As the busy season of parks wraps up, we’re focusing on giving you the best information on winter planning and upgrades. In our most recent blogs, we’ve discussed site amenities and why they matter and how to choose a gazebo or pergola for your space. But you may be wondering about more than just design choices and different manufacturers; and find yourself thinking about the raw materials your equipment and structures are made from. Choosing the right materials for your climate and location will directly affect long-term maintenance, safety, and total cost of ownership. In this blog, we’ll dive into proven material options, discuss their applications, pros and cons, and provide resources from trusted manufacturers in the industry. Let’s get into the best materials for park structures.
Understanding Durability in Public Spaces
First, let’s discuss what really makes a material durable. Durability is the ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage. For parks, this includes resistance to weather, corrosion, vandalism, and consistent use. Public spaces require materials that perform for decades with minimal upkeep. In other words, tidying up litter and cleaning off graffiti may be required, but the structural integrity of your amenities should be able to withstand constant usage. Not only does this protect your investment and save on maintenance budgets but improves the safety and appearance of your public spaces. With this in mind, let’s run through our material options.
Metals: Powder-Coated Steel and Aluminum
Metal is a reliable and versatile material that is extremely resistant to fire, pests, and harsh weather, making it an ideal choice for park structures. It is characterized by durability, strength, and long lifespan, as well as cost-effectiveness and sustainability. When it comes to structures like gazebos, pavilions, and shelters, powder-coated steel remains the top choice. Powder coating is an advanced approach to finishing rather than the traditional approach of painting. Powder coating is applied as a dry powder and cured with heat, a process that is well known for providing high-quality finishes, both functionally and aesthetically. The process boasts benefits like corrosion resistance, color retention, and minimal maintenance needs. Aluminum is another sustainable option. Aluminum is lightweight, strong, durable, corrosion resistant, and infinitely recyclable. It is an ideal option for coastal and high-humidity areas due to being rust-proof.
Explore steel and aluminum structures from our partners: RCP Shelters
Wood and Wood Alternatives: Recycled Plastic and HDPE
Wood is a classic choice that provides a beautiful natural look but often is associated with maintenance concerns over time. That’s why we’re proud to partner with RCP Shelters, who use the process of glue laminating for wood structures. Glue laminated wood is a highly innovative material that utilizes individual pieces of high strength lumber formed under pressure. This preserves the beautiful wood look but adds extraordinary strength and superior fire resistance. If you love the aesthetic of wood but are interested in exploring alternate materials, recycled plastic lumber and HDPE are fantastic options. They’re resistant to fading, cracking, and splintering; all concerns that come with natural wood. They also boast huge sustainability benefits. Both options are eco-friendly and require no staining or sealing.
Discover recycled lumber amenities: UltraSite
Modern Materials: Composite Innovations
Some great manufacturers rely on using several materials to build the best, highest-quality, most durable structures. For example, take Urben Blu, our smart restroom partner. Their prefabricated bathrooms are delivered on a 12-inch concrete pad, and their interior walls and floors are made of high-performance fiber concrete. Concrete is immensely strong and extremely long-lasting, particularly beneficial for surfacing. Additionally, fiber concrete has fibers such as steel mixed into it to improve crack resistance, tensile strength, and overall durability. The restroom structure itself is made of galvanized steel, insulated with rockwool. Galvanization is a process in which a coating of zinc is applied to offer protection and prevent rusting. Rockwool is thermal insulation made of rocks and minerals, providing a good insulation effect and strong fire resistance. Composite innovations like this provide sleek, low-maintenance finishes.
Coatings, Finishes, and Protective Treatments
Coatings serve an important role in prolonging the life of your park structures. Here, we’ll briefly touch on construction coatings and their purposes.
- Paint: Provides color and protection to a surface. Includes enamel paints and plastic paints for things like decks and stairs, emulsion paints for masonry, and more.
- Polyurethane: Comes from polymers; this coating is very versatile. It is often used to insulate and extend the lifespan of metal roofs. It provides shine & luster.
- Acrylic: This type of coating is the leading finish used for construction. It is noted for excellent color retention and inertness, meaning the inability to chemically react. Great for wood, concrete, and masonry.
Depending on your product of choice, you may have more unique coatings used. Be sure to ask your manufacturer or playground designer what kind of coatings and treatments are being used on your park structures.
Long-Term Value and Cost Efficiency
Why does this all matter? The initial investment made in higher quality materials will pay off in the long run. By choosing structures that are manufactured, treated, and coated properly and carefully, you will be savings yourself money in the future on decades of maintenance and repair. This means fewer replacements, safer spaces, and a stronger community impression. Material selection is one of the smartest ways to extend the lifetime of public park investments.
Ready to learn more or discuss possibilities with our team? Explore our line of park structures catalogs at your convenience. If you’re ready to chat, we’d love to hear from you. Contact your local MRC representative and let’s talk about durable park structures built to last through every season.