West Seattle Play Area Borders & Surfacing Services
Backyard play zones take a beating—rain, kids, dogs, and gravity. If the border fails or the surfacing gets thin, you’re left with mud, weeds, and trip lips. We build *simple, safe, tidy- play areas that hold their shape and are easy to maintain.
We serve Admiral, Alaska Junction, Alki, Fauntleroy, Arbor Heights, Delridge, Gatewood, High Point, Morgan Junction, and Roxhill.
What’s the Problem?
- Chips/gravel migrating into lawn and beds—no edge restraint or it’s heaved out
- Low surfacing depth under swings/at slide exits (hardpan showing = risk)
- Water pooling in the pit; fabric on top clogging with fines
- Border heights all over the place—trip hazards and mower headaches
What We Build (and why it works)
Borders that stay put
- Timber “play timbers” (ground-contact rated) with rebar spikes; tidy radiuses and clean corners
- Steel/aluminum edging for low-profile perimeters and easy mowing
- Paver/stone bands where you want a more finished look
- Concrete mow strip for aggressive turf creep or high-traffic edges
Surfacing options
- Play chips / Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) — our go-to for residential; good fall absorption when installed at the right depth
- Washed pea gravel (select use) — decorative only; not ideal for toddlers, wheelchairs, or steep slopes
- Rubber tiles/mats (select zones) — at slide exits and swing landings to reduce scatter
- Stabilized fines path to the play area for a clean, non-muddy approach
Under the hood
- Separation geotextile beneath the pit (keeps soil from pumping into chips).
- Crushed rock base and drainage where clay holds water.
- Top dress depth set right and measured at “wear zones.”
We don’t put landscape fabric above the surface. It clogs, floats, and creates slip layers. Fabric belongs under the pit, not on top of it.
Safety & Depth (straight talk)
- For residential play chip pits, we typically install 9–12” loose (settles to ~9”).
- We check and re-top high-wear zones (under swings, slide exits).
- Public playground compliance is different—if you’re a HOA/school and need a CPSI review, we can coordinate it.
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: 12’ × 16’ pit at 9” → 192 sq ft ÷ 36 ≈ 5.3 yd³ (order 6 yd³ to account for rake-out and settlement)
Details That Keep It Clean
- Flush entries or rubber transition mats at gates so chips don’t migrate
- Border reveal set to ½–1” for a crisp mower line
- Slope and swales so water goes around the pit, not through it
- No cocoa mulch (toxic to dogs), ever
Our Annual Maintenance Plan (Your Yard’s Routine)
- Depth checks & top-ups — measure, document, and add material where thin
- Rake & re-level — pull chips back from borders and regrade wear zones
- Edge patrol — re-pin loose edging; repair trip lips at entries
- Weed control — IPM-first hand pulls where windblown seeds land
- Drainage clear-outs — keep underdrains/inlets open so pits stay dry
We’re a low-maintenance landscaping crew. Goal: fewer problems between visits and less work for you.
Service Cadences (Pick What Fits)
- Quarterly — spring/fall reset + two light touch-ups (great with big tree litter)
- Bi-Monthly — best for heavy use (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.)
What Annual Maintenance Includes
- Depth log with photos and a simple map of wear zones
- Top-up delivery/spread and tidy border cleanup
- Entry transition repair and rubber mat checks
- Weed sweep and spot treatment (IPM-first)
- Drainage test after a hose run (we prove it sheds)
Why Annual Maintenance Matters
- Safety — proper depth where falls happen most
- Cleanliness — chips stay in the box, not in your lawn or garage
- Longevity — borders and drainage last when you keep grades right
- Lower cost — small, regular top-ups beat full pit rebuilds
How It Works
- Free Estimate — photos/video or quick walkthrough; clear, upfront pricing
- Plan & Layout — border style, surfacing choice, drainage route, and access
- Build Day — excavate, fabric/base, set borders, place surfacing, clean finish
- Follow-Up — depth log, care tips, and a maintenance schedule that fits
Why West Seattle Chooses Neat & Tidy
- Local crew that knows clay pockets, winter rain, and tight alleys
- Licensed & insured; we call 811 before we dig
- Upfront pricing — materials, labor, hauling, and disposal included
- On-time, respectful, clean work (no chips sprayed into your beds)
- Green-first approach — durable borders, smart drainage, landfill kept low
Ready for a play area that stays safe and tidy?
Call or text Neat & Tidy for borders and surfacing that hold up—through West Seattle winters and summer play marathons. We’ll keep it tidy—so you don’t have to.
