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The Difference Between Macadam and Polymeric Rubber

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

When it comes to sports courts, two of the most common surfaces are macadam and polymeric rubber. These specifications may appear quite similar to look at, but they both have unique characteristics that make them different.

Depending on the sports you want to play and the skill level, one of these surfaces may suit your facility better. Below are some of the key features of each specification and the differences between.

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What is Macadam Sport Surfacing?

Macadam Sport Surfacing is a popular type of surfacing used by schools, sports clubs, playgrounds and domestic homes due to its wide range of applications. Ranging from pathways to driveways, the surfacing can be used in different situations. However, it’s usually most popular to create outdoor sports areas. See more about tarmacadam surfacing here if you are interested in this product.

Macadam is a material made up of stone mixed with tar. The process usually needs a stone sub-base to be poured on top of the desired surface. Once the stone sub-base has been poured and spread evenly, then the macadam mixture can be poured on top of it. Once set, it’ll need 3 weeks for the oils to vaporise. After that, colours and designs can start being applied.

Advantages of Tarmac Flooring

Cost effective – Macadam is quite cheap and hardly requires any more money to be spent on it.
Requires low maintenance – Means you can spend less time worrying about maintaining the surface and more time enjoying it.
Porous – Water that falls onto the tarmac will start to be drained, avoiding any chance of flooding.
Fully customisable – When creating the surface, you can choose the colour, designs and lining you wish to have.
Good ball bounce – Games like football, basketball and netball will be a lot better due to the floor adding a bit more bounce to the ball.
Slip resistance – A coating of paint can be applied to the surfacing which increases the slip resistance, making it great for children.

Disadvantages of Macadam

Time-consuming – It can take up to 3 weeks for the surface to be ready for customisation so it’s usually good to book in advance.
Additions can cost more – When adding things like slip-resistant paint, designs and colours, it can cost you more money and set you back financially.

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What is Polymeric Rubber Flooring?

Polymeric Rubber is basically granules of rubber held together by polyurethane (a binding agent) and sprayed with a high-traction, coloured top-coat. It’s most commonly used for surfacing athletic running tracks but is also popular for tennis, netball and basketball courts and multi-use games areas.

When the polymeric rubber is placed on the surface, it is then sprayed with a high-traction top-coat which is the actual playing surface. If lines are wanted as well, they can be sprayed on top of this layer. A shockpad can also be installed underneath the polymeric rubber layer for shock absorption, to avoid any injuries if someone falls over. Learn more about polymeric surfacing here if you’re interested in this particular specification.

Advantages of EPDM Rubber Surfaces

Range of colours – Can be customised to match your preferences and needs.
Best for professional athletics and a higher standard of play – Due to the surface is a lot more tailored for athletics, it makes the best surface for it.
Porous – Again, this surface can drain water that starts to form on the EPDM.
Shockpad – Incredibly useful to install as it reduces the risk of injury when someone falls over on the surface.

Disadvantages of Polymeric Surfacing

Needs to be laid on a tarmac surface – This can eliminate many plans you may have to install one of these or it can cost a lot more.
Can be expensive – With all the additional add-ons, the surfacing can become a lot more expensive compared to other alternatives.

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If you have any queries or ideas that you would like a professional’s view on, then contact us today! Our team will respond as quickly as possible and will give you 100% satisfaction with no problems or fuss throughout the process.

We can help you with any part of the design and installation and will give you high quality and high efficiency throughout the whole thing. We aim to make sure that you are completely satisfied with the product and will do everything we can to get that result.

What Is Rhino Pave?

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Soft Surfaces have many years experience in the surfacing industry and are often asked about Rhino Pave surfaces and its uses.

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Rhino pave is a single layered system that is laid over compacted stone like MOT Type 1. It is a blend of recycled rubber (SBR) and decorative natural stone (aggregates) bound together with a resin binder.

This Eco Pathway Paving system is a natural hard-wearing surface that is a porous material which has great drainage. This means that areas are useable year-round and with small amounts of maintenance (sweeping and jet washing) should remove debris and stop the surface holding water.

Rhino Pave Explained

The video below explains Rhino Pave in more detail along with it’s main uses.

Please see transcript below:

00:00 Hi guys, this is Dan from Soft Surfaces here. I’m going to be explaining what is Rhino pave. Rhino pave is essentially predominately used pathway, and this can be used for schools, parks, woodland spaces, etc.

00:11 Whether your area is commercial or recreational, we can install it at your facility. The actual surface of Rhino pave is a rubber and stone mixture, and it’s good for both underfoot and is incredibly durable, meaning the vehicles can drive over if needs be.

00:24 There are many different colors or specifications to choose from. As always, if there’s any specifications you need, just inquire with us. Here at Soft Surfaces Limited, we have over 20 years of experience installing many different Rhino pave surfaces across the UK.

00:37 We really feel like we’re the right company to come to if you’re looking to have the surface type installed. For any more information about this, please visit us at http://softsurfaces.co.uk.

