http://www.playrite.co.uk Fri, 22 February 2013 12:14:00 Fri, 22 February 2013 12:14:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/playrite-surfaces-go-wild-with-yorkshire-wildlife-park.aspx If any of you have taken your youngsters to visit Yorkshire Wildlife Pa rk   this half term, chances are you may have stumbled across some of our surfaces. Award winning visitor attraction Yorkshire Wildlife Park, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire has opened a fantastic new weather proof haven this half term – a giant play barn. Building work on the custom built 600 sq m play barn has just been completed with a baboon reserve being added next door. Inspired by the climbing ability of real monkeys, the play area includes wooden climbing frames and towers, dens, slides, swings and rope bridges. The barn has been transformed using Playrite surfaces Nearlygrass and Matchwinner to give an authentic outdoor feel to the indoor area.  Nearlygrass is a strong resilient surface, able to handle the most rigorous of children. Not only does it give the appearance of grass but it has a lovely feel underfoot and offers comfort as well as longevity of use. Our Matchwinner surface is usually more associated with sports facilities but on this occasion it again offers the durability and resilience required.  YWP Director Cheryl Williams said: “ The Play area in the new Monkey Play House was a bespoke build for us – so that children could climb, jump and swing just like the monkeys that they will be looking at through the giant windows. It is really an outside play area that has been built indoors to give us an all weather facility so the grass was the finishing touch really, to make an indoor space look like the outdoors! The grass is hardwearing but looks much more attractive than carpet or matting’. http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/playrite-surfaces-go-wild-with-yorkshire-wildlife-park.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/playrite-surfaces-go-wild-with-yorkshire-wildlife-park.aspx Fri, 22 February 2013 12:14:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/team-work.aspx Whilst everyone's New Year resolutions are on the wane, we've found the ideal solution to inspire our team to keep going with their fitness regime. We've entered a team into the Bupa Great Manchester Run 2013. On Sunday 26th May 2013 a team from National Floorcoverings Group, which incorporates Playrite, will be pounding the streets at the heart of Manchester. Alongside 40,000 other runners we will run, jog, sweat and grit our teeth to complete the 10k run. We will be supporting a much valued but often overlooked charity, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and hope to be able to give their funds a boost. We shall be encouraging, motivating, cajoling and championing ourselves over the coming months, hopefully we can all inspire each other and maybe you too. http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/team-work.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/team-work.aspx Wed, 20 February 2013 13:05:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/new-3g-playing-surface-for-arsenal-fc.aspx Arsenal FC have recently upgraded one of their existing tarmac surfaces to a brand new 3G synthetic surface from Playrite. This will be used as an additional training facilitiy for the football club and will now allow all weather play without fear of slip and trip. A hard wearing, long lasting 3G surface was required and Playrite product Conqueror 40 was an ideal choice. Conqueror 40 is an outdoor sports surface filled with sand and rubber. 3G surfaces look like grass and offer similar playing characteristics. The rubber infill allows studded boots to be used for extra grip, in addition to providing shock absorption. It is made using a fine fibrillated polyethylene pile yarn that creates a dedicated   40mm football surface. Conqueror 40 meets FIH and IATS performance syandards as well as EN15330 part 1. The installation was carried out by Soft Surfaces, the Cheshire based installer of sports and safety surfaces. http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/new-3g-playing-surface-for-arsenal-fc.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2013/february/new-3g-playing-surface-for-arsenal-fc.aspx Mon, 18 February 2013 15:59:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/december/more-wet-pour-playgrounds-updated!.aspx A few weeks ago we blogged about how our Playsafe range of synthetic surfaces are often used on projects to upgrade old or worn wet pour and EPDM rubber playgrounds. And now we have some more projects to show you. Upgrading is quick and relatively inexpensive, as the old surface forms the sub-base for the new surface to be laid directly on to. This reduces the cost of the project, as the original surface doesn't have to be removed. This also means minimal amounts of material are sent to landfill as the old surface is utilised to form a base. Here is an existing wet pour playground: Old wet pour playground surface in need of repair This was updated by cleaning the original wet pour and removing any debris. Once this is done our Matchwinner Velour surface is laid on top of the old sub-base. The new top surface is then dressed with sand to further protect it. Playsafe covering old wet pour playground surface Overall time to complete project: Less than 2 days But why should you choose Playsafe over wet pour and EPDM rubber surfaces?     Playsafe is easier to keep clean and maintain than wet pour and EPDM playgrounds.     Because it is a synthetic surface, Playsafe doesn't contract or expand and isn't effected by hot or cold weather     Playsafe surfaces are quick draining you won't experience water-logging     Difficult to permanently mark or vandalise with inks, paints and spray paint as manufactured with polypropylene yarn which has non absorbent properties     Resistant to fire damage due to sand infill   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/december/more-wet-pour-playgrounds-updated!.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/december/more-wet-pour-playgrounds-updated!.aspx Fri, 07 December 2012 14:33:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/december/the-snow-is-here-protect-your-synthetic-pitch-this-winter.aspx So as the UK sees the first flurry of snow, Playrite highlight how to protect your synthetic pitch this winter. Although synthetic surfaces are often described as being suitable for all weathers, just like any outdoor facility a synthetic surface will be susceptible to extreme weather conditions such as harsh frost. Playrite Area Manager Sean Colbert has put together some information below on why pitches freeze, how you can prevent frost occurring and most importantly how to protect your pitch throughout the winter. Why are artificial pitches affected by frost? Basically, low winter temperatures allow for the freezing of any moisture present in the infill of the carpet. A vast majority of outdoor carpet will contain a sand component and aggregate at the base of the carpet is likely to retain moisture for some time, especially during the winter months. Low temperatures will allow this moisture and consequently the sand to freeze. What problems can this create in terms of play? This can severely inhibit the playing and draining characteristics of the carpet and pose a health and safety risk to the users of the facility. The severity of the risk is something that will need to be determined locally and take into account the nature of the users and the types of sports - it's worth remembering that where the infill fills the carpet completely then the risk to the users will be greater. Can the frozen surface simply be left to thaw? This is the less risky option, leaving the frozen surface along with the natural surface to thaw. Occasions of freezing weather have tended not to last long, and the synthetic nature of the fibre can hold residual heat and thaw relatively quickly. Does covering the surface work? This is only really effective on small areas such as tennis courts. Covers can be fitted across the carpet and this may be enough to prevent the surface from freezing in the first place. What can be done if the surface is covered in snow? If snow fall is experienced on the surface it can be removed by hand or by machine. Extreme care needs to be taken and this should be done in degrees and in the direction of the seams to help avoid damage. Space is needed at the edge of the surface to store the removed snow, and don't forget to replace any infill that may have been removed when temperatures return to normal. The removal of the snow may reveal a frozen pitch beneath that may need to be thawed. Can frost be prevented in the first place? Agents can be sprayed onto the pitch prior to the freezing conditions arriving, usually taking the form of a de-icing liquid mixed with water and sprayed onto the pitch. Depending on the product used, this will have an element of de-icing exiting frozen infill as well as preventing freezing in the carpet pile for a pre determined time. Drawbacks of this are the cost and the fact that the product will only work for so long and only down to a certain temperature. These conditions may be acceptable to the operator of the surface if they have a specific important event at the facility. Can salt be used to melt the ice? Yes, but it's very important to remember that the salt used needs to be a certain variety, in the same way that only certain infills in the carpet are fit for purpose. Salt needs to be near a human consumption level - sometimes known as vacuum dried salt - as this product will be extremely low in any contaminants and will act quicker on any frost build up. The use of rock salt or similar products must be highly discouraged, not only will the various contaminants within this salt break down and sit at the bottom of the carpet, possibly affecting drainage and causing standing water, the nutrients within the salt will provide a resource for various mosses and algae to form within the surface. This is likely to lead to problems with the pitch for years to come.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/december/the-snow-is-here-protect-your-synthetic-pitch-this-winter.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/december/the-snow-is-here-protect-your-synthetic-pitch-this-winter.aspx Wed, 05 December 2012 10:04:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/welcome-to-playrite's-first-ever-breakfast-club.aspx This morning, Playrite hosted their first ever breakfast club to a group of architects and local authorities at our Head Office in West Yorkshire. The feedback was excellent with 60% of visitors saying the presentation was 'incredibly informative' and 40% saying it was 'very informative'. 