Project Brief: Replace A worn down tarmac surface with a beautiful, durable and fully permeable access route
Total Project Area: 226M²
Product Used: PERMABOUND’s space grey Blend
When working on school projects, there are several key factors to consider. The most important being the safety of users and the longevity of the surface being installed. Beyond those essentials, additional considerations often come into play. These include permeability, preventing localised flooding and allowing year round usability or maintaining safe access to key parts of the school without sacrificing visual appeal or performance.
This was the challenge faced by The School Playground Company, who were tasked with completely transforming an outdoor space for Oaklands Primary School, turning an old, worn-out tarmac yard into a vibrant, safe and accessible space for pupils and staff.
The Project
The School Playground Company were tasked with transforming the outdoor space at Oaklands Primary school, totalling 226m². They aimed to introduce a solution that would improve the appearance of the area while remaining robust and practical for a busy school environment, with the added requirement of allowing vehicle access where needed.
To accomplish this, PERMABOUND’s Space Grey blend was installed to create a designated roadway within the playground. Selected for its cool mix of light and mid grey aggregates, the resin bound surface provided a durable, SuDs compliant solution, successfully replacing the original tarmac. The primary school also benefited from an improved outdoor space, with additional works including artificial grass, and EPDM wet pour rubber.
Resin Bound Access Route Installation
The project began with the removal of the existing tarmac , which had begun to show major signs of wear and could become a potential safety issue if left unresolved. In place of the tarmac, a suitable substrate was prepared, which was important for achieving a durable and long term finish, especially for resin bound surfaces.
First, the primary school had brand new play equipment, surrounded by wet pour rubber to provide maximum safety. Before artificial grass was installed to create an all weather play space with custom-designed game markings and a running track.
Then, the Space Grey resin bound gravel was mixed on site and laid by hand in controlled sections to form the new roadway within the playground. The material was carefully trowelled to a smooth, even finish, with close attention paid to levels and edge details to ensure the surface could safely accommodate vehicle access.
Once installed, the resin bound surface was left to cure before being reopened for use. The completed roadway provided an aesthetic, fully permeable finish that replaced the original tarmac, delivering a practical, low-maintenance solution designed to perform reliably in a busy school environment.
The Outcome
By working closely with The School Playground Company, Oaklands Primary School has gained an outstanding outdoor space which has been truly reimagined with the help of resin bound, artificial grass and EPDM wet pour rubber. Providing the pupils with a safe, imaginative play space for years to come.
The new surface provides a hard-wearing, permeable solution designed to cope with vehicle access while transforming an area that was previously dominated by tarmac.
Resin bound surfacing is a versatile option for schools and educational settings, offering long-term durability, low maintenance, and effective drainage when installed correctly.
If you would like to learn more about resin bound surfacing or discuss an upcoming project, our team would be happy to help.
Call us on 01246 418144 or use LiveChat during office hours. Messages can also be left outside of these times and will be responded to as soon as possible.
