and decking that form the foundation of our playground structures.

The material is approximately 85% recycled plastic by weight, including reclaimed post-industrial plastic. Play Mart also reuses our own manufacturing scraps, helping keep more than a million pounds of plastic out of the waste stream each year.

But sustainability is only part of the story.

RSP provides the durability, low maintenance, and consistent appearance that playground owners need from a structure expected to serve children for many years.

It’s more than the RSP

While RSP is the primary structural material, Play Mart doesn’t overlook the other components that make up a playground.

Metal components and stainless steel hardware are selected and finished to meet Play Mart’s high standards. Metal components are welded with stainless steel wire, finished with a textured SureGrip coating where appropriate, and use triple-coated zinc galvanized tubing as standard, with an all-stainless upgrade available.

Stainless steel hardware is standard on every piece of Play Mart equipment.

The result is a playground designed as a complete system—not simply a collection of individual components.

Built for the long term

A playground is a significant investment. The real cost isn’t just what you pay when it’s installed; it’s also what you spend maintaining it and how well it continues to look and perform years later.

A wood or metal playground may look great when it’s new. But over time, cracks, splinters, fading, rust, heat, moisture, and maintenance can change the experience.

Play Mart takes a different approach.

RSP is designed to look beautiful and stand strong for decades. Combined with carefully selected components and quality craftsmanship, it reflects a simple philosophy:

BUILT FOR DECADES. NOT JUST THE FIRST FEW YEARS.

Choosing playground equipment is about more than creating a great place to play today. It’s about choosing materials that can continue doing their job tomorrow, next year, and for years to come.

See how wood, metal, and Recycled Structural Plastic compare over time. Download the Play Mart infographic, “Built Once. Built Right.”(opens in new tab)

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Testimonials

"Play Mart Inc. is truly the company you want to do business with when looking for commercial grade playground equipment.

Lesson learned: not all playground equipment is compatible with other equipment. Our HOA had a Play Mart set that was purchased in 2005 it was needing to be refurbished. Ryan Williams contacted me right away asking what he could do to help. Records hadn’t been kept so I was having difficulty finding what we had and what we could do. After sending pictures from my phone, Ryan took over giving us the original design blueprint! A detailed report on what we had and what needed to be replaced was soon in my hands.

We were elated to learn that some of our stuff was still under warranty! Options of what could be done and what must be done to ensure the safety of our children were outstanding! We were so pleased that the nightmare of searching for playground equipment was now over! The equipment is made in the USA too.

While we wait for delivery we can’t thank Ryan Williams enough for the care he took in making sure that our playground is safe! They also offer installation if you need that! Everything ships with detailed installation instructions like a picture book! Thank You Play Mart and Ryan for all of your professional help!"

Jeanette Bowen

"I'm not sure whether the kids would have caused damage to the playset at some point, but the playground survived the hurricane. Your RSP™ is amazing."

Tim H. Gateway Services Community Development District

Ft Myers, FL

“I would just like to let you know Play Mart did a wonderful job on the packing/shipping and installation instructions. We have installed almost every manufacturer in the market and your company is the most installation friendly we have done in years.”

Playground Installation Crew

Kansas

“The contractor who assembled the set told me it was his first experience with recycled material in play sets and he was very impressed. He also told me it was very well packaged and user friendly for assembly.

It looks first class and blends in well with the wooded area surrounding our church. We like the fact we can accommodate so many kids with a set this size.”

Bruce P.

Topeka, KS

“This is cooler than big kids stuff!”

5 Year Old Child

Topeka, KS

“Congratulations on your extensive and impressive exhibit of your playground products. I was most impressed. If I were a child, I would spend a lot of time in the music section of your marvelous array of enticing things to do. But on the other hand, I could easily be enticed to the many other play opportunities for play and learning.

It is blatantly obvious that you have put a lot of careful thought into developing your engaging products for children. Congratulations and thank you for the tour of your exhibit at the trade show.”

Matthew Evans, FASLA Senior Landscape Architect & Horticulturist

US Capitol, Washington, DC

“It gives me great pleasure to be able to write a letter on behalf of Play Mart, Inc. On two different occasions in recent years, Play Mart constructed playground equipment on our school property. Play Mart representatives went out of their way to meet with the school playground committee so that we fully understand our options and the cost. We have been delighted with the equipment that Play Mart representatives recommended for our students. It is age appropriate and safe. We have had to make two minor repairs, which were quickly taken care of by the company.
In the process building the playground, we were very interested in using recycled materials. Availability of this via Play Mart was a big reason why we choose this company. Play Mart worked with us in obtaining exactly what we wanted. We were very pleased with the construction timeline and the value for the price. When we wanted to add more equipment, Play Mart was most helpful and made the changes cost effective for us. Our students spend many happy hours enjoying the playground.

We have been very happy with the entire project. It is with great satisfaction I write this letter on behalf of the company and their employees.”

Sister Laverne K., School Principal

Newark, DE

“We continue to be so pleased with our playscape! As soon as we open the door in preparation for outside play, the children head straight for the playscape. The teachers so enjoy watching the students play some of their favorite games which include: Pirate Ship (they all crowd on top of the playscape sailing off for adventure of the high seas), Shark! (similar to pirate ship but they all stand on top screaming “shark”), and Ice cream shop (sellers stand under the playscape and deliver ice cream cones to customers on the other side of the ‘counter’).
We thank you again for working so closely with us as we designed this safe and sturdy play area to fit the needs of our Nursery School. It has been one year and it still looks great, blending beautifully into our historic town green. Both our school and our community look forward to many, many more years of fun!”

Laurie H., Daycare Director

Washington, CT

“Our entire church is excited with the equipment and especially glad we saved 32,226 milk jugs from a landfill. We love the look of wood without the problems of termites and splintering.”

Joyce W.

Jacksonville, AR

“I wanted to drop you a quick note to commend you on your subcontractor’s performance…The combination of your quality equipment and the installation by Hammer Down has provided the staff, children and Marine Corp with an excellent play facility. The installation and application of the equipment has turned out superbly.  Hammer Down, Paul and his entire crew were pleasant to work with, knowledgeable of the equipment and codes and had an uncommon willingness to work well with us and other contractors. I commend them for an excellent install and terrific attitude.

As for the poured in place rubber; again a superb product paired with a great subcontractor. Clean Play, Allen and his crew provided a level of work that would be hard to surpass. The installation went smoothly and quickly. I appreciate their attention to detail and cleanliness. Though we may have stayed late, I never have an issue doing that for a contractor that works as hard and diligently as they did each and every day. There performance was outstanding and one I would look forward to seeing again.

I appreciate all of your help and you providing us with such high quality subcontractors. Thank you.”

Mike R., Superintendent

Sauer, Inc.