Mercer Island Play Area Borders & Surfacing Services

Hello, Mercer Island families! 🏡 If you have a backyard play area, you know it faces the challenges of our Pacific Northwest weather, enthusiastic kids, and playful pets. When your borders start to crumble or the surfacing gets worn down, it can create a muddy mess and a few safety hazards. Don’t fret! We’re here to help you create safe, stylish, and low-maintenance play areas that your family will love for years to come.

What’s the Problem?

Does this sound familiar?

• Chips or gravel spilling into your garden beds—thanks to a lack of edge restraint or borders that have shifted.
• Low surfacing under swings or slides where hard ground is starting to show (yikes!).
• Water pooling in the pit because fabric is clogging up the drainage.
• Uneven border heights leading to tripping hazards and mowing headaches.

What We Build (and Why It Works)

Durable Borders

• Timber “play timbers” (ground-contact rated) anchored with rebar spikes for neat curves and sharp corners.
• Steel or aluminum edging for sleek, low-profile perimeters—making mowing a breeze.
• Paver or stone bands when you’re looking to elevate the aesthetic of your play area.
• Concrete mow strips to prevent aggressive turf creep and maintain those tidy edges.

Surfacing Options

• Play chips / Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) — our top choice for residential areas; offers excellent fall protection when installed at the right depth.
• Washed pea gravel (select use) — more decorative; not the best for toddlers, wheelchairs, or steep slopes.
• Rubber tiles/mats (select zones) — ideal for slide exits and swing landings to minimize scatter.
• Stabilized fines path leading to the play area to ensure a clean, non-muddy approach.

Under the Hood

• Separation geotextile beneath the pit to prevent soil mixing with the chips.
• Crushed rock base and drainage for areas with clay that tends to hold water.
• Top dress depth carefully measured, especially at high-wear zones.

Remember, we don’t put landscape fabric above the surface. It clogs, floats, and creates slip layers. Fabric goes underneath, not on top!

Safety & Depth (Straight Talk)

For residential play chip pits, we typically install 9–12” loose (settles to about 9”). We also conduct regular checks and re-top high-wear zones (like under swings and slide exits). If you’re part of an HOA or school requiring a CPSI review for public playground compliance, we can coordinate that seamlessly!

Coverage Math (Order the Right Amount)

• 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’ pit at 9” → 192 sq ft ÷ 36 ≈ 5.3 yd³ (order 6 yd³ to account for raking out and settling).

Details That Keep It Clean

• Flush entries or rubber transition mats at gates to prevent chips from migrating out.
• Border reveal set to ½–1” for a crisp mower line.
• Slope and swales to direct water away from the pit, not through it.
• No cocoa mulch (it’s toxic to dogs), ever!

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 trip lips at entries.
• Weed control — we prioritize IPM-first hand pulls for windblown seeds.
• Drainage clear-outs — ensuring underdrains and inlets remain open for a dry pit.

Our goal is to keep it low-maintenance—fewer problems between visits means less work for you!

Service Cadences (Pick What Fits)

• Quarterly — spring/fall reset plus two light touch-ups (ideal for areas with big tree litter).
• Bi-Monthly — perfect for heavy use (think kids + dogs) or windy/sandy sites.

(New installs with brand-new 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 a tidy border cleanup.
• 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 — maintaining proper depth where falls happen most.
• Cleanliness — keeping chips in the box, not in your lawn or garage.
• Longevity — ensuring borders and drainage last with proper care.
• Lower cost — small, regular top-ups save you from costly pit rebuilds down the line.

How It Works

1. Free Estimate — we can do this via photos, video, or a quick walkthrough to provide clear, upfront pricing.
2. Plan & Layout — we’ll discuss border styles, surfacing choices, drainage routes, and access points.
3. Build Day — we excavate, lay fabric/base, set borders, place surfacing, and finish clean.
4. Follow-Up — you’ll receive a depth log, care tips, and a maintenance schedule that suits your needs.

Why Mercer Island Chooses Neat & Tidy

• We’re a local crew that knows the clay pockets, winter rain, and tight alleys of Mercer Island.
• Licensed & insured; we always call 811 before we dig.
• Upfront pricing — materials, labor, hauling, and disposal are all included.
• We deliver on-time, respectful, clean work (no chips sprayed into your garden beds).
• Our green-first approach emphasizes durable borders, smart drainage, and minimal landfill impact.

Ready for a play area that stays safe and tidy?

Call or text Neat & Tidy for borders and surfacing that endure Mercer Island’s weather and summer play marathons. Let us keep it tidy—so you can focus on the fun! 🎉