100% of visitors said that the experience at Playrite's breakfast club was valuable. The topic was specifying synthetic surfaces for sport and play, with a Q&A session and a factory tour at the end. We tweeted live from the event (have a look at #PlayriteBrekkie ) and got some great questions and feedback I wanted to share with you all. Other feedback included comments from Mike at DLA architects who explained "the presentation was very informative, there are no suggestions of improvements that I can make." Chris at NPS NE Ltd described the presentation as "excellent" and Brian from Bradford MDC Architects commented that the presentation was very good. Questioned varied from sport to application but some key questions included: QU > do you recommend a sub base? ANS > we would guide but recommend a specialist #PlayriteBrekkie QU > how expensive are the bespoke playground designs? ANS > completely depends on the design, can range from £100 - £1,000 #PlayriteBrekkie QU > do you sign off on inst? ANS > if they want a warranty then we insist on visiting. We don't just walk away from projects #PlayriteBrekkie QU > does @Nearlygrass need same level of sand as sport? ANS > no much less, sand weighs down but can increase to protect #PlayriteBrekkie If you'd like our area managers to bring breakfast (or lunch) club to you and present our RIBA accredited CPD then what are you waiting for? Get in touch NOW or visit here for more details.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/welcome-to-playrite's-first-ever-breakfast-club.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/welcome-to-playrite's-first-ever-breakfast-club.aspx Wed, 28 November 2012 10:44:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/bespoke-floorcovering-designed-for-renault.aspx Over the years Playrite have been privileged to work on a wide range of prestigious projects and have now had the opportunity to create a bespoke floorcovering for Renault to use on their exhibition stand. Working in conjunction with French distributor Pro Urba, Playrite's Export Manager David Hook was tasked with creating a bespoke floorcovering that will feature on Renault's exhibition stands at Motors Shows in over 20 cities around the world until 2015 including Geneva, Frankfurt, Shanghai and Buenos Aires, with the debut at last month's Paris Motor Show from 29 September to 14 October 2012. DGT Architects came up with the concept of 'The Bump' when considering how they could create movement on the stand. The unique concept is more curvaceous and feminine than previous options due to the fact that when faced with a flat surface it is difficult to show the cars at their best. Two hills are the first things you notice on the stand. The floor and ceiling lighting enhance the feeling of motion created by the 3D layout. Balls of light move as one and simulate the movement of the waves whilst subtly changing colour. The flooring itself is something special, a variation of Playrite's Wellington product, similar to the Matchwinner Velour that is used in our Playsafe system. The Renault surface was amended to fit their exact requirements to a precise colour that they specified. Architects Dan Dorell, Line Ghotmeh and Tsuyoshi Tane explain how: "When stepping onto the stand, straight away you notice the softness of the surface. Even visually the surface looks soft. We saw people bending over, looking at the ground, trying to touch to understand what it was made of because the way it catches the light makes it quite abstract"     http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/bespoke-floorcovering-designed-for-renault.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/bespoke-floorcovering-designed-for-renault.aspx Tue, 20 November 2012 13:40:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/play-it-safe-–-and-don’t-forget-the-surface!.aspx I read in November's PSBJ Magazine an article written by Rob Wheway, director of Children's Play Advisory Service titled " Play it Safe ". In the article he highlighted the step by step process to ensure that from design through to maintenance there should be no cutting corners when it comes to sourcing and commissioning a play area. Although the article did detail standards EN 1176 (relating to the design of the playground equipment), the article failed to mention EN 1177 (standards for impact absorption in playground surfaces) or detailed any form of surface at all. If your child falls in a playground, you need to be thinking about the surface they fall on to. If it's not an impact absorbing surface then they're going to hurt themselves, and the higher the equipment the further they will fall. There are lots of types of surface, we manufacture a carpet type needlepunch surface with a choice of 5 different critical fall heights depending on the height of the play equipment installed. Also available are wet pour, loose-fill, grass safety matting, bonded rubber or composite systems and rubber tiles, some of which are also available with critical fall heights.  To ignore surfaces all together is not an option, especially when you consider that: "For these installations [playgrounds] it will probably be a one off installation which is unlikely to be repeated for another 10 or 20 years. Both the client's and the contractor's experience of playgrounds may therefore be quite limited." Read more of the article here This is exactly the case with this project I read about in New Zealand . A play area at a primary school had to be closed because the surface had been filled with the wrong type of sand which was made from recycled car windscreen glass. Thankfully the glass was seen immediately after it was laid on top of the surface and the children never had an opportunity to use the playground. But it just goes to show how unless experienced installers, contractors and manufacturers are used things can go horribly wrong. As industry experts we believe in educating and informing - if anyone wants any more information on playground safety surfaces or sports surfaces please get in touch and we'll be happy to discuss further. We'll soon be talking to Dura-Sport's Andy Stevenson about how and why he got the API to change their code of practice for safety surfaces.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/play-it-safe-–-and-don’t-forget-the-surface!.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/play-it-safe-–-and-don’t-forget-the-surface!.aspx Wed, 07 November 2012 12:19:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/upgrading-your-wet-pour-playground-surface.aspx Our Playsafe range of synthetic surfaces are often used on projects to upgrade old or worn wet pour and EPDM rubber playgrounds. Upgrading is quick and relatively inexpensive, as the old surface forms the sub-base for the new surface to be laid directly on to. This reduces the cost of the project, as the original surface doesn't have to be removed. This also means minimal amounts of material are sent to landfill as the old surface is utilised to form a base. Here is an old playground surface with wet pour tiles. To update this, first the tiles need to be cleaned and then the joints are screeded to fill in any gaps that have appeared. Once this is done our Matchwinner Velour surface is laid on top of the old sub-base. The new top surface is then dressed with sand to further protect it. Overall time to complete project: Less than 2 days But why should I choose Playsafe over wet pour and EPDM rubber surfaces? Playsafe is easier to keep clean and maintain than wet pour and EPDM playgrounds. Because it is a synthetic surface, Playsafe doesn't contract or expand and isn't effected by hot or cold weather Playsafe surfaces are quick draining you won't experience water-logging Difficult to permanently mark or vandalise with inks, paints and spray paint as manufactured with polypropylene yarn which has non absorbent properties Resistant to fire damage due to sand infill For more information on Playsafe download our brochure here   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/upgrading-your-wet-pour-playground-surface.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/november/upgrading-your-wet-pour-playground-surface.aspx Wed, 07 November 2012 08:34:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/artificial-grass-–-not-just-for-sport-and-your-garden.aspx Since the launch of our new blog The Artificial Grass Blog I've seen all kinds of weird and wonderful uses for artificial grass, besides playing sport and relaxing on! Here are a few of my favourite fake grass alternative uses.... Number one: Fake grass baseball caps Two different Promotional Merchandising companies have pitched these as ideas for the Playrite team.... looking good! Number two: Fake grass feature wall Never mind wallpaper for a feature wall - what about a wall covered with artificial grass, complete with flowers and insects... certainly brings the outdoors in Number three: Fake grass flip flops! Because who wouldn't want the feeling of grass underneath their feet with every step?   To see alternative uses for artificial grass and join the debate visit www.theartificialgrassblog.com   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/artificial-grass-–-not-just-for-sport-and-your-garden.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/artificial-grass-–-not-just-for-sport-and-your-garden.aspx Wed, 31 October 2012 08:26:00 Lorna Duncanson, Sean Colbert http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/rejuvenation-of-synthetic-sports-surfaces-it's-not-maintenance.aspx Over the last few weeks, the Playrite team have seen some articles about 'Artificial Sports Pitches Rejuvenation Maintenance' - where work is carried out to help prevent the build up of moss, algae and debris in the infill of the synthetic surface. If the infill becomes contaminated this will affect the porosity of the pitch and will inevitably effect the playing performance and characteristics. I wanted to learn more so spoke to our Area Manager Sean Colbert, who has a wealth of knowledge regarding maintenance of synthetic surfaces. He told me that most importantly "rejuvenation isn't maintenance it's more likely to be a remedial operation." I had further questions. Lorna: So why isn't rejuvenation classed as maintenance? Sean: Rejuvenation is a one off operation to have a specific problem on the surface resolved. It's not something routinely scheduled into the works carried out on a pitch. A majority of surfaces may never have this work done and may never need it. If a pitch, whether sand dressed needlepunch, sand filled, or 3G sand and rubber filled has benefitted from a proper maintenance regime rejuvenation may never be required. It's a bit like saying that after 70,000 miles your car will need its engine taken out and replaced for a new one, and this is just part of the maintenance of the vehicle. Lorna: If rejuvenation is needed, at what stage in the surfaces life cycle do you recommend this should happen? Sean: A time limit is very difficult to set as there are lots of contributing factors. Infill plays a big part - in sand filled surfaces therefore these instances are more readily resolved by rejuvenation, needlepunch surfaces that are sand dressed are less likely to face these contaminative problems. In the majority of cases you may experience problems 10-12 years into the life of the pitch - at this point many operators may consider the life of the surface to be over and consideration is more likely to be given to the replacement rather than the expensive recovery of an already worn surface. Lorna: I've seen a few articles about rejuvenation of late - why do you think it's becoming more popular in the synthetic surfaces industry? Sean: Rejuvenation is usually a single operation to overcome a specific problem that some pitches may develop. It's a remedy to an issue a pitch might have, and in many instances can be a profitable operation and some operators may advice that on health and safety issues this is carried out more regularly, but other factors need to be taken into consideration. My advice is if in doubt, always get a second opinion and compare costs as techniques will differ from company to company. Also, it is worth asking could it be a more cost effective option simply to replace a worn and failing surface?   