Cost-Effective Playground Surfacing at Penruddock Primary School, Penrith

School profile

The school wanted to improve the appearance, safety and usability of its existing outdoor play area. However, with a limited playground improvement budget, completely replacing the existing wet pour surfacing would have been a significant investment.

Natalie, an Early Years Teacher at the school, contacted ESP Play after her brother recommended us following a previous project we had completed for him.

The challenge

The school’s existing wet pour playground surface had become tired, worn and difficult to maintain.

One corner of the play area had failed completely after the sub-base underneath had washed away. This had caused the surface to split and created a dip in the area, presenting a potential trip hazard for the children.

Elsewhere, the wet pour remained in reasonable condition but was looking old and discoloured. The school was also finding it difficult to keep the surface clean.

Initially, the school requested a quotation for the complete removal and replacement of the existing wet pour. However, with a limited budget available for playground improvements, the school wanted to explore whether there was a more cost-effective alternative.

ESP Play therefore assessed the condition of the existing surface to determine whether it could be repaired and retained rather than completely removed and replaced.

The solution

A playground surface repair and artificial grass solution.

Rather than replacing the entire wet pour surface, ESP Play identified that much of the existing surfacing could still be retained.

The solution focused on repairing the damaged areas and transforming the appearance of the whole outdoor space with artificial grass.

The completed project included:

• Cutting back areas of damaged and splitting wet pour
• Repairing the affected sections
• Removing the failed section of surfacing
• Installing a new sub-base in the affected corner
• Adding a new layer of base rubber
• Installing artificial grass across the area

This approach allowed the school to address the specific areas requiring attention while avoiding the significant cost of completely removing and disposing of the existing wet pour.

The artificial grass also provided a fresh, bright finish across the outdoor play area, creating a more inviting environment for the school’s youngest children.

Safety Considerations

Safety was an important consideration throughout the project.

The failed section of wet pour was not simply covered over. The damaged surfacing was cut back so that the underlying issue could be properly addressed.

Where the sub-base had washed away, a new sub-base and layer of base rubber were installed. This addressed the dip in the surface and provided a suitable foundation for the new finish.

Other areas of damaged and splitting wet pour were also repaired before the artificial grass was installed.

By focusing on the specific areas that required attention, ESP Play was able to address the school’s safety concerns while retaining the existing surface where it remained suitable.

Installation

Before the new surface could be installed, the damaged and failed areas of wet pour were cut back and removed where necessary.

The failed corner was rebuilt with a new sub-base and layer of base rubber, while other damaged sections were repaired.

Once the existing surface had been prepared, artificial grass was installed across the outdoor play area to provide a fresh and consistent finish.

By repairing rather than completely excavating the existing wet pour, the installation avoided the additional work and expense associated with a full surface replacement.

The outcome

A brighter, more inviting Early Years outdoor play area.

The completed project has transformed the appearance and feel of Penruddock Primary School’s outdoor play space.

The tired and discoloured wet pour has been given a fresh new look, while the failed corner has been rebuilt to address the original issue with the underlying sub-base.

The artificial grass has created a brighter and more welcoming environment for the children to enjoy as part of their Early Years outdoor learning and play.

The children have also embraced the transformation.

As Natalie explained, “We love our new outdoor area – the children have loved playing on the artificial grass.”

The project demonstrates that schools don’t always need to completely replace an existing playground surface to achieve a significant improvement. By carefully assessing the condition of the existing area, ESP Play was able to develop a practical and cost-effective solution that improved the appearance, functionality and safety of the space.

School testimonial

“We were absolutely thrilled with the whole process. Your professionalism was brilliant, I was so impressed with your manner when you came for the initial visit. I was also impressed with your honesty during the site visit.

We love our new outdoor area – the children have loved playing on the artificial grass. The guys who came for the installation were great, they got on with the job and it looked amazing once completed.

I will complete the Google Review and will also highly recommend you to other people looking for a great firm.”

Natalie, Early Years Teacher, Penruddock Primary School