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Rhino pave makes for a great improvement to most traditional surfaces. It can replace:

Bridle & Cycle Ways
School/Nurseries Daily Mile Tracks
General Footpaths & Golf Pathways
Eco-trails & Canal/River Walkways

Due to its smooth finish it is Bike, Pram/Buggies and Wheelchair friendly also strong enough to for equestrian traffic.

Being a bond of recycled SBR rubber and natural aggregates. This firm surface has good grip and resilience when constructed onto a suitable base. It can be graded down into a surface if no edges are provided or to save costs.

For more information on what Rhino Pave is along with other uses in the UK, please get in contact today and we can offer some friendly, professional advise.

PS4 Activity Games Space Area in Penrith

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Our installation team recently completed a project to build a PS4 activity games space area in Penrith. The work was done for North Lakes School through the Sport England Primary Spaces scheme which aimed to improve outdoor facilities to get kids more active in schools. These multi-use games spaces have been specially designed to offer children a versatile outdoor area which can be utilised for numerous activities, sports and games. The complete facility is comprised of a multi-coloured playing surface with activity panels and goals at either end which can be used for football, basketball and other games.

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For this particular construction project, the school already had an existing tarmac area which they used as a playground and MUGA court. This gave us a perfect sub base for the chosen activity surfacing specification which was the Multisport synthetic carpet. The reason we used this artificial turf flooring is that it is extremely durable and versatile so it is suitable for continuous use by children playing a lot of different games and sports. Because this specification is a fibre bonded style of carpet which is needled together, it is a lot more porous than other synthetic turf so water can drain through it very quickly and efficiently. We often install this flooring type for multi use games areas and recreational athletics facilities at schools, colleges and local sports clubs.

The first stage of the construction process for our professional installers was to put in the multi-coloured fencing and goal ends at the two ends of the school’s chosen area. These contain a football goal, basketball hoop and coloured shapes which can be incorporated into any PE lessons or break time activities. The existing tarmac surface provides a good foundation for the Multisport synthetic flooring as it is hard, smooth and durable. This means that the macadam will support the carpet and provide even playing qualities on the activity surface.

Penrith Activity Area

Once the fencing and goal ends had been secured into place, the installers began laying out the synthetic carpet pieces in the specified design. This was done in a blue and green checkered square pattern with yellow down the sides and red in front of the two goals. Each piece of artificial surfacing was rolled out into the correct position and secured to the tarmac base at the seams with a specialist glue to hold them firmly in place.

The final part of the work for this PS4 activity games space area in Penrith was to apply a layer of sand infill across the whole area. This is done because the curly yarn fibres of the Multisport synthetic turf encapsulate the sand to ensure even playing qualities. The silica sand particles help to hold the grass fibres in an upright position to ensure players are comfortable when running around on the surface. When this process was finished, the end result was a fantastic outdoor activity area that the children and staff at the school are very happy with. This facility can now be used during PE lessons, break times and extracurricular clubs to help pupils become more active and improve their health.

Please have a look at this video which shows the full construction process for this activity surface:

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If you are interested in having this type of games facility installed at your school or college, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. We can install this type of versatile MUGA surfacing to suit a range of designs if you would like to create your own alternative version of the PS4 activity games space area. Our team of specialists will be able to give you some advice on the costs for installing these facilities, as well as product sheets to help you choose the perfect design. Simply take a moment to fill in our contact form and we will be in touch to send you some more information and discuss your budget and the type of surface you are looking for.

Polymeric MUGA in Kennington, London

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

At Soft Surfaces, we’re a specialist installer on polymeric MUGA surfacing in Kennington, London and are also able to fit this surface nationwide.

In addition to installations, our team can offer polymeric MUGA repair services for existing polymeric MUGA surfaces within this location, so if you have currently got a polymeric MUGA surfacing that needs either resurfacing or rejuvenating, feel free to get in touch with us today.

For this particular blog post, we show off one of our polymeric MUGA installations that we carried out in Kennington, London.

Below you can see the specific information for this installation, as well as the video transcript describing the job in more detail.

As always if you are interested in any of our polymeric MUGA services we offer throughout Kennington or the entire London area, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no obligation quote today.

Polymeric MUGA Surface in Kennington, London Case Study

Polymeric sports surfacing can dramatically improve the look and playability of your MUGA.

Whether refurbishing an old, tired macadam surface or starting from scratch, polymeric rubber is a perfect surface for multiple sports.

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Polymeric Refurbishment for Adidas

The video below shows the process of renovating an old, polymeric sports area with a new polymeric rubber surface in multiple colours with Adidas branding.

