Magnolia Play Area Borders & Surfacing Services
Hello, Magnolia residents! If you have a backyard play area, you understand how much it endures—rain, kids, pets, and more. When borders fail or surfacing wears thin, you risk creating muddy messes, weeds, and safety hazards. That’s where we come in! We create simple, safe, and tidy play areas that not only look great but are easy to maintain.
Common Problems We Solve
Does this sound familiar?
- Displaced Materials: Chips or gravel spilling into your lawn and garden beds due to inadequate edge restraint.
- Inadequate Surfacing: Low surfacing depth under swings or slides, with hard ground starting to show.
- Water Issues: Water pooling in the play area due to clogged fabric.
- Trip Hazards: Uneven border heights that make mowing tricky and increase risks of falls.
What We Build (and Why It Works)
Durable Borders
- Timber “play timbers”: Ground-contact rated and secured with rebar spikes for neat edges.
- Steel or aluminum edging: Offers sleek, low-profile perimeters that simplify mowing.
- Paver or stone bands: For a polished appearance when you want to elevate your play area.
- Concrete mow strips: Prevent aggressive turf creep and maintain clean edges.
Surfacing Options
- Play chips / Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF): Our top choice for safety, providing excellent fall absorption when installed at the right depth.
- Washed pea gravel: Best used decoratively; not suitable for toddlers or steep slopes.
- Rubber tiles/mats: Ideal for slide exits and swing landings to reduce scatter.
- Stabilized fines path: Leads to the play area for a clean, non-muddy approach.
Under the Hood
- Separation geotextile: Prevents soil mixing with chips.
- Crushed rock base and drainage: Essential in areas with clay that tends to retain water.
- Proper depth measurement: We set the top dress depth just right, especially in high-wear areas.
Remember, we do not place landscape fabric above the surface—it clogs and causes slip layers. Fabric goes beneath the surface, not on top!
Safety & Depth (Straight Talk)
For residential play chip areas, we typically install 9–12” loose (settles to about 9”). We conduct regular checks and re-top high-wear zones (like under swings and slides). If your property is part of an HOA or school needing a CPSI review for public playground compliance, we can coordinate that!
Coverage Math (Order Correctly)
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cu ft
- At 12” depth → 27 sq ft/yd³
- At 9” depth → 36 sq ft/yd³
- Example: For a 12’ × 16’ area at 9” → 192 sq ft ÷ 36 ≈ 5.3 yd³ (order 6 yd³ to account for settling).
Maintenance Features for a Tidy Area
- Flush entries or rubber transition mats at gates to keep chips in place.
- Border reveal set to ½–1” for a clean mower line.
- Slope and swales to divert water away from the play area.
- No cocoa mulch (toxic to pets) ever used!
Our Annual Maintenance Plan (Your Yard’s Routine)
Think of us as your yard’s personal trainers! Our maintenance plan includes:
- Depth checks & top-ups: We measure, document, and add material where needed.
- Rake & re-level: Pulling chips back from borders and regrading wear zones.
- Edge patrol: Re-pin loose edging and repair any trip hazards.
- Weed control: Using an IPM-first approach for hand-pulling unwanted plants.
- Drainage clear-outs: Ensuring underdrains and inlets stay clear for a dry area.
Our aim is to keep it low-maintenance—fewer issues between visits mean less work for you!
Service Cadences (Choose What Fits)
- Quarterly: Spring/fall resets plus two light touch-ups (great for tree-heavy properties).
- Bi-Monthly: Ideal for high-traffic areas (think kids + pets) or windy locations.
(New installs with swingsets? Start monthly for the first 60–90 days while everything settles, then taper off.)
What Annual Maintenance Includes
- A depth log with photos and a simple map of wear zones.
- Top-up delivery, spreading, and cleanup of borders.
- Entry transition repair and rubber mat checks.
- Weed sweep and spot treatment (IPM-first).
- Drainage test after a hose run to ensure proper shedding.
Why Annual Maintenance Matters
- Safety: Keeping proper depth where falls are likely.
- Cleanliness: Ensuring chips stay in the play area, not in your lawn.
- Longevity: Proper care prolongs the life of surfaces and borders.
- Cost Savings: Regular maintenance prevents expensive repairs down the line.
How It Works
- Free Estimate: We can do this via photos, video, or a quick walkthrough for clear, upfront pricing.
- Plan & Layout: Discuss border styles, surfacing options, drainage routes, and access points.
- Build Day: We excavate, lay fabric/base, set borders, place surfacing, and finish clean.
- Follow-Up: You’ll receive a depth log, care tips, and a maintenance schedule tailored to your needs.
Why Magnolia Chooses Neat & Tidy
- We are a local team familiar with Magnolia’s unique clay soils, winter rains, and tight spaces.
- Licensed & insured; we always call 811 before digging.
- Transparent pricing—materials, labor, hauling, and disposal included.
- We deliver respectful, clean work (no chips in your garden beds).
- Our eco-friendly approach emphasizes durable solutions, smart drainage, and minimal landfill waste.
Ready for a safe and tidy play area?
Call or text Neat & Tidy for borders and surfacing that withstand Magnolia’s weather and energetic play. We’ll keep it tidy—so you can enjoy the fun!
