Materials matter
Kids touch everything. We pick accordingly.
Every product in a KidScape gets evaluated for what it's made of, how it ages in Colorado sun and snow, and what it feels like barefoot at 3pm. Here's how we think about it, in precise terms.
What we prioritize
The short list, by material.
Coatings and finishes
Low-VOC stains, sealers and paints as the default. Zero-VOC where a suitable product exists for the application (it doesn't always, especially for exterior timber sealers). Finishes chosen for UV stability so they don't chalk and flake into the sand in three years. We'll specify the product by name in your plan.
Adhesives and binders
Low-emission adhesives for turf seaming and poured rubber binders with documented low-VOC content. We ask manufacturers for the data sheet, and we read it.
Timber
Cedar and redwood for their natural durability. Thermally modified wood (heat-treated, no chemicals) where we want stability and splinter resistance. Composite decking on high-touch surfaces. We avoid older-style chemically treated lumber in play contact areas and use it, where structurally necessary, only in ground contact where kids don't touch it, wrapped or clad.
Plastics and components
UV-stabilized plastics for slides, swing seats and panels, which matters at altitude. We prefer components the manufacturer documents as lead-safe, BPA-free and phthalate-conscious, and we favor products with recognized third-party play equipment certification where it exists. If a claim isn't documented, we don't repeat it.
Surfacing
Engineered wood fiber that meets impact performance standards. Poured-in-place rubber with documented binders and, where available, colored granules over a recycled base. Turf with lead-safe pigments and non-crumb-rubber infill (coated sand, cork or organic blends) in family play areas. See the heat discussion for why infill matters twice.
Metals
Powder-coated or galvanized steel for beams, poles and hardware. Stainless where it's wet. Fasteners capped or recessed.
Stone, concrete and pavers
Real Colorado stone where we can get it. Light-toned concrete and pavers for pool decks and courts to reduce surface heat. Sealers on hardscape chosen for slip resistance, not just shine.
Plants
No known toxic ornamentals in kid zones. Thorny plants kept away from paths and play. Edibles where kids will graze anyway.
Recycled and recyclable
Recycled content in turf backing, rubber surfacing and composite decking where the performance holds up. We'd rather tell you a product is 40% recycled than imply it's "green."
Terms we use
- Low-VOC
- Below a defined volatile organic compound threshold, per the product's data sheet.
- Zero-VOC where available
- We use it when a suitable product exists for that application, and say when it doesn't.
- Low-emission
- Adhesives and binders with documented low off-gassing.
- Child-conscious selection
- Our process: touch, heat, splinter, UV, documented content. Not a certification.
- Documented
- A manufacturer data sheet or third-party certification exists and goes in your binder.
What we won't say
Precise beats reassuring.
You won't see "non-toxic," "chemical-free," "100% safe" or "non-VOC" applied to a whole backyard on this site or in our proposals. Everything is made of chemicals. Every finish has some VOC content or a documented exception. A yard is a collection of hundreds of products from dozens of manufacturers, and a blanket claim about all of them would be marketing, not information.
What you'll get instead: a materials schedule naming each product, the manufacturer's documentation for the attributes that matter to you, and an honest note where a trade-off was made. If a product's data sheet says "low-VOC" we'll say low-VOC. If it's certified to a specific standard, we'll name the standard. If we chose cedar over composite because it's cooler underfoot even though it needs sealing, we'll tell you that.
Parents who want to go deep can. The binder is thick on purpose.
Materials at altitude.
UV
Stronger sun degrades plastics, fades coatings and embrittles fabric faster. UV stability is a first-tier spec here, not a nice-to-have.
Heat
Dark surfaces in dry, thin air get hot fast. Lighter colors, shade, and infill choice are how we keep bare feet happy.
Freeze‑thaw
Materials that absorb water and freeze fail early. Sealed timber, dense composites, and hardscape detailed for movement.
Dryness
Timber checks and splinters in low humidity. Thermally modified and composite options, and a sealing schedule, keep hands safe.