How to Keep a Playground Slide Cool Amidst the Summer Heat
Posted by SwingSetMall on 16th Jul 2024
The playground slide is supposed to be one of the most exhilarating features of the playground. But when the summer heat starts to creep in it can quickly make slides uncomfortable, or in some cases, downright dangerous.
A hot playground slide isn’t something you need to let get in the way of the fun, though. We have some great tips on how to keep a playground slide cool amidst the summer heat here in this guide!
From shade solutions to material upgrades, cooling systems, and more, discover practical tips below. The best piece of advice we have to offer for those with metal slides specifically is to make the upgrade to a cooler playground slide here at Swing Set Mall.
We have all the different types of slides for the playground you could need at the lowest prices, guaranteed. Shop today and elevate the outdoor playing experience for all!
Why a Hot Playground Slide is a Problem
Summer is supposed to be when kids spend the most time outside playing and making memories with their friends. It’s also a great opportunity for you to bond with your kids at a young age while getting some fresh air.
However, there’s a fine line between soaking up some sun in the warm outdoor weather and being too hot to actually enjoy the best feature of your playground, the slide. Here’s why hot playground slides are such a problem.
Risk of Burns
The most pressing concern surrounding heat is safety. Metal slides specifically can heat up quickly under direct sunlight, reaching temperatures that can burn skin on contact.
Plastic slides, while generally not as hot as metal, can also reach temperatures high enough to cause discomfort or minor burns if touched after prolonged exposure to the sun.
These injuries not only cause immediate pain but can deter children from enjoying playgrounds altogether. This leads us to the next point…
Decreased Usage
If a slide becomes too hot to use safely, it naturally leads to decreased usage. Children may find it uncomfortable to play on certain equipment during peak sunny hours, which limits their outdoor activity.
This can affect children’s physical health, as regular playtime is crucial for their physical development and well-being. It can also lead to a less vibrant community space, as families may seek other, cooler areas to spend their time during warm months.
Those who work hard to curate these spaces can feel discouraged realizing that nobody is using the playground - which is why playground design and sourcing is so important.
Material Damage
Beyond the risks to personal safety, excessive heat can also cause long-term damage to the materials used in slide construction.
Continuous exposure to intense sunlight can make some plastics brittle and degrade the integrity of protective coatings on metal slides. Over time you may need more frequent repairs or replacements, increasing maintenance costs for playground operators.
It also poses a safety risk in another way beyond the burns - weakened materials may fail when in use, potentially leading to injury.
How to Keep a Playground Slide Cool Amidst the Summer Heat
All things considered, you need to figure out how to keep a playground slide cool - and we’re here to help. There are three different ways you can make the slide a cool, comfortable playing experience once again and overcome a hot playground slide.
Shade Solutions
Installing shade structures is one of the most effective ways to keep playground slides cool. There are many options here, from shade sails to playground canopies or even large umbrellas.
They all share the common goal of providing necessary cover for the slides, blocking direct sunlight and significantly reducing heat absorption. They can be designed to blend seamlessly with the playground’s aesthetic, offering both functionality and style.
Better yet, take advantage of natural shade provided by Mother Nature through trees. If you haven’t already installed the slide or built the playground as a whole, think about where you can position the slide such that the sun won’t beat down on it all day.
While it won’t be an immediate solution, you could consider planting trees strategically such that 5-10 years from now the playground will be shaded. This is typically something that’s more feasible in commercial parks or schoolyards where longevity is more important.
Deciduous trees in particular provide ample shade in the summer and shed leaves in the winter, allowing sunlight through when it’s desired. Consult a professional on this before planting to make the most of this solution.
Material Choices and Upgrades
One of the other ways you can keep your playground slide cool is by replacing it with better materials. So, what are playground slides made out of?
The two materials are metal and plastic, with the former being far more problematic during summertime. If you have a metal slide, we highly encourage you to make the upgrade to a plastic slide.
In particular, we suggest LDPE (low-density polyethylene) slides as they’re UV-resistant and perfect for sunny climates. They’re also incredibly durable. As you shop for a replacement it’s worth noting that slides that are lighter in color will resist heat better.
Not sure where to start your search? Look no further than Swing Set Mall, as our family-owned business has been the go-to supplier for all things outdoor play since 1989.
We’re proud to offer high-quality playground equipment you can count on to withstand harsh environmental conditions that your kids will love using. They’re safe and reliable.
Yet, we also offer the lowest prices online through our price-matching guarantee, so you can make the upgrade without straining your finances! With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can place your order with confidence. Check out all the popular styles we have in store for you:
You can get in touch for help choosing the optimal slide for your situation as well. Like we said, we’re passionate about helping families and communities come together and have fun playing in the outdoors, so don’t be shy!
If you’re not able to justify investing in a heat-resistant slide, you could at least apply a coat of reflective paint to the slide’s surface. Light-colored paints or specially formulated reflective coatings can help deflect sunlight and reduce surface temperature. This simple upgrade can extend the life of the slide by protecting it from UV damage while keeping it cool to the touch.
Cooling Systems
If nothing else we’ve recommended thus far works, cooling systems are a last-ditch effort to make the slide more enjoyable.
One great example is a water mister. You can put these at the top and install them onto the slide hood, one of our most popular slide attachments. Droplets of water will keep the slide consistently cool throughout the day.
Even just running a garden hose up at the top of the slide is better than nothing for those hot days when the slide would otherwise not get used. This is a great way to turn a typical slide into a water slide for the day!
The Role of Proper Playground Design
While it may be too late to consider playground design if you’ve already gotten the equipment installed, keeping your playground is something you should consider before installation.
For instance, positioning slides north or northeast, where they receive less direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day, can naturally keep them cooler. Think about wind exposure too - positioning slides in areas where natural winds can pass through can help dissipate heat.
You could take this a step further and set up other components such that taller structures cast a shadow on the slide during the hottest parts of the day. Strategically mapping out your playground in this manner certainly takes more work, but it can make all the difference in functionality and enjoyment as you seek to prevent a hot playground slide.
Closing Thoughts on How to Keep Playground Slide Cool
Don’t let a hot playground slide ruin the fun of those long summer days, or worse, be a source of pain for the kids who play. Thoughtful design, shade structures, material upgrades, and cooling systems can all help restore the fun once more.
We have more resources in our blog like our DIY playground slide guide or how to add a slide to a swing set. At this point, though, it’s time to put our advice on how to keep playground slide cool to the test.
Whether that entails utilizing shade structures or upgrading your slide to naturally cooler materials, we hope you feel clear on your next steps to overcoming a hot playground slide! Keep the fun going all season long with high-quality equipment from Swing Set Mall.