Please see video transcript below:

00:05 Hi Guys. It’s Dan from Soft Surfaces again here. And on this video we’re going to be showing you a polymeric surface refurbishment in Kennington, London. The first thing we do here is actually examine the existing surface. So you can see here it’s got the very large cracks in it, it’s very worn down. Really is a need of a refurbishment. It kind of, you know, makes the area look a lot more drab than it needs to. So what we did is we actually get the new polymeric surface and we take it there. So we’re obviously fitting that there, as you can see from the photos. You can see the difference in contrast between the old service and the new.

00:31 And after that’s actually on the structural polymeric spray’s then actually fitted on. So this is actually for Adidas, as you can see from the logo. And here you can see it really transforms the area, make it look a lot brighter, a lot more colourful, a lot more inviting really.

00:43 So Soft Surfaces actually works with polymeric surfaces for a long time. We install them and refurbish them across the country and we have a lot of different jobs in London that we have examples of as well to show you. So the great thing with polymeric is it’s available in different colours, different sizes, and obviously you know, it can be used for different surface types too so basketball, football, etc.

01:00 So here is the completed project now guys. So you know, this looks absolutely brilliant when it’s installed. You can see the contrast from when it was first, from what it first looked like with the cracks. And you know, obviously the worn down finish. It’s got brand new surface now ready to play multiple sports on as it’s a multi-use games area. And obviously the line marking really adds it, brings it all together as well, makes them look absolutely fantastic.

01:18 So yeah, we hope you guys enjoyed this installation. Over the years Soft Surfaces have carried out many jobs in the London area. And as a result of this, we currently ranked in Google for the following key phrases, MUGA Sports Facility, London, Repair My Polymeric Court Kennington, London Basketball Court Installers, Football Pitch Company in London, England, Kennington Sports Surface refurbishment, and much more.

01:42 So if you’re interested in a quote or you’d like to find out more about our products or specifications, please feel free to visit us at www.softsurfaces.co.uk. Thanks a lot for watching guys.

About Kennington

Kennington is a district in south London, England. It is mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, running along the boundary with the London Borough of Southwark, a boundary which can be discerned from the early medieval period between the Lambeth and St George’s parishes of those boroughs respectively.

Kennington Park, laid out by Victorian architect James Pennethorne, and St Mark’s Churchyard now cover the site of Kennington Common. The Park was originally designated one of the Royal Parks of London.

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Benefits of Polymeric Surfacing in Kennington

Slip Resistant

For any sports pitch, the last thing you would want your players or athletes doing is slipping when practicing. Polymeric surfaces are often installed with a safe and slip-resistant finish that will prevent any unwanted accidents.

All Weather Surface

Polymeric pitches can be used all year round as they are not prone to flooding or getting muddy, the surface will never become hard or start cracking during the warmer months of the year. This allows you to get use out of your surface all year round.

Physical Benefits

Since the pitches are multi-use it is a great investment when deciding to purchase a polymeric surface as you get more out of the money you are using.

Polymeric Surfacing Applications in Kennington

A lot of our clients are often interested in what types of surfacing polymeric can actually be used for, and the truth is, it’s an extremely versatile flooring type.

To give some examples, here are some applications that polymeric can be used for in this area:

Polymeric Basketball Court Kennington
Polymeric Race Track Kennington
Polymeric Football Court

and many more.

If there is a specific polymeric surface you are interested in having installed in the London area, feel free to contact us today, and we will be more than happy to help.

Why Choose Us?

At Soft Surfaces our team have over 25 years of experience installing polymeric MUGA surfacing in Kennington, as well as the London area.

The team pride themselves on only using the highest quality materials for our works, and our hard working installers will work relentlessly to ensure your Kennington polymeric MUGA surface looks brilliant in whatever specification you desire.

Additionally, our team can take care of the maintenance of your surface post installation too, making the process of caring for your new polymeric MUGA surface a breeze. Feel free to get in touch with us if this is something that you would be interested in, and a member of our team will get back to you right away.

Other London Areas we Install Polymeric MUGA

Here at Soft Surfaces, we’re able to install polymeric MUGA surfacing throughout the London area, including the following areas:

Polymeric MUGA Installation in Croydon
Polymeric MUGA Installation in Bromley
Polymeric MUGA Installation in Barnet
Polymeric MUGA Installation in Ealing
Polymeric MUGA Installation in Wandsworth

and any other surround areas.

Contact us Today

If you would like polymeric MUGA surfacing installed in Kennington, please make sure to speak to us using the contact form provided.

We can offer more information on designs, colours and prices along with advice on preparation works and more.

Should You Clean or Resurface Your Tennis Court?

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Tennis courts are a common facility in many different locations. Ranging from homes to schools, many people have used them and enjoy playing the sport regularly. But if the court doesn’t look or feel good, then people will tend to avoid it. So how can this problem be avoided and solved?

It’s not uncommon for someone to think that the area needs completely resurfacing if it has fallen into disrepair. But this is not always the case. So, should you clean or resurface your tennis court?

