Poured-in-place rubber & playground surfacing in Southern CaliforniaSafer surfaces. Smarter play spaces.

Q: How does PIP compare with artificial turf or rubber tiles?

PIP offers the most design freedom and a seamless, low-maintenance surface, though it costs more to install than loose fill. Rubber tiles are modular, so individual tiles can be replaced for quick repairs. Playground turf uses padding to soften falls and gives a natural look. PIP and turf can also be combined in one multi-surface playground. PIP vs. turf and PIP vs. tiles.

Playground Safety Surfacing designs and installs poured-in-place rubber, porous rubber, synthetic turf and related safety surfacing for parks, schools, HOAs, contractors and commercial properties across San Diego, Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties.

Poured-in-place rubber · San Diego

EPDM wear layer

Safety built into every surface

Thoughtful planning, accessible design and professional installation from the ground up.

Safety Focused

Impact-attenuating systems

ADA Accessibility

Accessible, seamless routes

Fall-Height Planning

Surfacing planned for equipment

Professional Installation

Prepared, mixed & installed onsite

Custom Surface Design

Colors, graphics & play patterns

Surfacing Systems

Safety surfacing for every kind of play space.

From seamless poured-in-place rubber to porous pathways and synthetic turf, we help you choose the right product, design it and install it, with turnkey support at every stage of the project.

Flagship system

Poured-In-Place Rubber

A seamless two-layer system: an impact-attenuating recycled rubber basemat topped with a colored EPDM or TPV wear layer, mixed and poured on site.

Seamless & accessibleCustom graphicsFall-height depth

Porous Rubber Surfaces

A flexible, porous pavement made mostly of recycled tire rubber, used in place of concrete and asphalt for sidewalks, trails, tree wells, running tracks and multi-purpose areas.

Pathways & trailsRunning tracksTree wells

Artificial Grass & Synthetic Turf

Synthetic turf for playgrounds, schools, sports fields, dog parks, rooftops, pool areas and commercial landscapes. It also pairs with PIP for multi-surface play areas.

Playground turfSports fieldsDog runs

Bonded Rubber & Rubber Mulch

A single-layer surface of clean, wire-free recycled rubber and polyurethane binder, hand-troweled to a smooth, seam-free finish, with a bonded mulch-look option.

Recycled rubberSeam-freeMulch look

Illustration

Rubber Tiles

Modular rubber safety tiles are part of our surfacing lineup. We’ll walk you through how tiles compare with poured-in-place rubber for your site and budget.

Modular formatPlay areasPIP comparison

Playground Equipment & Shade

Commercial shade structures, plus playground equipment for ages 2–5 and 5–12. Surfacing, play structures and shade can be planned as one coordinated project.

Shade structuresAges 2–5 & 5–12Turnkey

Also available: Rubber Splash Pads PIP Maintenance & Repair Playgrounds Ages 2–5 Playgrounds Ages 5–12 Playground Equipment Loose-Fill Rubber & Engineered Wood Fiber

Poured-In-Place Rubber Surfacing

Two layers. One seamless, impact-attenuating surface.

What is poured-in-place (PIP) rubber? PIP is a two-layer safety surface: a cushioning basemat of recycled SBR rubber bound with polyurethane, topped with a colored EPDM rubber wear layer (TPV granules are an available upgrade). Because both layers are mixed and applied on site, the finished surface has no seams, and its thickness can be tailored to your equipment’s fall heights.

Seamless surface

No shifts or seams to trip over

Accessible pathways

Wheelchair, walker & cane friendly

Impact attenuation

Cushion depth set on site to fall heights

Custom colors

Blend colors to match equipment

Graphics & designs

School colors, logos, games, shapes

Durable & quick-drying

Wear inlays at swings & slide exits

System anatomy

EPDM / TPV wear layerColored granules + aromatic or aliphatic urethane binder

Impact-attenuating base layerRecycled SBR rubber basemat; thickness tailored on site to critical fall heights

Prepared sub-baseExisting site conditions evaluated before installation

Diagram is illustrative, not to scale.

Color & Pattern Studio

Design a surface kids will remember.

Poured-in-place rubber can be blended and inlaid in practically endless color combinations. Try a few of the EPDM colors we offer, then ask us about custom blends, school colors and logos.

Design inspiration preview

1 · Pattern

2 · Zone

3 · EPDM color

Design inspiration tool. Colors are on-screen approximations of the EPDM colors listed on our poured-in-place rubber page. Final colors and blends are confirmed from physical samples, and some colors call for an aliphatic binder.

Ask About Custom Colors

Applications

Built for more than playgrounds.