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/rejuvenation-of-synthetic-sports-surfaces-it's-not-maintenance.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/rejuvenation-of-synthetic-sports-surfaces-it's-not-maintenance.aspx Wed, 24 October 2012 08:58:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/new-blog-launch-the-artificial-grass-blog.aspx At Playrite we pride ourselves on the things that makes us as a business stand out. Whether that's commitment to quality, innovation or our great customer service. But what really makes us different is the fact that we are experts in our industry. Why do we say that? Well to start with we are the only UK manufacturers to produce woven, tufted and needlepunch surfaces for sport, play and leisure. But what does that mean for you, the customer? Well you can be sure that we'll be recommending the product that is right for you, rather than just the products we sell. Not only that, but 20 years experience in the synthetic surface industry and manufacturing in the UK means that we've learnt a thing or two and we're more than happy to share this knowledge with you. That's why we've launched The Artificial Grass Blog . Designed to keep you up to date with the latest developments, industry news, as well as highlighting quirky and interesting uses for artificial grass and answering all your questions. So have a look around and let us know what you think!   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/new-blog-launch-the-artificial-grass-blog.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/new-blog-launch-the-artificial-grass-blog.aspx Wed, 17 October 2012 08:22:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/3g-or-needlepunch-pros-and-cons-for-multi-use-games-areas.aspx The advantages of a 3G surface over Matchplay 2 surface are: Dedicated football grass Better ball response for football Some of the lines can be tufted in (not preferred by all contractors) so installation can be faster Looks more realistic Some 3G surfaces meet relevant standards for football such as Playrite's Conqueror which meets the FIFA 1 Star equivalent IATS performance standard The advantages of Matchplay 2 over a 3G surface are: Can be used for a variety of sports such as Tennis, Netball, Basketball, Football, Hockey and any running activities The maintenance is a lot less due to the lower infill content Matchplay 2 requires no specialist maintenance 3G surfaces are reliant on regular maintenance and infill levels should be checked weekly and brushed regularly to keep the infill evenly spread Due to the manufacturing process the drainage on Matchplay 2 is 4 - 5 times faster The seam strength on installation is higher on Matchplay 2 as it does not have a secondary backing like a 3G surface If required you can pressure wash the Matchplay 2. Meets EN15330 for multi sports as well as standards for Netball and ITF pace rating medium slow, 2 For more information about the Playrite range of synthetic sports surfaces get in touch . http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/3g-or-needlepunch-pros-and-cons-for-multi-use-games-areas.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/3g-or-needlepunch-pros-and-cons-for-multi-use-games-areas.aspx Wed, 10 October 2012 08:33:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/what’s-the-difference-between-needlepunch-and-tufted-for-tennis-courts.aspx This is a question we often get asked and both needlepunch and tufted tennis surfaces have their advantages and disadvantages. Products have different playing characteristics and to be honest, it completely depends on what the club and its members want. We always recommend that where possible a club goes and plays on a local site and tests the surface for themselves. That way they'll get to experience things like pace and ball bounce as well as speaking to those currently playing on the surface. But to give an overview, here are the differences between Matchplay 2 ( needlepunch ) and Winner 15 ( tufted ). Matchplay 2 Needlepunch construction Very good porosity so play can continue as little as 30 minutes after rain fall Sand dressed which means lower maintenance Classified by the ITF to pace rating 2, medium slow. This is better for rallies and more comfortable underfoot - more of a social game surface. Tennis markings can be laid in the court onsite during installation. Due to the glue, tape and impervious backing used to install, weaknesses will never been seen and most installers will guarantee for 7 years. Better off the shelf colour choice, Matchplay 2 is available in Playrite green, sporting green, blue, navy and terracotta. Playing performance is evident from day one whereas tufted tennis courts sometimes take a while to bed in. Winner 15 Tufted construction. Slower drainage due to backing. Sand filled so requires higher maintenance as it is very important to keep sand levels correct. Lines can be tufted in during production which can save time on court during installation, reducing closure time. Classifiied by the ITF to pace rating 4, medium fast.  Winner 15 is seen as a better surface for the serve volley game and normally the better players. Available in certain colours other colours available, but not as many as Matchplay 2.     http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/what’s-the-difference-between-needlepunch-and-tufted-for-tennis-courts.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/october/what’s-the-difference-between-needlepunch-and-tufted-for-tennis-courts.aspx Thu, 13 September 2012 13:19:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/are-you-getting-the-best-safety-surface-for-your-playground.aspx Currently on the market there are countless products suitable for playground surfacing. Just search "playground surfaces" in Google and you'll find wet pour, rubber mulch, matting, as well as carpet and artificial grass products. But how can specifiers be sure that they're getting the best safety surface for their playground project? I often try to put myself in the shoes of the specifiers, and think what would I want from a playground surface? The obvious is ultimate safety, but on top of that you want variety and choice. With Playrite's Playsafe system you get to select from 5 different critical fall heights, from 80cm - 320cm. This means that if you're planning a playground for younger children where the equipment would be no higher than 150cm then you only need to buy the safety system for that specific height.  What's more we can also offer a variety of 14 colours and designs thanks to our in house cutting machinery, so the choice is unlimited! Create fun patterns and shapes, games like snakes and ladders or educational numbering and lettering. You can every incorporate your school's logo or colours into the floor design.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/are-you-getting-the-best-safety-surface-for-your-playground.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/are-you-getting-the-best-safety-surface-for-your-playground.aspx Thu, 13 September 2012 13:19:00 Sean Colbert http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/what-kind-of-maintenance-does-my-all-weather-pitch-need.aspx There is no doubt that the introduction of artificial playing surfaces some 25 years ago has been fundamental in changing the way many people play a whole raft of sports. The revolution was most effectively felt in the sports of football, tennis, hockey and cricket - arguably changing the future of some of them forever. Unsurprisingly in the early days of these new facilities much of the industry effort was channelled into researching and developing the best surfaces possible, this continues today in respect of alternative yarns, pile depths, and infills. However the one area of the industry that became neglected was the area of carpet upkeep and maintenance. There was an original perception that a surface that we as not organic and had a benign infill was not going to be in need of a specialist maintenance regime. It soon became clear that even an artificial turf will need input in terms of preserving the surfaces' appearance and playing ability. As a result of this we recommend that a regime of maintenance, however basic, needs to be implemented. To give you a helping hand, here are Playrite's top tops for maintaining the appearance and longevity of your synthetic grass pitch: Establish a maintenance regime However basic, this is something that needs to be thought about after the project has been completed. Most regimes consist of what needs to be done on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis and this depends on how often the pitch is used Keep it clean Remove all litter, debris, leaves, twigs and weeds and keep the pitch as clean as possible Secure the area If possible, make sure the location is secure and that gates are locked every night No Smoking, and definitely no chewing gum Making your sports pitch a no smoking and no chewing gum zone will prevent the pitch from unnecessary damage Distribute the infill The mechanics of many carpets rely on the correct distribution of its infill, and also that this infill remains uncontaminated. Frequent drag brushing or matting of the surface helps to pull any displaced infill back to the high use areas, as well as removing larger pieces of debris. Double check For a high use pitch, ideally you want to be checking the seams for damage on a weekly/monthly basis If in doubt.... If you have any questions or queries about your synthetic surface, then contact the manufacture directly. As time goes by and carpets and infill's become more subtle in their variety, maintenance procedures will slightly differ. Manufactures such as Playrite are happy to supply important bespoke maintenance information across a range of products in conjunction with organisations like Technical Surfaces. We realise that the surfaces represent a huge outlay for the operators and the need for these facilities to play as well as possible and for as long as possible is paramount. At least now it's not a question of whether to maintain or not, just a question of what type and amount of maintenance is required. http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/what-kind-of-maintenance-does-my-all-weather-pitch-need.