Common Tennis Court Problems

Many people notice that their sport surface is degrading when common tennis court problems like these start occurring:

Moss/Algae coverage – The surface starts the have areas becoming infested with the contaminants which seem to be growing over certain time periods. See more about sport surface maintenance here for a detailed explanation.
Drainage of water failing – Puddles of dirty water seem to be forming with no drainage happening at all, which can lead to even more contaminants thriving.
Slippery surface – Whilst on the surface, people may notice that they can’t get a strong grip on it and end up slipping around quite a bit.
Weeds start growing – Even though most courts have a layer which prevents this, weeds can start growing through to the surface which can be a clear sign that some maintenance is required.
Fading of the paint – Being more of an aesthetic point, some people may start to notice their court is degrading once the look of it is becoming a lot more faded. This can also contribute to a loss of slip resistance.

Points like these are usually great indicators that the court needs to have a good clean to get it looking brand new and working at its full potential. If you do notice these issues, then don’t ignore them. Act straight away to avoid any more serious damage from occurring.

Get in touch with our team today to find out more about the services we offer and see how we can fix problems with your surface.

How to Clean a Tennis Court

Cleaning a tennis court varies depending on what type of surface you have and how badly it needs cleaning. Below are the three most common methods used by our team to make sure that your court becomes clean and fresh to use again.

Porous Macadam – One of the most common types of hard sports surfacing, many people have problems when it comes to keeping porous macadam surfaces clean. Our team will come equipped with power washers filled with a specially designed tennis courts solution, allowing for easy removal of debris. In addition, we can also apply moss and algae treatments if wanted. Regular brushing is recommended afterwards to keep dirt from getting stuck.
Polymeric Rubber – Another type of surfacing used for tennis, polymeric rubber is quite like porous macadam in terms of cleaning. View this post to find out about the differences between the two surfaces. A specially designed solution is used and is applied by power washers onto the surface. When a power washer is used on both surfaces, we keep the distance quite far and clean at an angle, so all debris can be targeted and that it doesn’t damage the floor even more. Brushing is also recommended to prevent dirt from building up.
Synthetic Turf – A different type of surface means a different type of cleaning process. Drag brushing is the common method for cleaning synthetic turf and removing dirt. After the surface has had a thorough brushing, a redistribution of the sand infill is started to make the pitch feel brand new. If the turf has become badly contaminated with moss, our team can perform a professional rejuvenation process to remove all traces of the contaminant.

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As you can see, different courts require different cleaning due to how the specifications are unique from each other. You should take some time to analyse how dirty your court is and what type it is. By doing this, you save a lot of time just going for a random method and just wasting your time and resources. Check out this case study which shows our team cleaning and repainting a facility in Leeds.

The video above shows our team thoroughly cleaning and repainting a sports surface in Suffolk.

Benefits of Cleaning Tennis Courts

Tennis facilities that are regularly cleaned wield a lot more benefits than those that are just left to build up dirt and rot. These benefits of cleaning tennis courts include:

Increasing the lifespan of your sport surfacing
No unnecessary damage occurring
Risks of users slipping/getting hurt decreased significantly
Appearance looks great
No resurfacing needed
Great drainage

There are a lot more but these are some of the main benefits that people usually think of. Cleaning is incredibly important when it comes to making sure that your facility is working at its optimum and nothing less. After all, you only deserve the best when it comes to it so make sure that your court stays on top of all the problems and that it’s all clean. This is especially true if you are wanting to use the facility for LTA playing standards or other competitive events.

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Resurfacing Your Sports Facility

In the worst-case scenario, your tennis court has become heavily contaminated with moss and algae. In addition, some of the courts is starting to degrade and have pieces coming off it. Not all hope is lost though, as there is still one course of action you can take to save your court. That being resurfacing the whole area and starting again.

Resurfacing is usually the last resort by many due to the requirement of a lot of time and money being required for this process. If the court has been badly affected by damage and lack of maintenance over long periods of time, it could be the only option.

Firstly, you must be able to provide details on what kind of problems the court has. Doing this allows us to understand the severity of the problem and to see if there is any other option we can offer to save you money and time.

If the court needs resurfacing, our team will organise a date where they will come to the location and perform either a resurfacing of tarmac or carpet (depending on the surface you originally had). You could also choose to have a completely new specification installed if you would prefer.

Once the resurfacing process is finished, you’ll have a completely new facility with the highest playing standards. For hard courts, we’ll apply a new coating of anti-slip paint in a colour of your choice along with line markings for a clear appearance.

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Find Out More

If you are wondering whether to clean or resurface your tennis court, then get in contact with us here at Soft Surfaces. With over 20 years of experience, we will be more than happy to help with any questions or queries you may have about the sport surfacing. So, send us an enquiry and one of our team members will get back to you as quick as possible.

Spending Your Sport Premium Funding

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

You may have come across Sport Premium Funding and you are unsure on how to make use of this in the best way possible. We have a number of different choices which can help to improve your school and enhance your Ofsted Reports.

