Playgrounds

The Situation

Governments are recognizing older pressure-treated wooden playgrounds as safety hazards for children. Slivers of pressure-treated wood can get under kids’ skin. These slivers contain toxic chemicals such as arsenic. In New York State, schools and municipalities are now mandated by the government to address pressure treated wood structures: they must either be completely coated or replaced with steel or plastic structures.

Replacing the structures with comparable new structures would be extremely costly. With LINE-X, the structure can be made safe, durable, long lasting, and will comply with state regulations, all for less money and in about a week. An even layer of LINE-X over the pressure treated wood keeps the wood from slivering and harming children.

The Solution

Each piece of pressure-treated wood was coated with LINE-X XS-100 protective coating according to the PTA’s specifications. The application required approximately one week for two applicators to complete, spraying only in the evenings in order to avoid the moisture from dew.

The Procedure

Preparation for this job includes:

• Sawdust moved away from footings and other areas where the structure was close to the ground to allow for easier LINE-X application.
• Footings are cleaned of dirt and contaminants to provide a better surface for LINE-X to bond to.
• Nearby fencing was removed to protect it from overspray, and then reinstalled once the application was completed.

LINE-X masked areas that were not going to be coated, such as chains. LINE-X XS100 was used due to its excellent bonding abilities to pressure-treated wood. Every piece of wood was coated on all sides. The applicators started applying the coating to the highest surfaces and moved downward. This way, overspray gets on all the lower surfaces and provides plenty of texture. For enclosed areas such as cubbies, the outside was sprayed first. Skid resistance was not required so texture was minimal to normal.

The Results

The LINE-X application is an excellent solution for the pressure-treated wooden playgrounds. LINE-X XS-100 provides an aesthetically appealing appearance for commercial applications, keeps children safe by preventing the wood from splintering, and meets NY State regulations.

The schools thanked the LINE-X applicators personally. LINE-X is providing a cost-effective solution that will protect the playground equipment for many years.