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/what-kind-of-maintenance-does-my-all-weather-pitch-need.aspx Thu, 13 September 2012 13:17:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/playrite,-specialist-sports-surfacing-manufacturer,-welcomes-new-team-member.aspx I'd like everyone to join me in welcoming our new member Mandy to the Playrite team. At Playrite we're always looking for ways to increase and improve business so now we've expanded our team with the addition of Mandy Greenwood. Mandy joins us as Sales and Marketing Support, where she can draw upon her love of multi-tasking and communicating on all levels. Anyone who is familiar with Playrite will know that we've seen steady growth since first established as a standalone division in 1991. Never ones to become complacent, we're continuously looking for ways in which to increase business and make sure that we are foremost in our customers' minds. Mandy's role is to help and assist the sales reps and marketing department, quantifying leads, enforce consistency of message and generally being a helping hand. Mandy has worked primarily on advertising and marketing campaigns for some big names in the retail, construction and automotive industries. But disillusioned with companies who are big but think small she's turned to Playrite who always think big, have the flexibility to adapt quickly and make customer service their no.1 priority. http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/playrite,-specialist-sports-surfacing-manufacturer,-welcomes-new-team-member.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/playrite,-specialist-sports-surfacing-manufacturer,-welcomes-new-team-member.aspx Wed, 12 September 2012 08:46:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/3-days-to-install-a-needlepunch-tennis-court.aspx We're always getting asked "how long does it take to install a tennis court?" and with needlepunch surfaces such as Matchplay 2 installation can take as little as 3 days, with play starting on the final day! Don't believe us? See for yourself....  Day 1. The team start work at this project in the Czech Republic by laying out the rolls to make the court area Lines are then marked out and the team begin to lay the surrounds Day 2. The lines are cut and the team start to seam together the tennis court Showing the gap that is left for the inlaid lines. Having the tennis court markings inlaid like this reduces costs as the lines don't need to be painted and re-painted Most of day 2 is spent seaming and laying the entire court By the end of day 2 the lines have all been cut and laid and the court is left with weights on the seams to help the adhesive cure Day 3 The court is complete and now needs to be sand dressed to protect the courts and give the correct playing characteristics Sanding begins. We recommend for Matchplay 2 that Garsides 2EW is used to dress the courts, with approximately 6-8kg of sand per square metre After the sand has been laid onto the court it is now necessary to brush to evenly distribute The court is complete and play can begin! Playrite have a range of 5 different artificial surfaces for tennis, with 4 of these accredited by the ITF for pace rating. For more information visit our tennis page   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/3-days-to-install-a-needlepunch-tennis-court.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/september/3-days-to-install-a-needlepunch-tennis-court.aspx Tue, 04 September 2012 16:29:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/artificial-grass-for-sports.aspx I'll be honest, I hate the term "artificial grass", just as at Playrite we hate "astro-turf" (it's a brand name you know) and the reason for this is mainly because what people call artificial grass isn't technically what I'd call artificial grass, just as when people contact us and ask for astro-turf that's not really what they want. This is where it can get a bit complicated but stay with me.... There are three types of manufacturing processes for synthetic outdoor carpet's used for sport.  Tufted, woven and needlepunch. These different manufacturing processes create surfaces that offer different playing performances, require different maintenance, and have different life cycles. To give an example, a tufted surface for tennis needs to be filled with sand, whereas a needlepunch tennis court only needs to be sand filled. We are the only UK manufacturer to make all 3 of these types of surface and  these different processes are suited to different sports and applications. If you're talking about artificial grass I'd say that this was a tufted surface, because the phrase has become synonymous with the kind of fake grass people put down in their gardens. However, tufted isn't the only synthetic surface that can be used for sport, leisure and in playgrounds. To summarise.... Tufted surfaces are mainly used for: 3G football surfaces Tennis courts Artificial grass for gardens Woven surfaces are mainly used for: Bowling greens Cricket wickets Needlepunch surfaces are mainly used for: Multi use games areas Tennis courts and artificial clay courts Hockey pitches 5 a side football Playground surfaces So strictly speaking I'd categorise tufted surfaces as either "artificial grass" "synthetic turf" or even "fake grass". Needlepunch surfaces that are suitable for a wider range of applications I'd describe as more of a "synthetic surface" or "artificial carpet" - but maybe that's just me nitpicking. If you'd like to know more, Playrite have a RIBA accredited CPD on offer and we'd be happy to explain more about the manufacturing processes. Click to vist our architects page for more information.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/artificial-grass-for-sports.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/artificial-grass-for-sports.aspx Wed, 29 August 2012 08:31:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/playrite-sports-surfacing-sites-revisited.aspx Today some of the Playrite team went out to visit a few local sites to see how performance levels are doing, speak to project managers and see the range of the different products we manufacture. Our head office is based in West Yorkshire and although we have projects all over the UK and Europe we are also lucky to have some great projects on our doorstep. First stop was Liversedge Tennis Club. This project was completed 8 years ago with our Matchplay 2 surface in Playrite green. The surface here had been laid directly onto the previous concrete base. Looking at the courts, they are still in fairly good condition, it's clear that they drain very well as there is only some slight moss in the far corners under the trees. We did wonder what kind of maintenance they were carrying out and perhaps this needs to be addressed to increase the courts life span. After this we visited Longley Tennis Club, which again is Matchplay 2 but these courts are two tone green and terracotta. We managed to speak to one of the committee directors Imogen Jones who kindly showed us round. The 3 Playrite courts were installed 6 years ago and the club have a contract with a local company providing maintenance every six months, who will mainly treat any occurring moss and re-distribute the sand if necessary. Their other courts are tarmac and during wet weather these get too slippy to use. Before the courts were transformed, members played on shale courts and since upgrading to Playrite the facilities have been completely transformed and they club has seen an increase in both members and usage. The facilities are used by the local school and to hold championships so the surrounding community benefits from the Playrite courts. Soccer City in Huddersfield is an indoor football facility that has recently been updated with Playrite's Conqueror 50. This is the newest of projects and we've recently done a case study about the work that was completed last year, click here for more details. The aim of the facility is to provide flexible, affordable and safe venues for either individuals or groups to enjoy football. Conqueror is an idea surface due to its hard wearing nature, it can stand up to the tough usage Soccer City demands. The only comments we had about the synthetic pitches here really was that in some areas the rubber levels were too high. As you can see from the pictures the darker areas show where they rubber needs to be distributed more evenly. However, it is better to overfill rather than underfill 3G pitches and in general, play should help to re-distribute some of the excess rubber. Good to see practical maintenance advice outside the pitches as well, as this is often neglected.       http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/playrite-sports-surfacing-sites-revisited.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/playrite-sports-surfacing-sites-revisited.aspx Wed, 22 August 2012 08:41:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/new-performance-testing-reveals-most-durable-surface-for-cricket.aspx There has been some debate in recent months about which type of surface is best for cricket; whether it be woven, tufted or needlepunch. In light of this Playrite recently decided to implement independent testing by Labosport and the results were enlightening. Playrite, UK manufacturers for over 20 years, have always known that when it comes to cricket the importance lies with selecting the right product for the project. Choosing the wrong surface can result in an unsuitable and often more expensive surface that could cost the club greatly by having to replace the surface material long before expected. As experts in the industry, Playrite feel it is their duty to offer advice on the correct surface choice for a particular project and as the only UK manufacturer to produce woven, tufted and needlepunch surfaces they can offer a balanced view. It has always been Playrite's belief that woven surfaces are the best for cricket - providing a professional standard of surface which are used in conjunction with systems created and designed by Exclusive Leisure, Total Play, Club Turf and Verde Sport Cricket to form accredited cricket wickets. Now due to independent testing of Playrite's surfaces for cricket it has come to light that woven surfaces are more hardwearing than tufted and can withstand in between twice and three times as much wear in Labosport's Spike Resistance testing, depending on product. The testing includes the assessment of Playrite's cricket surfaces and their resistance to spikes following the test method NP P 90-101, simulating the representative wear caused by cricket footwear and spike use to evaluate the resistance to damage for each product. Woven Needlepunch Tufted The report also brought to light the hardwearing nature and longevity of Playrite's needlepunch surfaces for junior level or training use, showing that these surfaces were 3 times more durable than tufted surfaces. Chris Pickles, Playrite's sales director explains: "We've always had faith in the longevity and durability of our synthetic surfaces for cricket - the fact that we supply four major cricket companies who use our surfaces to create and design specialist systems speak for itself. We believe that due to the different manufacturing processes tufted would always provide a less expensive system yet replacement costs would need to be implemented much sooner than with woven or needlepunch. Having taken out professional assessments on our products with Labosport we are able to prove categorically our woven and needlepunch surfaces will outlast tufted surfaces and on average prove to be around three times more durable. From professional to practice level if you want a cricket surface that will stand the test of time alongside expert and unbiased advice then you need to speak to Playrite." To find out more about choosing the right cricket surface for your club or to download the full testing report by Labosport here or download our guide for cricket   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/new-performance-testing-reveals-most-durable-surface-for-cricket.