Soft Under Bare Feet. Not 130 Degrees in July
A kid can slide off the swing set at three in the afternoon, land in the grass, and not burn a hand doing it. That is what a good playground turf install feels like in July.
Play-area turf differs from a landscape lawn in one respect that matters: what sits underneath it. Under swings and climbing frames a shock pad provides the fall cushioning, not the turf. Our Texas Supreme carries 5 mm of integrated padding, and additional padding can be specified under any blend where equipment requires it.
We install play areas for Austin metro families and for commercial properties across the same footprint. Most residential play areas are small, which makes them one of the more affordable ways to start with turf, and they are usually the part of the yard grass had already given up on.
What Playground Turf Actually Fixes
Softer Landing Surface
Foam padding under the turf turns a hard landing spot into a compliant fall zone. The pad thickness is specified for the equipment height.
Cooler in Summer Heat
Turf gets warm in direct sun. It does not reach pavement or concrete temperatures. Rinsing with a garden hose cools it in under a minute.
Drainable After a Storm
Kids do not have to wait a day for the yard to dry after a summer storm. High-flow backing drains through immediately.
What a Play Zone Install Includes
Foam Pad Options
We offer closed-cell foam padding in multiple thicknesses under the turf. Pad thickness is matched to the fall height of the equipment on-site.
Edge Safety
Around swings and slides, the turf and pad transition into the surrounding hardscape with no lifted edges or trip hazards.
Non-Toxic Infill
Play areas get the same lead-free, non-toxic infill we use for pet zones. It is safe for kids putting hands in their mouths.
Blend Options for Play Areas
Cen-Tex Blend
Face weight and pile are not built for daily tumbling. It will mat, and matting is not covered by the warranty. Fine on a low-traffic front yard, not in front of a swing set.
Hill Country Blend
Right pick when the play area doubles as a general backyard. 55 oz face weight, 15-year warranty, sheen-free look, certified lead-free.
Texas Supreme
Softest blade shape the manufacturer makes, plus 5 mm of integrated comfort padding. Not a fall-height-rated safety system, but noticeably softer underfoot than the other two.
How a Playground Install Goes
On-Site Consult
Measure fall zones, discuss equipment, review foam pad options.
Measure and Fixed Quote
Pad thickness and edge transitions written into the estimate. Within 48 hours.
Prep and Install
Base, foam pad where specified, seamed turf, non-toxic infill.
Walk-Through and Warranty
Care instructions and warranty registered in your name.
What People Ask About Playground Turf
Does playground turf need padding underneath?
Under play equipment, yes. The pad rather than the turf provides fall attenuation, and how much you need depends on the fall height of the equipment. On a flat play lawn with no equipment, padding is a comfort choice rather than a safety requirement.
What is padded playground turf?
Turf installed over a shock pad, or turf with padding integrated into its backing. Texas Supreme has 5 mm built in. For taller equipment a separate, thicker pad is added under whichever blend you choose.
Is the infill safe for children?
We use rounded silica sand for landscape areas and a zeolite mineral in pet zones. We do not use crumb rubber, the black recycled-tire granules used on sports fields, in residential yards. It is also the hottest infill in direct sun.
Does play turf drain after rain?
Yes, at 30 or more inches per hour through the punched backing, roughly ten times the heaviest Central Texas rainfall. Kids are back on it almost immediately after a storm, with no mud.
How hot does it get for bare feet?
In full sun it runs well above air temperature, like any hard surface. Shade over the play area is the single most effective fix, and a rinse buys ten to twenty minutes. Details in the heat guide.
Get Your Playground Turf Quote
Bring us your swing set specs and we bring the pad options and blend samples.