Every space needs a surface. The same systems that protect a playground also serve athletic areas, dog parks, courtyards, pool decks, rooftops, trails and tree wells.

Most requested

Commercial Playgrounds

Safety surfacing for public, school, childcare and community playgrounds, planned around fall heights, accessible routes and the look of your equipment.

PIP playgrounds Playground turf Splash pads

Mixed &
poured
on site

Why Playground Safety Surfacing

Designed around safety. Built for real-world use.

Safety-focused planning

Cushion-layer thickness is tailored on site to your equipment’s fall heights, and final depth is set from the project specifications and the surfacing manufacturer’s data.

Accessible surface solutions

Seamless poured surfaces avoid the shifting and seams of loose fill and tiles, creating smooth routes for wheelchairs, walkers and canes.

Custom colors & graphics

School colors, logos, games and geometric shapes can be permanently incorporated into the surface and blended to complement your equipment.

Commercial-grade, turnkey installation

We help you choose the product, design it and install it, and we work alongside contractors and landscape designers on larger projects.

Maintenance & repair support

Preventative maintenance and repairs protect your investment, and wear inlays under swing bays and slide exits reinforce the busiest spots.

Installation Process

From site walk to finished surface.

A clear, five-step path that keeps owners, architects and contractors aligned from first call to final walkthrough.

Project Discovery

Tell us about the site, who will use it and your timeline. We review existing surfaces and goals.

Site Evaluation & Planning

We measure the area and review slopes, drainage, existing surfaces and equipment fall heights.

Design & Specification

Choose colors, blends, graphics and wear-layer options, then confirm scope and layout.

Preparation & Installation

Our crew prepares the base, then mixes and installs each layer on site.

Final Review & Care Guidance

We review the finished surface with you and explain simple cleaning and maintenance.

Project timing varies with base conditions, weather, scope, design complexity and cure time. See our process

Project Gallery

Surfaces built to be used.

A selection of poured-in-place rubber, porous rubber, synthetic turf and shade structure projects from across Southern California.

All Projects Poured-In-Place Porous Rubber Artificial Turf Shade Structures

Gray poured-in-place rubber surrounding a red, blue and yellow play structure

Commercial playground with blue poured-in-place rubber and a red and blue play structure

Black poured-in-place rubber fitness area next to synthetic turf at a corporate campus

Blue poured-in-place rubber pad around a play structure next to a concrete walkway

Green safety surfacing under toddler play equipment with an animal-shaped play feature

Dark poured-in-place rubber surface under a play structure next to a building

Terra cotta porous rubber surface on a patio with a railing

Porous rubber pathway winding through a hillside garden

Brown recycled rubber surface filling a tree well around a tree trunk

Green synthetic turf play area with a play structure in the background

Synthetic turf putting green with flags

Dog on a synthetic grass dog run

Fenced dog park with synthetic turf, a shade tree and picnic tables

Shade structures over a turf play area beside a building

Wide view of shade sails over a playground and turf area

Tall shade structure over a turf play area

Covered play area under shade structures

Who We Work With

Built for the people responsible for safer spaces.

Facility managers, public agencies, designers and builders rely on us to specify and install surfaces that hold up to daily use, and to make the process easy on their teams.

Bidding a school, church, childcare or multi-family project? We can price surfacing into your bid and schedule around your construction timeline. We also help landscape architects plan patterns, fall heights and safety criteria.

Contractors hire us

Parks & Recreation

Community playgrounds, trails and recreation areas.

Schools

Playgrounds, fields and campus spaces in school colors.

Municipalities

City, municipal and public works surfacing projects.

HOAs & Apartment Communities

Shared play areas, pool decks and common spaces.

General Contractors

A surfacing partner for new builds and renovations.

Landscape Architects & Designers

Color, pattern and material input during design.

Childcare Facilities

Preschool and daycare play yards for young children.

Churches

Play areas and grounds for congregations and schools.

Commercial Properties

Corporate campuses, offices and commercial landscapes.

Recreation Facilities

Athletic areas, splash pads and multi-purpose spaces.

We also serve senior centers & assisted living, hospitals and office buildings.

Areas Served

Playground surfacing across Southern California.

We install poured-in-place rubber and related safety surfacing throughout San Diego, Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties. Find your city below.

Service coverageIllustrative, not to scale

San Diego County

Poured-in-place rubber, turf and porous surfacing for parks, schools, HOAs and commercial sites from the coast to East County.

Downtown San Diego Chula Vista Carlsbad Oceanside Escondido Encinitas La Jolla El Cajon Poway Santee National City San Marcos Vista Coronado

Orange County

Safety surfacing for community parks, schools, HOAs and athletic spaces throughout Orange County.