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/new-performance-testing-reveals-most-durable-surface-for-cricket.aspx Tue, 14 August 2012 12:08:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/sport-england-–-different-surface-options-for-multi-use-games-areas.aspx The Sport England foundation has highlighted that there are 5 surface options for multi sport use; macadam, polymeric, 3G, short pile tufted and needlepunch. In their guide Intensive Use Sports Facilities Revisted they give a wealth of information, updating on the previous report and bringing planning policies up to date with more information on intense usage facilities and issues surrounding faculty developments. Here at Playrite we manufacture type 5 surfaces and Sport England classifies these as: "Synthetic turf areas (MUGAs and STPs) surfaced with a shockpad and either sand filled or sand dressed synthetic turf or needle-punch carpet. The areas are used for sports such as hockey, five-a-side football, lacrosse and training for athletics and rugby league/union." They differentiate between the type 5 surfaces as follows: Type 5a - sand filled synthetic surface (Playrite's 3G Conqueror 40 and 50 ) Type 5b - sand dressed synthetic turf (Playrite's Winner 15 and Nearlygrass 15) Type 5c - needlepunch synthetic turf (Playrite's Matchplay 2 and Matchwinner ) The research regarding multi use games areas in the report rates type 5c (needlepunch) surfaces and their suitability for a range of different sports. It's clear that this information is out of date. Due to extensive research, development and testing, both in house and independtely Playrite feel that needlepunch surfaces in particular are represented incorrectly in the Sport England research. We've tackled Sport England a few times about this issue and sadly the organisation have come back to us explaining that they are underfunded and don't have the budget to complete independent testing for every needlepunch surface and other synthetic sports surfaces. However, we have managed to evaluate Playrite's surfaces and can illustrate how they fit into the framework in terms of "type 5" surfaces: The table below identifies the general suitability of main types of playing surfaces along with Playrite products, although this will also depend on the standard of play that is intended. Sports Surface/MUGA type 5-a-side Football Tennis Mini Tennis Netball Basketball Hockey Rugby Training Athletics Training Football Training Playrite Conqueror 40 & Conqueror 50 (type 5A) 1 3 3 4 4 2 2 4 (excluding spikes) 1 Playrite Nearlygrass 15 & Winner 15 (type 5B) 2/3 1 1 3 3 2 4 3 (excluding spikes) 2/3 Playrite Matchplay 2 & Matchwinner (type 5C) 3 1 2 1 2 2 4 3 (excluding spikes) 3 Key 1 = Preferred surface 2 = Suitable surface 3 = Possible surface though less suitable 4 = Unsuitable surface http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/sport-england-–-different-surface-options-for-multi-use-games-areas.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/sport-england-–-different-surface-options-for-multi-use-games-areas.aspx Wed, 08 August 2012 10:42:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/artificial-turf-–-almost-as-good-as-natural-grass.aspx Playrite's Nearlygrass range is often seen installed in playgrounds, gardens and balconies where because of bad weather and over use real grass cannot grow. Even with good weather artificial turf can be a godsend as it requires no watering, is low maintenance and you don't have to worry about getting your lawn mower out ever again. If you're anything like me, you'll be dreaming of the weather staying nice for long enough to enjoy the sun in your back garden, and will be looking forwards to enjoying long overdue English summer. So think BBQ's, Sunday's sunbathing and lazy evenings watching the sun set. That is, if we get some good weather for long enough. But it isn't just you and I who love the garden, our pets do too. At Playrite we hear all the time how more and more homeowners are selecting products from the Nearlygrass range, not just to save their time and money, but for the good of their pets. Here are some of the benefits of artificial turf for your pets: With Nearlygrass there is no mud. This means no more muddy paws and mess being brought into your house No more digging, so your lawn stays pristine You'll also find that there are no more bare or worn patches of grass due to where your dog or cat has been playing in the sun Hygiene reasons - artificial grass can just be hosed down to clean whilst a disinfectant spray can be used if required Non toxic, also we've found that artificial grass is generally not attractive to insects therefore ticks and fleas tend to stay away, which is beneficial to you and your pets Nearlygrass provides a quick draining surface, so your dog and other pets can enjoy the garden, as you can, all year around - rain or shine With a wide range to suit all budgets and a variety of gardens, from roof terraces to modern backyards, to lush looking cottage gardens there is a Nearlygrass for you.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/artificial-turf-–-almost-as-good-as-natural-grass.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/august/artificial-turf-–-almost-as-good-as-natural-grass.aspx Wed, 01 August 2012 08:39:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/playrite’s-marketing-manager-completes-race-for-life.aspx As someone who's never really been interested in sports (never in my life have I won a medal or a trophy... until now) I had no idea how I'd get on with the 5k challenge Race for Life at Savile Park in Halifax. But last Sunday was judgement day for both myself and school friend Alex who first signed us up for the race all those months ago. Spurred on by the generosity and amazing £398 we'd raised I was determined to do myself proud - as well as everyone who has been kind enough to sponsor me! There is no doubt that the Race for Life events set up by Cancer Research across the UK are great opportunities for individuals to really challenge themselves for a worthwhile cause. Although I had set myself a target to run the whole 5K, Race for Life itself is not competitive and it's not about being fast or fit. It's more about local women from all walks of life coming together in their community to make a positive difference to everyone affected by cancer. With shocking statistics such as the fact that every two minutes someone in the UK is told they have cancer, they need all the support they can get and to find out how everyone involved in Race for Life has helped Cancer Research UK make some fantastic progress in beating cancer over the last 17 years click here . So in the end the training paid off I managed to run all the way round completing Race for Life in 31 minutes and 40 seconds. Thank you once again to everyone who supported and sponsored both myself and Alex, especially to everyone at Playrite and Heckmondwike FB . And for those who didn't get the chance it's not too late to show your support - click here to sponsor.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/playrite’s-marketing-manager-completes-race-for-life.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/playrite’s-marketing-manager-completes-race-for-life.aspx Wed, 25 July 2012 10:20:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/playrite-get-their-5-minutes-of-fame-on-the-small-screen.aspx Over the last few years Playrite have been on the small screen quite a few times; our infamous blue indoor bowls surface featured at Potters Leisure Resort during the Indoor Bowls World Championship, our custom designed logo mat has been spotted at the Galpharm Stadium, home to Huddersfield Town Football Club on Sky Sports and our surfaces were involved in last year's St Patrick's Day celebrations in Leeds - to name just a few. Now Playrite's surfaces are set to appear on live breakfast TV in Cyprus on the 20th July! P M Lawn and Garden Ltd held a competition for a free garden makeover, where members of the general public were invited to nominate an individual or group of people that inspire others. The competition was looking to reward these people for their outstanding commitment to others and those who have overcome great personal tragedy by transforming their garden for free and making the area more usable and aesthetic.  The winner was chosen live on TV by a panel of judges who selected a village nursery school with 25 pupils.The work included Playrite's Matchwinner Velour surface in bold colours as well as incorporating designs which featured a fish and a castle. Before the work took place at the playground The work was completed in 4 days ready for the grand opening which was attended by the film crew and TV hosts, together with representatives and children from the school, guests from the village and the Minister of Education. After the installation of Playrite's Matchwinner Velour The project was a huge success and the new play area will greatly benefit the local community, providing a safe and fun area for the children to play.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/playrite-get-their-5-minutes-of-fame-on-the-small-screen.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/playrite-get-their-5-minutes-of-fame-on-the-small-screen.aspx Wed, 18 July 2012 10:32:00 Sean Colbert http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/the-changing-world-of-football-turf.aspx The History of Synthetic Football Turf In the 20 years that Playrite has been established there have been massive improvement as well as diversification in the realms of artificial turf for football. All those years ago, artificial turf was seen as a universal remedy for sports of all varieties and we all remember the plastic pitches at football clubs like QPR and Luton Town and the inevitable problems that ultimately lead to their demise. Indeed the poor experiences of players and the professional football industry in general that were felt as a result of playing on these old sand filled surfaces still permeates today, with a healthy mistrust of anything that can't be proven to have roots and be growing in the earth. It would have been easy as a result of this for the development and interest in an alternative to natural grass to be halted here once and forever. What are the stats? However, according to FIFA, there are almost 5 million football players in the United Kingdom and the UK has the 12th largest population of football players in the world! This kind of potential resource has lead companies to refine and develop products to make them better suited to meet the needs of the masses. What's changed? Most of us are now aware that synthetic turf can take many forms and the much longer piled third generation rubber filled carpet has been the saviour of many a 5-a-side players' knees, and decreased visits to local A and E departments. The third generation or 3G product has become prolific across the UK since its introduction from the continent some 8 or 9 years ago. Strangely the introduction of this new sports grass has heralded a new generation in recreational grasses, for a whole variety of uses. What was originally the stuff of science fiction is becoming more popular by the month, with many private householders enjoying the obvious benefits of a synthetic home lawn . One big area for recreational type grasses was thought to be the local authority market place. Such authorities have numerous public areas that get either well worn or have poor access and are difficult to reach with machinery, thus making the upkeep and maintenance of these areas difficult and time consuming. Europe has seen an increasing up take of synthetic products in these areas for these reasons and the UK market was beginning to do much the same. How the much heralded budget cuts in the local authority market place affects such plans has yet to be seen, but with the science and the availability of such products so well rooted in the designers and architects psyche it can only be a matter of time before products of this nature are rolled out on a bigger and more local scale. And the future? Well with the benefits of artificial turf now firmly established in all areas of the market place and the dark days of the thin plastic pitches of the 80s a memory, the market for artificial turf is only likely to increase, and it's likely to be down to the manufactures of the carpets such as Playrite to bring the new generation of playing surfaces to your attention, so the next time you're watching the football on the TV or getting drafted into the works team for some five aside on a Friday evening, just have a second look at what's under your trainers.