Cost-Effective Playground Surfacing at Broughton Primary Academy, Cockermouth

School profile

Following a successful Early Years playground project at Fairfield Primary School, the school recommended ESP Play to Broughton Primary after the two schools experienced similar issues with their existing wet pour surfacing.

Broughton Primary contacted ESP Play to explore whether there was a more cost-effective way to improve its playground surface without the expense of completely removing and replacing the existing wet pour.

The challenge

The school’s existing wet pour playground surface had started to deteriorate in one particular section.

While the majority of the surfacing was newer and remained in good condition, one area had become damaged and required attention.

The school had already received a quotation for the complete removal of the existing wet pour and installation of a brand-new playground surface.

However, with a tight playground improvement budget, the school could not afford the cost of completely excavating and replacing the existing surface.

The school therefore needed an alternative solution that would address the damaged area, improve the overall appearance of the playground and allow the children to safely use the existing trim trail again.

ESP Play assessed the condition of the existing wet pour to determine whether the school could retain the sections that were still suitable rather than replacing the entire surface.

The solution

A playground surface repair and artificial grass solution.

Following the site assessment, ESP Play identified that the majority of the existing wet pour was still in good condition and did not need to be removed.

Only one section required repair.

Rather than recommending a complete playground surface replacement, ESP Play proposed repairing the damaged area and then installing artificial grass over the existing surface.

The project included:

• Assessing the existing wet pour
• Identifying the section requiring repair
• Repairing the damaged wet pour
• Retaining the newer sections of existing surfacing
• Installing artificial grass over the area
• Providing a safe and compliant finished surface for the existing trim trail

This approach allowed the school to resolve the problems with its playground surfacing for a fraction of the cost of completely removing and replacing the existing wet pour.

A Cost-Effective Alternative to Full Wet Pour Replacement

Replacing an entire playground surface can be a significant investment, particularly when only a small section of the existing wet pour is damaged.

For Broughton Primary Academy, ESP Play’s site assessment showed that a full replacement wasn’t necessary.

The newer sections of wet pour remained in good condition, meaning there was no reason to remove and dispose of them.

By repairing the damaged section and transforming the surface with artificial grass, the school was able to address the problem without paying for unnecessary excavation, removal and replacement of the whole playground surface.

This provided a much more cost-effective playground refurbishment solution while achieving the school’s main objective: creating a safe, usable area for the children.

Safety Considerations

Safety was central to the project.

The damaged section of wet pour needed to be properly repaired rather than simply covered over.

ESP Play repaired the affected area before installing the artificial grass finish, ensuring that the underlying problem was addressed.

The completed surface was safe and compliant, allowing the school’s existing trim trail to be used again.

By assessing the condition of the existing surface and only carrying out the work that was necessary, ESP Play was able to improve playground safety without requiring a complete surface replacement.

Choosing Artificial Grass for the Playground

Artificial grass provided an effective way to transform the appearance of the playground while making use of the existing surface beneath.

The new finish gave the area a brighter and more inviting appearance and created a consistent surface around the school’s existing trim trail.

For Broughton Primary Academy, artificial grass also provided a practical way to achieve the desired transformation while keeping the project within the school’s limited budget.

Rather than spending a large proportion of the budget on removing an otherwise usable wet pour surface, the school was able to invest in repairing the damaged area and creating a fresh new finish.

Installation

ESP Play began by assessing the existing wet pour and identifying the areas that required attention.

Because the majority of the surface was newer and remained in good condition, it was retained.

The damaged section was repaired before the artificial grass was installed.

The new surface was then completed around the existing trim trail, providing a fresh and consistent finish across the play area.

The efficient approach meant the school avoided the disruption and additional expense associated with completely excavating the existing playground surface.

The outcome

A safer, brighter and more cost-effective playground.

The completed project has transformed the appearance and usability of Broughton Primary Academy’s outdoor play area.

The damaged section of wet pour has been repaired, while the existing good-quality surface has been retained rather than unnecessarily removed.

The artificial grass has given the playground a fresh new appearance and provided a suitable finished surface around the school’s trim trail.

Most importantly, the children can now use the trim trail again on a safe and compliant playground surface.

The school was also delighted with the financial saving achieved by choosing a repair and artificial grass solution rather than completely replacing the existing wet pour.

The project demonstrates that schools don’t always need to replace an entire playground surface when problems arise.

By carefully assessing the existing surfacing, ESP Play can identify where repairs are possible and develop a practical solution that addresses safety concerns while making the most of the school’s budget.

School testimonial

The school was extremely happy with the finished result and particularly pleased with the money saved compared with the cost of completely replacing the existing wet pour.

They would happily work with ESP Play again and recommend us to other schools looking for a cost-effective playground surfacing solution.