Irvine Anaheim Santa Ana Huntington Beach Newport Beach Costa Mesa Mission Viejo Lake Forest Fullerton Tustin

Riverside County

Playground and recreation surfacing from the Inland Empire to the Coachella Valley.

Temecula Murrieta Corona Moreno Valley Menifee Palm Springs Palm Desert

Los Angeles County

Commercial playground, school and park surfacing across Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles Long Beach Pasadena Covina Torrance Santa Monica Glendale Burbank Santa Clarita

Resource Center

Playground surfacing, answered.

Straight answers to the questions owners, facility managers and designers ask most before choosing a surface.

Durability

How long does poured-in-place rubber last?

Typically 8–15+ years in San Diego. Heavy use, full sun and poor drainage push it toward the low end. Good design, good drainage and proactive repairs push it toward the high end.

Surface comparison

Poured rubber or rubber tiles: which is right for my playground?

Poured-in-place is usually the better long-term choice when ADA continuity and minimal trip edges are the priority. Tiles often make more sense when fast, modular repairs matter, because you can replace individual tiles.

Accessibility

Can poured-in-place rubber be ADA compliant?

Yes, when it’s installed as a stable, firm, slip-resistant surface with smooth transitions. ADA-focused projects look to the 2010 ADA Standards, ASTM F1951 for wheelchair access and ASTM F1292 for impact attenuation.

FAQ

Questions we hear from project teams.

Can’t find what you need? Our surfacing specialists are happy to help at any stage of your project.

Talk to a surfacing specialist

Get help choosing, designing and scoping the right surface.

(888) 902-3777

What is poured-in-place rubber surfacing?

Poured-in-place (PIP) rubber is a two-layer safety surface. The bottom layer is an SBR rubber cushion that absorbs impact, and the top layer is a colored EPDM wear layer, with TPV granules available as an upgrade. Both layers are mixed and troweled on site over a prepared base such as concrete, asphalt or crushed stone, so the finished surface is seamless. Learn about PIP rubber.

How is playground surface thickness determined?

Thickness is set by the fall height of the play equipment. The right depth comes from the manufacturer’s ASTM F1292 test data, matched to each play component’s critical fall height, and the cushion layer is adjusted on site. Because every structure is different, a professional should specify the depth. How PIP is installed.

Can PIP rubber include custom colors and graphics?

Yes. The rubber is mixed and applied on site, so school colors, logos, games and geometric shapes can be built into the surface permanently. Colors can also be blended into speckled mixes. One way to manage cost is a blend of colored and black granules, since colored rubber is the most expensive part of the wear layer. Some colors are best paired with an aliphatic binder.

Is poured-in-place rubber ADA accessible?

PIP has no shifts or seams, which makes it accessible to wheelchairs, walkers and canes. It can meet ADA requirements when it’s installed as a stable, firm, slip-resistant surface with smooth transitions to adjoining paths. ADA compliance for PIP.

How does PIP compare with artificial turf or rubber tiles?

PIP offers the most design freedom and a seamless, low-maintenance surface, though it costs more to install than loose fill. Rubber tiles are modular, so individual tiles can be replaced for quick repairs. Playground turf uses padding to soften falls and gives a natural look. PIP and turf can also be combined in one multi-surface playground. PIP vs. turf and PIP vs. tiles.

How long does playground surfacing installation take?

It depends on scope and site conditions. Timing depends on the size of the area, any demolition and base work, design complexity, weather and cure time, so we provide a project-specific schedule with your estimate. See the project timeline.

What maintenance does PIP rubber require?

PIP is low-maintenance, but it isn’t maintenance-free. Sweep or blow off debris with a nylon broom or leaf blower (never a metal broom), wash it down periodically and inspect seams, edges and transitions. The wear layer is resealed over time, and worn areas should be repaired before they spread. We offer maintenance and repair services. PIP maintenance.

What areas does Playground Safety Surfacing serve?

We serve Southern California, including San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County and Los Angeles County. That covers cities such as San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Irvine, Anaheim, Temecula, Corona, Los Angeles and Long Beach. See all areas served.

Free Estimates

Planning a safer play space?

Let’s help determine the right surface system for your project, from fall heights and accessibility to colors, graphics and budget.

Request an Estimate

Let’s have a conversation about surfacing.

Our playground surfacing specialists are here to assist you at every stage of the process, from choosing the right product to design and installation.

1Share your projectSite type, location and what you have in mind.
2We follow upA specialist reviews your needs and next steps.
3Get your estimateA recommended surface system and scope for your site.

Call us