Spending your Sports Premium Funding wisely is important. You will need to think about the best options for your school individually. Keep on reading to find out more.

What is Sport Premium Funding?

The Sport Premium Funding scheme has been introduced to boost improvements to PE and sport at primary schools throughout the UK. It is intended to encourage the development of healthy, active lifestyles and form good habits from a young age. This may be found similar to the Primary School Sport England Funding available.

The Secretary of State does not allow the use of the budget on employing coaches or specialist teachers and it also dismisses using the funds to teach the minimum requirements of the PE curriculum.

Academies and free schools must publish information on their website in relation the amount of funding received, a full breakdown of spending, impact on school and how the improvements will be sustainable for the future. There are plenty of designs for school MUGA pitches which you may want to consider for improving sports facilities.

How to Use Sports Premium Funding?

Schools must use the funding to make additional and sustainable improvements to the quality of sport and PE. This can include the following:

Daily Mile/Golden Mile track surfacing – The Golden Mile is basically a track that the kids will run, walk or jog around every day to ensure they get a mile of exercise.
Long Jumps, Triple Jumps and High Jump Fans – These are perfect for schools looking to improve their students’ athletics skills. Compact athletics facilities can also be installed.
Synthetic Sprint Lanes – Athletics tracks are also great for children, as they can be used for sports days and other events.
MUGA’s (Multi Use Games Areas) – This is where multiple sports can be played in a single area. This is perfect for schools which have limited space or funds, but want to provide the best facilities for the students.
Sports Court Renovation – Repainting, cleaning, rejuvenation and other maintenance services can be carried out for all sorts of sports courts varying from tennis court maintenance to netball.
Playground Surfacing – (wetpour, mulch, artificial grass etc.). – Additionally, you may also get children’s play surfacing installed to create an area where activities can be carried out.

As well as sports facilities, you can use the funds to promote activity outside of school. This would involve using local athletics clubs, swimming pools, gymnasiums etc. to boost physical education.

The introduction of extra-curricular sports activities can drastically increase the number of children taking part in activity along with the range of sports they are able to play. With certain skills being taught within the curriculum as mandatory, it is always beneficial to offer alternatives so every child has the opportunity to try something that they enjoy. Visit this post to find out more about Ofsted recommendations for school playgrounds and sports areas.

Learn More About Funding

If you wish to learn more about funding that can be offered to you, please get in touch with one of our team members today. Simply fill in the contact form provided and we will get back to you as soon as we can with all the information you need.

All Purpose Sports Pitch Builders

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

The growth in popularity of multi-use games areas at schools and clubs in the UK means that children can take part in a wide variety of different activities all in the same place without the need for building extra facilities. All-purpose sports pitch builders commonly install these versatile surfaces which can be used for combinations of a range of games including football, rugby, netball and tennis.

Contact us today for more details on the costs and specifications for all-weather sports facilities. These are ideal for many organisations including local clubs and schools, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you are interested in having one installed.

Synthetic Grass Sport Surfacing

There are a number of different artificial turf specifications to choose from when you’re looking to build an all-weather sports pitch. Each one has its own qualities and characteristics which are better suited to different activities, so it’s a good idea to do some research before you decide which surface type to install.

2G Sand Filled / Sand Dressed – This second-generation multi-use pitch surface is made up of a synthetic grass carpet with silica sand infill installed between the synthetic turf. Having the layer of sand applied helps the grass fibres of the pitch to perform well and stay upright during training and matches. 2G grass surfacing is usually installed for sports like hockey and football.
Needlepunch Synthetic Sports Flooring – This fibre bonded specification is extremely durable to withstand heavy use from a lot of sports such as football, hockey and athletics. You can choose from a number of different colours and rainbow designs with needlepunch synthetic grass to create a fun and engaging facility for kids to enjoy.
3G Artificial Turf Pitch – As the most technologically advanced synthetic grass sport surface type, this third-generation artificial turf is ideal for football and rugby as it provides similar characteristics to natural grass. A layer of rubber crumb infill is put within the 3G grass to enhance the performance qualities and prevent injuries to players’ muscles and joints.

Sports Court Surfaces

As an alternative to artificial grass all-purpose sports pitch surfaces, many organisations choose to have hard courts installed which are better suited to games like tennis and basketball. These surface types come in a number of different designs:

Porous Macadam Courts – These can come in either Type 1 MUGA or Type 2 MUGA specifications, each of which has a slightly different slip resistance rating to be better suited for different sports. Type 2 macadam MUGA surfacing is better for netball as it offers more resistance and grip to players. Macadam courts are extremely durable and versatile to withstand heavy use from a number of activities including tennis and basketball.
Polymeric Rubber Court – This EPDM rubber sports surface type is installed onto a macadam base layer and also has two different specifications, Type 3 and Type 4 MUGA, dependent on the required slip resistance qualities for each sport. Polymeric surfacing is also commonly used for athletics tracks and long jump runway surfaces.

