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Does a Rainbow Climbing Frame Need to be Fixed to the Ground? | What Surface Does it Need to Sit on?
Seen lots of climbing frames online and wondering if climbing frames need to be secured to the ground? And what surface do you need to put it on? The answer to these questions all depends on the manufacturer of the climbing frame as well as what the frames are made of! Some manufacturers may suggest anchoring the frame down due to the light-weight frame of the set, while some might recommend gras over play bark. It really is individual.
Over the past 35 years, and with over 600,000 playsets installed worldwide, we’ve installed climbing frames on a wide range of surfaces. Let us guide you through when you may need to secure parts of your climbing frame to the ground and what surface options are out there!
Do You Need to Fix Rainbow Climbing Frames to the Ground?
For our play sets, the simple answer is no….. Rainbows do not need any kind of fixing to the ground unlike some of the other manufacturers out there. The benefit of a Rainbow Climbing Frame is very similar to everything made in America – it’s heavy, big and robust! The ultimate footprint a Rainbow gives to the ground, along with its massive weight, gives you the stability you need for kids to play, swing and jump on it… even the adults can get involved!
The only exception to this rule is if you chose to have a fireman’s pole or a corkscrew climber as part of your configuration. For these, we need to fix the base of that pole into the ground with a tiny application of concrete. This can easily be removed should you wish to relocate your climbing frame during ownership.
What Kind of Surface do I Need to Put my Climbing Frame on?
Once you have chosen your perfect Rainbow there is another question to consider. What surface do I need to put it on in the garden? For any residential play sets. there are no rules or regulations to say you have to have a specific surface for the climbing frame to sit on, so for the majority of us, it will simply go on and grass/lawned area of the garden.
However there are several options you can choose from, all with differing amounts of initial cost, maintenance and durability.
Grass
This is the most obvious choice for your climbing frame. Low-cost and not usually requiring any installation, this is good option for most families. All you will have to worry about is mowing it now and again!
Grass Mats
If you do want to install your Rainbow on your lush, beautiful lawn then there could be areas in and around that frame that get greater use or foot traffic leading to wear and tear. This can be prevented by laying rubberised grass mats. These mats have holes in it to allow grass to grow up through and to save the wear and tear. You can put these in specific areas or throughout the entire footprint of the frame. You can even mow over the top of these mats to keep the grass nice and low!
Artificial Grass
This is a great solution as it is green and inviting all year round. Leaves and garden debris can be removed easily with a leaf blower or rake, leaving the play area clean and tidy. However, some ground preparation would be required before the installation of artificial grass.
The next few options are popular with parents who want to create a designated, safe play space for their family’s climbing frame…
Play Bark
A bark pit with a wooden sleeper surround, weed membrane and then filled with play bark wood chips. This gives a nice natural look, while stopping any damage to grass. The only downside to this is that you may need to top up the wood chips at some point and rake them back in to the play area should they get kicked out with play.
Shredded Rubber
Very similar to the play bark with a wooden sleep surround. This will also prevent any wear and tear on grass around the play set. As with the play bark, the shredded rubber may also need replacing after a period of time.
Softbond
If budget isn’t an issue that you could look towards the Rolls Royce of play surfaces with a bonded rubber solution. Much like those found in commercial play areas, this takes rubber shred or fine rubber crumb and melds it all together with a binding agent and is laid to ground. It comes in a choice of colours to fit in with your garden. No displacement, no topping up & no real maintenance to speak of… every parent’s dream!
We hope this has helped settled some of your queries around having a climbing frame in your garden, as well as showing you how many options there are for surfacing for your wooden climbing frame to sit on! To see a full comparison of each surfacing option, click here. If you still have some unanswered questions or would like to speak to a Rainbow Expert, feel free to drop us a call on 01276 477461!