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/the-changing-world-of-football-turf.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/the-changing-world-of-football-turf.aspx Wed, 11 July 2012 08:00:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/how-a-playground-can-change-a-community.aspx Back in 2010 under the Department for Children, Schools and Families Play Builder program, Calderdale Council initiated a scheme to refurbish and improve 22 playgrounds in the borough. Dodnaze Play Area in Hebden Bridge was one of the playgrounds to be refurbished and designed with facilities to meet all ages, which would feature a tree house, hang-tough and other 'adventure' style apparatus.  Before the refurbishment of the playground area took place, the local community had identified the need for a location where kids could play safely and securely. Dodnaze is an isolated semi-rural estate, comprising a mixture of private and social housing with a higher than average number of households with children and no adult in employment. The local community centre offers a great service to the families who live close by offering help and support to all ages but an outdoor play area was needed where the kids could enjoy outside playtime with a safety surface to protect them if they fell. Since the playground has been developed the area is now a hub of activity. Steve Scott from Dodnaze Community Association explains the importance of having facilities like this on offer and the difference a new playground can make to the community:   "We have seen a large increase in the number of children using it from the surrounding area and from further afield. The park is at the centre of the estate so the improvements really have lifted the estate. We have seen a reduction in dog fouling, litter being dropped, graffiti and anti-social behaviour since the opening of the new park which all point towards generally a better quality of life in the area." To find out how Playsafe can make a difference to your community by transforming your playground get in touch .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/how-a-playground-can-change-a-community.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/july/how-a-playground-can-change-a-community.aspx Wed, 04 July 2012 09:12:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/how-schools-can-stretch-budgets-a-guide-to-funding.aspx With the summer holidays not too far away in the distant future, many schools will be thinking about what improvements they want to make over the summer. Whether it's new computers, carpet for their classroom, a new sports surface or playground - money is always the issue especially in today's climate. There are a lot of funding companies out there, and it is good advice to use one that works specifically with the education sector and has a good understanding and experience of working on similar projects. My understanding is that schools cannot simply borrow money and pay back with interest as a business or individual would. Capital Funding for Voluntary Aided Schools in England explains how: A school cannot borrow money without the express permission of the Secretary of State.  A trustee can borrow to provide facilities at a school, but cannot use any school assets or school revenue, as a form of security.  All loans must be free standing and have no financial impact on a school, and the school should not take on the burden of the loans in terms of paying out money or selling assets.  If the Trustees wish to borrow for the school legal advice should always be sought. However, there are rental schemes out there which work in a very different way, where payments are split over a period of years and paid on a monthly basis. Funding 4 Education explains their system in more detail. There is a myth that only people who can't afford to pay cash actually rent. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many people tend to overlook the fact that with any capital equipment, they are actually paying for what the equipment does and not what it is! Now, no organisation would dream of paying an employee's salary 3 years in advance, they pay for the benefit as they derive it on a monthly basis. Renting enables schools to apply exactly the same concept to their equipment. They pay for it as they get the benefit from it. With Funding 4 Education you can have the sports surface you need, installed when you need it regardless of whether the school has the full amount of money or not. For example if a school has a capital budget of £50,000 per year for three years, it is only possible to spent £50,000 each year. By using a company like Funding 4 Education, schools can get £140,000 and have the cash to hand to pay for the installation of the new multi use games area or 3G football pitch immediately. With schools starting to install tennis courts, MUGA's and 3G pitches with floodlighting, these synthetic pitches can withstand much more hours of use and one of the major benefits of using a rental system is that the new synthetic surface could potentially pay for itself if the school were to collect payments from hiring the surface out on an evening or weekend. To find out more about Funding 4 Education visit www.funding4education.co.uk or email Playrite by clicking here .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/how-schools-can-stretch-budgets-a-guide-to-funding.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/how-schools-can-stretch-budgets-a-guide-to-funding.aspx Wed, 27 June 2012 09:44:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/euro-secret-to-success-do-it-the-non-english-way.aspx Even after last nights amazing result, it is still dubious whether the England team have got what it takes to go all the way and win the 2012 Euros. Don't get me wrong, everyone at Playrite would love to be proved wrong here, but it just seems that there are other teams more likely to go the distance. And we think we've found what could be the secret to sucess....   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/euro-secret-to-success-do-it-the-non-english-way.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/euro-secret-to-success-do-it-the-non-english-way.aspx Wed, 20 June 2012 12:08:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/synthetic-surfaces-–-definitions-and-meanings.aspx In the world of synthetic surfaces there is a lot of different terminology, acronyms and technical wording. To simplify things we've created a mini Synthetic Surfaces Dictionary to unveil the mystery behind the meaning and give a helpful definition of the most common words and phrases. If there are any other words relating to the synthetic surfaces industry that you don't know the meaning of, try us and we'll see if we can help you out! 3G 3G or third generation is a long piled tufted carpet that has rubber and sand infill. Predominately used for football, although some 3G surfaces with a 40mm pile heights are approved for hockey and multi sport usage. 4G The next step up from 3G. There is some debate about what exactly a 4G surface consists of, some say it is a non-infill surface and others say it is simply a different type if infill or a new profile yarn. Some also question whether there is such a surface as 4G, but with extensive trialling  having taken place the surfaces do exist, but as far as we are aware none have met the FIFA performance criteria as of yet. Astroturf Astroturf is a registered brand name that is often used to describe any type of synthetic sports surface, like how the word Hoover is used to describe other branded vacuum cleaners. FIH Federation of International Hockey - sports governing body. Hybrid Grass A hybrid grass pitch can be seen to be one of two things; a 3G surface which combines both monofilament and fibrillated yarns, or a natural grass pitch reinforced by artificial turf fibre. ITF International Tennis Federation - sports governing body. MUGA Multi Use Games Area is a sports pitch that allows for more than one type of sport to be played. Plastic Pitch A term usually used when talking about the synthetic football pitches from the 1980's when surfaces weren't as sophisticated as they are now. At the time they were particularly renowned for giving a high ball bounce as well as causing serious skin abrasions. SAPCA Sports and Play Construction Association - SAPCA is the UK trade association for the sports facility construction industry. For more information on SAPCA click here . http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/synthetic-surfaces-–-definitions-and-meanings.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/synthetic-surfaces-–-definitions-and-meanings.aspx Tue, 12 June 2012 08:58:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/padel-tennis-how-to-play-and-where-it-all-started.aspx Padel courts are hitting tennis clubs by storm and becoming more and more popular. Playrite first got involved with padel over 10 months ago when our Matchplay 2 surface was installed at a court in Barcelona. Matchplay 2 was the ideal choice to promote the new Padel courts due to its high fibre and low sand content, making it an excellent heavy duty product. This provides a minimal settling in period after installation allowing play to resume almost immediately. Click here to read more about the project. Padel Tennis Infographic by David Lloyd   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/padel-tennis-how-to-play-and-where-it-all-started.