Both macadam and polymeric rubber sports court surfacing can have specialised anti slip paint coatings applied to enhance the performance and safety of the court and to give it a brightly coloured and attractive appearance. Acrylic non slip paint is usually used for macadam surfacing and polyurethane coatings are normally used for polymeric courts. The anti-slip properties are achieved by mixing the paint with sand and aluminium oxide, this increases the friction and traction of the surfacing and prevents any injuries from slips and falls.

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Maintaining an All Purpose Sports Pitch

When you have a brand new court installed by a professional surfacing contractor at your organisation, you need to look after it properly if you want it to remain safe and keep up its good performance qualities. This can be done by implementing a regular maintenance scheme to keep the area clean and free from any contaminations. Maintenance for a synthetic grass all weather pitch could include drag brushing which redistributes the sand and rubber infill particles and removes debris, deep cleaning and topping up the infill layers. Polymeric or macadam courts can be maintained by pressure washing and brushing to remove any debris such as litter or fallen leaves from the area.

Watch this video below to see a full process of maintenance for a synthetic sports surface that was waterlogged. The artificial carpet had become blocked up with dirt which stopped water from draining through and into the ground underneath. Our team completed a thorough cleaning service to remove the contaminated infill and replace it with a clean layer.

Both synthetic grass and hard court surfaces can have moss and algae treatments applied to prevent contamination and to stop the facility surface from becoming slippery and unusable. If your artificial surface does become damaged or contaminated, you need to get it repaired as soon as possible to prevent the problem from growing and causing lasting damage to the area. If the issue is not rectified quickly it can lead to your pitch or court becoming waterlogged and extremely unsafe for use, meaning it could have to be resurfaced.

If you’d like to enquire about a new all-purpose sports pitch installation or maintenance project, please get in touch with us through our contact form and be sure to include as much information as possible about the job. We will get back to you with some helpful advice in regards to quotes and project specifications for a whole host of different facilities. You can visit our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk/ to see more details of the work we carry out and how we could help you. As specialist sport surfacing contractors we have a great deal of experience in the construction industry and we would be happy to offer you as much help as you need with your sport surfacing requirements. Our quotes can be flexible and tailored to meet the individual budget of each project.

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Don’t forget to leave us a comment below if you have any further questions and share this post if you thought it was useful!

Long Jump Facility Installations in Essex

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

Multi Use Long Jump Facility Installation in Essex

We recently carried out another long jump facility installation project at a high school in Upminster, Essex. The school wanted to transform an existing grass area with the addition of a new state of the art long jump runway and sand pit.

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Specification and Construction

The specification for the long jump facility included a full runway in needlepunch synthetic surfacing with a sand landing pit, as well as a small practise area at the side of the sand pit. Installing the long jump facility began with excavation of the existing grass field to the required depth and area size which was specified by the school, and then installing edges for the runway and sand pit. Rubber safety edgings were used to create an impact absorbing surface around the perimeter of the facility in order to prevent injury and keep the area safe for the students. A stone sub base made up of lots of angular porous stones was then installed to create a stable and even foundation for the athletics surfacing to be installed onto. Once the groundworks were prepared and the sub base was laid out, the next stage was to apply the surfacing itself.

The school opted for the needlepunch synthetic turf specification for their long jump runway, this surface type is made up of woven yarn fibres and has a layer of silica sand infill installed within the synthetic grass. Needlepunch is an extremely durable and long lasting surface specification which provides a softer alternative to polymeric rubber which is typically used for athletics tracks. This particular school decided to have the main long jump runway installed in red, and the small practise area installed in a red and blue stripe design. The synthetic turf was rolled out like a carpet onto the stone sub base and secured at the edges and multi use line markings were applied in white.

Needlepunch synthetic sports surfaces are very popular with schools as they are safe for young kids to use and they can be utilised for many different activities and sports. As well as long jump and athletics track facilities, the fibre bonded turf can also be installed for multi use games areas where sports like football and hockey are played. The versatility of this surface specification makes it a great investment for schools and clubs as it enables kids to get involved in a range of sports all in one place.

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The final part of the installation process for this long jump facility project was to complete the landing pit by filling it with washed and dried silica sand. Having the sand landing pit installed creates a safe area for the students to complete their jumps, as well as making it easy to record distances for competitions. We also supplied a sand pit cover as part of the installation process, this helps to keep the sand free from any dirt or debris and ensures that the long jump facility remains safe for use by the school.

The Finished Long Jump Facility

Once the installation was complete, the final product was a state of the art long jump athletics facility complete with a top-quality sand pit and an extra practise area. The school are very pleased with their new long jump runway and are keen to get all the students involved in new athletics activities. Having the long jump runway surfacing installed in bright red and blue colours makes the facility even more appealing and fun for the kids.

The school spoke of how please they were with the final long jump runway and sand pit facility:

“As a school we take pride in providing the best possible facilities for our students. We are currently investing in several areas in order to further enhance our national sporting reputation. Soft Surfaces have installed an impressive double-lane long jump pit, with practise side run-ups, to enable us to deliver high-quality athletics lessons and training. It will certainly be put to good use in the summer and, no doubt, serve to improve the jumping standards of our students in the future.” – Mark Duncan, Assistant Headteacher at The Coopers’ Company and Coborn School

If you’re interested in installing a long jump facility like this one at your school or club, please don’t hesitate to fill in our contact form and we’ll be happy to discuss your project with you. We can also help schools to find funding for long jump runways to help cover the cost of the installation process. If you’d like any further information about this and the other products we install, please go to our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk/ where you can see our whole range of services and case study examples of our work.

Have you ever used an athletics track with needlepunch surfacing? What did you think about it?

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Let us know your views on this topic and don’t forget to ask if you have any questions about what we do!

Long Jump Runway Installation in Colchester Essex

What was the specification? : MultiSport synthetic turf

What colours were used? : Red

What was the size of the job? : 108m²

How long did the job take?: 3 days on site

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Long Jump Runway Installation

Check out our case study video below to see our team installing a long jump runway in Colchester.

Video Transcript
Hi guys it’s Dan here, and today i’m going to be showing you a Long Jump Runway Installation in Colchester, Essex.

So we got a call from the client explaining that they were interested in having a long jump facility built onto their school field. After a brief conversation breaking down what we could do for them, they booked us in to install the facility.

Here at Soft Surfaces we’ve become long jump specialists over the last 20 years, installing and maintaining these sports facilities across the country. We’re proud to be market leaders in the field, and believe we install the best product in the sector.

The surface type we largely install for long jump and triple jump runways is polymeric rubber surfacing. This is well known as being the best choice for athletics surfacing, as both running and jumping on polymeric feels so great under foot.

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Not only that, polymeric is also the go-to choice as it can be fitted in a huge range of colour choices, from more neutral finishes to the vibrant multi-coloured designs, this really is the client’s decision. We can run through the many options available to you during the enquiry stage.

Here at Soft Surfaces we don’t just build the runway either, we also offer a full installation of a long jump sand pit and sand pit cover as part of the complete works. Again, like the polymeric runway, the sand pit cover can also be specified in a huge range of colours to suit, too.

You can see from these photos now that this particular job has been completed, and looks really great with the red lanes and blue sand pit. The client was absolutely buzzing with the work we did for them.

As we eluded to earlier we are a nationwide company, however as we’ve worked a lot in the Essex area over the years we actually show up in Google for the following key phrases:

Essex Long Jump Construction Company
Triple Jump Flooring Specialists Colchester
EPDM Rubber Surfacing in Essex
Best Long Jump Builders Colchester
Essex Rubber Long Jump Experts
And much more.

Thanks for checking out this installation guys, and if you’d like to enquire today, please just visit our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk or simply just us a call at 01625 445 760

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Thanks a lot for watching, and we’ll see you guys later.

Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction in Slough, Berkshire

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

At Soft Surface, we’re a specialist installer on Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction in Slough, Berkshire and are able to fit this surface nationwide.

In addition to installations, our team can offer Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction repair services for existing Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Constructions within this location, so if you currently have a Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction that needs either resurfacing or rejuvenation, feel free to get in touch with us.

For this particular blog post, we show off one our Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction installations that we carried out in Slough, Berkshire.

Below you can see the specific information for this install, as well as the video transcript describing the job in detail.

As always, if you are interested in any of our Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction services we offer throughout Yetminster or the entire Dorset area, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no obligation quote today.

A school in Slough, Berkshire recently approached us as they were looking to transform their existing field into a top of the range athletics facility with the addition of a long jump track and sand pit. Of course we were only too happy to undertake the project, here is our case study of how the installation process was carried out.

Foundations and Groundworks

The first stage of any long jump track installation is to excavate the existing ground, in this case it was an unused grass area. The ground is excavated to the specified dimensions of the long jump runway and the sand landing pit. Next comes the installation of timber edgings around the whole perimeter of the long jump track and sand pit, these wooden kerbs create an even edge for the stone sub base to be laid up to. The dynamic stone sub base is made up of lots of angular stones which all fit together to create a stable foundation for the long jump track surfacing to be laid onto. A geotextile membrane was also installed to the whole area to prevent the growth of weeds and contaminants through the surface of the long jump facility.

Long Jump Track Specification

This particular school chose to have needlepunch synthetic turf surfacing installed for their long jump track. Although it’s very different from the traditional polymeric EPDM rubber athletics track material, the needlepunch surfacing is becoming very popular at schools as it is softer and provides more impact absorption against trips and falls. This fibre bonded artificial material can be supplied in a number of bright colours and rainbow stripes, but the school chose to have their long jump facility runway installed in bright red with white line markings. The red track surfacing was laid out like a carpet onto the prepared stone sub base and infilled with a layer of silica sand to keep the turf fibres upright and stable.