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/june/padel-tennis-how-to-play-and-where-it-all-started.aspx Wed, 06 June 2012 00:00:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playrite-celebrate-60th-riba-cpd-presentation-on-‘specifying-synthetic-surfaces’.aspx As everyone is preparing for the Queens Diamond Jubilee weekend, Playrite are celebrating the fact that they have provided their 60th RIBA accredited CPD presentation both online and to architect practices over the last year. As experts at manufacturing artificial surfaces for the sport, leisure and play industries we felt last year that Playrite needed to put together a CPD - especially as we are known for innovation with a genuine interest in community and development. Our CPD presentation provides information every architect will need to know when specifying synthetic grass for sport and play including details on maintenance, manufacturing processes, understanding industry standards, sport specific surfaces and Playrite's impact on the environment The 60 th continual professional development presentation on 'Specifying Synthetic Surfaces for Sport and Play' has been completed today by Playrite's Steve Byrnes to Hamilton Architects in Belfast. Tim McCandless, an architect at the practice explained how: "We first heard about Playrite's CPD from RIBA's website - we were interested in learning more about the different types of manufacturing processes and because Playrite are the only UK manufacturer to produce woven, tufted and needlepunch products we thought who better to present to our practice than the experts. Also, because it's RIBA approved we knew it would be a worthwhile, unbiased presentation and we weren't disappointed." If you're interested in completing Playrite's RIBA accredited CPD 'Specifying Synthetic Surfaces for Sport and Play' click here to learn more   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playrite-celebrate-60th-riba-cpd-presentation-on-‘specifying-synthetic-surfaces’.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playrite-celebrate-60th-riba-cpd-presentation-on-‘specifying-synthetic-surfaces’.aspx Tue, 29 May 2012 15:43:00 Sean Colbert http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playrite’s-recommendations-for-treating-moss.aspx Now that summer is finally upon us, we've got chance to get out into the sunshine and start enjoying some outdoor activities such as playing a game of tennis, visiting the local playground or just having a kick about at the local park. But because of the wet weather we've had recently and the late snow in April some groundskeepers and facility managers are finding that their synthetic surfaces have been more affected by moss and weeds than usual. But do not worry, help is at hand.... In the past we've recommended treating moss with sulphate of iron, but it has come to our attention that due to advances in chemical treatments there are better products on the market. Treatment remains that same and this is what we would recommend: Spray moss with a proprietary treatment Leave moss for around 2 weeks to die off Please note that the moss should not be treated in either wet or windy conditions Remove moss from carpet using a stiff brush of fine rake Make sure that the moss is dead at this stage to avoid spreading moss spores and increasing the levels of moss in the area Treat the area continually on a bi annual basis or even greater frequency if the area is prone to moss to discourage further growth Chemicals recommended are: Qualgex for moss RoundUp for weeds Both can be sourced from Rigby Taylor - please visit www.rigbytaylor.com for more information. http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playrite’s-recommendations-for-treating-moss.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playrite’s-recommendations-for-treating-moss.aspx Wed, 23 May 2012 08:33:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/need-a-logo-mat-designs-are-limitless-thanks-to-in-house-computerised-cutting-machinery.aspx Not many people know, but Playrite also produce logo mats as well as creating shapes and patterns that can be inlaid into our synthetic surfaces. Thanks to our in house computerised cutting machinery we are able to incorporate school logos into entrance mats, create corporate matting or enhance playgrounds with educational numbers, games, shapes and patterns. One of our most recent logo mat designs was at Sacred Heart School in Battersea. This is the first project Playrite has completed that sees an integrated logo mat design which has been inlaid into the pitch alongside the line markings for different sports. The design features the schools logo alongside logos of Playrite and ETC Sports Surfaces who installed the synthetic surfaces. Sister company Heckmondwike FB also has access to the same technology on our site in West Yorkshire and they've recently created a logo mat for their head offices using Diamond entrance area carpet , which has a cobbled effect surface. It is a popular choice for creating eye-catching entrance areas with bespoke logos and designs and comes in a choice of 10 standard colours and 10 special colours. Designs really are unlimited. Check out the other logo mats we've created include: To find out more about our logo mat design service please complete our Enquiry Form   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/need-a-logo-mat-designs-are-limitless-thanks-to-in-house-computerised-cutting-machinery.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/need-a-logo-mat-designs-are-limitless-thanks-to-in-house-computerised-cutting-machinery.aspx Wed, 16 May 2012 10:42:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playground-safety-surfaces-–-two-new-colours-to-the-playsafe-range.aspx Playrite's Playsafe range of impact absorbing safety systems has been installed at schools, nurseries and playgrounds across the UK and Europe. With varying critical fall heights from 80 cm to 320 cm depending on the equipment installed, establishments are able to create a tailor made solution to playground safety. What's more, we've now added two new colours orange and platinum grey to our range.  With 14 colours now available, the designs are limitless download the Playsafe Brochure here now http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playground-safety-surfaces-–-two-new-colours-to-the-playsafe-range.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/playground-safety-surfaces-–-two-new-colours-to-the-playsafe-range.aspx Wed, 09 May 2012 10:54:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/upcoming-exhibitions-and-events.aspx Throughout May, Playrite will be attending and exhibiting at two events across the UK and even though these appear on the new events page on our website, we wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a bit more about the events and what we'll be doing there. Tuesday 15 th May - SAPCA's Sports Facility Show at Cheltenham Racecource Chris Pickles and Sean Colbert will be attending the special one-day event that includes a series of informative and educational seminars together with an exhibition featuring specialist in the design, construction and maintenance of sports facilities. With seminars on funding, sports facility design, life cycle costs, maintenance information and more the show is a must for all those concerned with the design, procurement, construction and maintenance of sports surfaces and associated works including: schools, universities, local authorities, voluntary sports clubs, sports and leisure centres, community projects, playing field managers, architects, specifiers, contractors and sports organisations. Attendance is free for all delegates - for more information and to book your place click here - we hope to see you there! Thursday 17 th May - ManxBuild at the Palace Hotel & Casino, Isle of Man Mark Waite will be here presenting our RIBA accredited CPD Specifying Synthetic Surfaces for Sport and Leisure at this one day show from 9.00am to 2.00pm. A great opportunity for local building, construction and landscape professionals involved in specifying, buying, estimating, surveying and so on to meet industry experts and discuss some of the latest innovations. For more information on who else will be presenting on the day click here or alternatively you can download the invite fax back form here !   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/upcoming-exhibitions-and-events.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/may/upcoming-exhibitions-and-events.aspx Wed, 02 May 2012 08:46:00 Lorna Duncanson, Abby Chandler http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/british-manufacturing-at-its-best.aspx As the Building Centre prepares to celebrate their 80th Birthday, Heckmondwike and Playrite are happy to explain what makes us expert British manufacturers and show how we've evolved over the last 4 decades. What makes us different? With shared corporate values such as commitment to quality, a tradition for innovation and beliefs that customer service is paramount, Heckmondwike and Playrite have gone from strength to strength from their shared manufacturing base in Liversedge, West Yorkshire. With complete control over the manufacturing process of their products, both companies can offer excellent quality surfaces and a stock availability which is unrivalled. As budgets tighten and facilities are looking for superior surfaces that will stand the test of time, Heckmondwike and Playrite guarantee their products to perform in the most demanding environments. How Playrite has Evolved We've now been manufacturing sports, playground and leisure surfaces for 21 years, with a team growing we substantially we are currently re-locating to new offices! Specialising in artificial surfaces for multi use games areas, tennis courts, cricket wickets and playground surfaces, as well as producing a realistic tufted leisure grass range, products by Playrite are known for being low maintenance, offering a cost effective solution to alternative surfaces. We've come a long way in the past 21 years. In 1991 Playrite was established as a standalone division with just 5 members of staff. Since then annual turnover has increased and the team has grown steadily. 2012 already looks to be our best year yet as the whole of the nation focuses on sport, community spirit and the Olympics. A Strong Heritage for Heckmondwike With roots back to 1873, we started manufacturing fibre bonded carpet in 1967 with a flat fibre bonded product called Iron Duke which is still a popular choice today. In 1976 Supacord was first manufactured and has become the biggest selling fibre bonded contract carpet in the UK. Fibre bonded carpets have always been a cost-effective choice for projects which call for high performance at a cost that won't break the bank which is why they are used extensively in the education sector.  With over 40 years of manufacturing experience and the choice of carpet and carpet tiles, we are confident that Heckmondwike products will enhance any commercial building project. Today it is important that we don't stand still, we've got new products in development and are looking at way to improve our current products, exciting times for everyone at Heckmondwike. The Future Looking to the future, both Heckmondwike and Playrite see business continuing to grow as we continue to invest in new product development, environmentally friendly policies and retaining our British manufacturing heritage. http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/british-manufacturing-at-its-best.