Finally, the long jump sand pit was installed at the end of the runway, the landing pit is a very important part of any long jump or triple jump facility as it enables accurate jump scoring and provides a safe landing area for the athletes. We also included a specially designed sand pit cover to fit the exact dimensions of the landing pit area so that the sand is kept free from dirt and debris.

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The End Result

The final athletics facility was a state of the art, top quality long jump and triple jump runway with sand landing pit and multi use line markings. The school are very happy with their new sports surface and the children now have the opportunity to take part in a fun new athletics event.

We have installed a huge number of these long jump athletics facilities at schools and clubs all over the UK and we would be happy to discuss your project with you. Our services include help with all aspects of the construction process, including long jump facility funding grants to help schools who may not have the budget to install a new sports facility. If you’d like to talk to us about an enquiry or a project you’re involved with, please use our contact form and fill in as many details as you can so one of our staff members can get back to you with some advice for quotes and specifications.

Please share this post if you found it helpful and don’t forget to leave a comment if you have any questions or queries about long jump runway specifications. You can visit our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk/ to find out more about athletics facilities or any of the other products and services we have available.

Why Choose Us?

At Soft Surfaces our team have over 25 years of experience installing a Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction in Slough, as well as across Berkshire in general.

The team pride themselves on only using the highest quality materials for our works, and our hard working installers will work relentlessly to ensure your Slough Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction surface looks brilliant in whatever specification you desire.

Additionally, our team can take care of the maintenance of your surface once installed too, making the process of caring for your new surface a breeze. Feel free to get in touch with u if this is something you would be interested, and a member of our team will get back to you right away.

Other Berkshire Areas we Install Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction

At Soft Surfaces, we’re able to install Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction throughout the Berkshire area, including the following areas:

Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction in Reading
Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction in Bracknell
Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction in Maidenhead
Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction in Wokingham

and any other surrounding areas.

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If you would like a Long Jump Track With Sand Pit Construction installed in Slough, please make sure to speak to us using the contact form provided.

We can offer information on designs, colours and prices along with advice on preparation works and more.

Thank you for taking a look at our case study, and for any more questions, please get in touch today.

Long Jump Runway Construction in Somerset

Posted on May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 by Elliot

We recently completed a long jump runway construction project in Somerset. The work took place in a week at a school on an existing grass sports field. The first part of the installation process involved excavating the existing grass surface to the dimensions specified by the school, and then installing a stone sub-base.

The porous stone sub-base is made up of a layer of angular stones which lock together to create an even foundation for the long jump run up track. Next, the ground was excavated and edgings were put in for the installation of the sand landing pit at the end of the long jump runway.

Long Jump Runway Construction Surfacing

The surface type for this long jump runway construction project was Multisport needlepunch synthetic turf. This is a sand-filled fibre bonded artificial grass system which is woven together. The weaving process helps to create a stable and durable surface for the athletics run up.

The school chose to have their needlepunch long jump surfacing installed in bright blue, but there are a number of other colour options such as red, green, yellow and even rainbow stripe patterns. Once the stone sub base was complete, the Multisport synthetic turf surfacing was applied to these foundations by our specialist sport surfacing installers.

The needlepunch surfacing is a very hard wearing and long-lasting material. Because of this, the school will be able to enjoy the long jump runway for a long time. There is no need to worry about replacing the facility after a few years. This makes the new athletics facility a great investment for the school and helps to cut costs over time. Many schools choose to have compact athletics facilities which incorporate many different sports.

The final stage of the long jump runway construction project was installing the sand landing pit at the end of the run-up surface. The sand pit is a very important part of the overall long jump facility installation. It provides a soft landing area for athletes and allows jump distances to be recorded accurately for competitive athletics events.

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Brand New Athletics Facility

Once the long jump runway construction was complete, the school were very pleased with their brand new athletics facility. The kids can now use this to practise on and develop their skills.

The needlepunch turf provides a softer alternative to the traditional polymeric rubber athletics track surfacing. This means younger kids stay safe when using the long jump facility and the risk of injury is lower. The bright blue colour of the runway also helps to make the sport even more appealing and fun for the children.

In the video below you can see the full construction process from start to finish:

We regularly complete many projects like this in various locations around the UK. Our team of experts have plenty of experience when it comes to installing sports facilities. We’ll be able to answer any questions you have regarding designs or costs.

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If you would like any further information about the long jump runway funding opportunities we provide to install one of these facilities. If you’d like to send us an enquiry about another sports surface, please fill in our contact form. Try to include as much detail as possible so we can give an accurate price.

We would be happy to help you with any questions you have, please visit our website at http://softsurfaces.co.uk/ where you can find details of specifications, installation and maintenance for all of our sport surfacing products and services.

Did you find this information useful? Have you ever had a long jump runway construction project carried out at your school?

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