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/british-manufacturing-at-its-best.aspx Wed, 25 April 2012 08:30:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/putting-the-‘play’-back-into-‘playtime’.aspx A few weeks ago, I read about how a new study in the US suggested that childhood obesity could be linked to boring playgrounds and this week the BBC reported that UK parents are lacking confidence when it comes to playing with their children - so how can parents, nurseries and schools put the 'play' back into 'playtime'? A study in the US found that playgrounds are now less physically challenging and more boring to children. Not only are the kids less interested in the playgrounds, some parents also ask that their child's physical activity is reduced for fear of injury. For the study, researchers held focus groups with 49 daycare teachers from 34 child-care centers in Cincinnati to pick their brains on the current state of play and physical activity at preschool. Study author Dr. Kristen Copeland, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center explained how "teachers were saying they were pressured by parents and somewhat by state early learning standards to emphasize classroom learning." As childcare may be one of the only opportunities for outdoor play for some, playing it safe may also mean playing it sorry.... click here to read more Back to the UK, and the BBC reported on the weekend how 13% of parents felt anxious about play whilst 17% admitted buying toys and video games to take the pressure off themselves and just under a third of parents said they felt guilty for playing with their children instead of doing their household chores. The article also reported how 90% of children watched DVDs and 70% played video games, but only around a third climbed trees... click here to read more The survey coincides with a campaign by the National Trust to encourage more outdoor play. "50 things to do before you're 11 ¾"  breaks activities down asking children if they want to be an adventurer, discovered, ranger, tracker or explorer and lists a variety of different things to do today, depending on the weather.  The website www.50things.org.uk allows both children and parents to manage their own login, where kids can create fun characters and parents can download PDF's offering safety advice. With almost half of 2,000 parents saying they would welcome expert help on how to play, it looks like the site couldn't have come at a better time!   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/putting-the-‘play’-back-into-‘playtime’.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/putting-the-‘play’-back-into-‘playtime’.aspx Wed, 18 April 2012 08:30:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/athletics,-sports-and-fitness-lovers-get-chance-to-win-with-reebok-and-peerperks!.aspx At Playrite, we're famous for innovation and know our sports! We're also big on social media and blogging so when we heard about this new campaign, we wanted to share it with you.... Global brand Reebok are famous for creating and marketing sports and lifestyle products built upon a strong heritage and authenticity in the sports and fitness industry. The sportswear giant is now branching out in terms of their social media activity and has become one of the first worldwide brand to target fitness lovers using PeerPerks from PeerIndex, the platform that rewards people for being social online. The Reebok campaign begins on Tuesday 10th April and offers athletics, sports and fitness lovers the chance to sign up for a free CrossFit training session in Manchester and Leeds throughout April. What's more, 100 influential athletes will also be given a free pair of Reebok RealFlex trainers at the session. To find out more and enter click here and sign up via your Twitter or Facebook account. I'll be entering, so will keep you updated with how I get on at the session!   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/athletics,-sports-and-fitness-lovers-get-chance-to-win-with-reebok-and-peerperks!.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/athletics,-sports-and-fitness-lovers-get-chance-to-win-with-reebok-and-peerperks!.aspx Wed, 11 April 2012 08:26:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/from-sun,-to-snow-how-to-maintain-your-astro-turf.aspx With the increasingly changeable weather (I'm writing this from home because I am literally snowed in - in APRIL!) I thought a blog on different types of maintenance would be quite appropriate, as I'd imagine lots of clubs and leisure centres are wondering how to clear the snow from their synthetic pitch. We have previously blogged about protecting a pitch from frost over the winter, but what can be done with unexpected snowfall? If snow fall is experienced on the surface it can be removed by hand or by machine. Extreme care needs to be taken and this should be done in degrees and in the direction of the seams to help avoid damage. Space is needed at the edge of the surface to store the removed snow, and don't forget to replace any infill that may have been removed when temperatures return to normal. The removal of the snow may reveal a frozen pitch beneath that may need to be thawed... for more information click here . So what about in warm weather? Well in all weather conditions it is important to ensure that infill levels are regularly monitored to ensure correct and even infill levels are maintained. The infill not only ensures that the pitch performs in the manner it was designed to, but in most cases also acts as the wearing course; thus, maintaining the correct infill levels will extend the life of the facility. It's worth being aware that too much infill can occur on a pitch, and will occur as the carpet pile wears down through general play (approx. 1mm per year). Normally, natural migration of the infill will help to balance out this process, but from time to time it may be necessary to remove the excess infill and restore the correct levels. Changes in today's climate have seen an increase in the formation of moss, weed and algae growth. Those looking after synthetic pitches should be especially vigilant in areas of facilities which receive little sunlight due to overhanging trees kickboards or general geography. Appropriate treatments should be carried out to the affected area whenever necessary. Once killed (darkened) the area should be brushed or spaded to remove the dead moss/algae. For more information visit our maintenance page or Technical Surfaces .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/from-sun,-to-snow-how-to-maintain-your-astro-turf.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/april/from-sun,-to-snow-how-to-maintain-your-astro-turf.aspx Wed, 04 April 2012 09:00:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/outdoor-matting-does-more-than-stop-rubber-and-sand-traffic.aspx An outdoor rubber mat has more benefits than just stopping the traffic of rubber and sand into your sports club or leisure centre. This week I found out about the Notrax Flor Matting system Oct-O-Flex , ideal for outdoor use, it's constructed with a smooth surface allowing for disabled wheelchair access whilst the heavy weight construction means the mats won't slide under pressure. But matting isn't just a good way of preventing mud traffic, they can help prevent slip and trip accidents, which are just as dangerous outside as they can be inside. Most slips occur in wet or contaminated underfoot conditions which could be caused by muddy footprints or stray rubber or sand particles and according to the Health and Safety Executive most trips are due to poor housekeeping. The solutions are often simple and low cost and in many cases the way to get control of slips and trips involves one of the following simple measures: Preventing floor contamination Managing spillages and cleaning regimes Effective matting systems Choice of suitable footwear Specification of appropriate flooring Effective training and supervision   For more information from the HSE and their recommendations to prevent slips and trips both in the work place and in public places click here   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/outdoor-matting-does-more-than-stop-rubber-and-sand-traffic.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/outdoor-matting-does-more-than-stop-rubber-and-sand-traffic.aspx Wed, 28 March 2012 08:30:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/could-artificial-grass-help-to-combat-summer-droughts.aspx With news already hitting the headlines detailing hosepipe bans and droughts for parts of the UK, I wanted to look at what the main problem areas are and see whether synthetic surfaces and artificial grasses could help to prevent these issues of water shortages over the summer of 2012. Homeowners Already in areas like Portsmouth , water companies are asking that homeowners in the area use 'voluntary restraint' in the future months as 2011/2012 has seen one of the driest winters recorded since 1992. If rain fall continues to be below average there is a risk that bans may soon become necessary. This is a great example of where an artificial grass products could help to save on water, as well as reducing costs in terms of maintenance as fake grass doesn't need cutting or feeding. Artificial turf can also help in areas that are prone to waterlogging as the surfaces have excellent drainage properties and look good whatever the weather. For homeowners, artificial grass could be the ideal solution to save on water and maintenance. Sports Clubs and Leisure Centres It's not just homeowners that will struggle over the summer months. Thames Water is one of 7 companies in the South and East England who have announced a ban and have reported that all sports clubs are also banned from watering pitches and grounds, unless they are taking part in a national or international competition. So this means that Oxford United and Oxford City Football Club will be okay, but lower level clubs will not. Maybe they should look at the benefits of a 3G football surface? More shocking news is that Cumnor Cricket Club claims it was threatened with £30,000 worth of fines after Thames Water demanded the club made specific changes to watering arrangements - a lot of money for a voluntary organisation to find at short notice. If this is to be occurring again in the future it could be well worth cricket clubs and bowling clubs investing in artificial playing surfaces to reduce future water costs. The Olympics Even the Olympics organisers have put plans in place to ensure venues will not be affected by droughts. It is predicated that demand for water in London could rise by 5% during this period, which takes into account the number of people moving out of London against those moving into the city. Alongside the above mentioned hose pipe bans the Environment Agency plans to use water from sustainable supplies to ensure the Games won't be affected. It is expected that 40% of water used will come from recycled supplies, such as The Old Ford water treatment plant which cleans up water from a Thames Water sewer main producing 574,000 litres of non-drinking water a day. How will the droughts affect you over the coming summer months? Would you consider synthetic surfaces in your sports clubs, leisure centres or at home to cut down on your water usage? http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/could-artificial-grass-help-to-combat-summer-droughts.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/could-artificial-grass-help-to-combat-summer-droughts.aspx Wed, 21 March 2012 08:11:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/manufacturing-needlepunch-surfaces-for-sport,-play-and-leisure.aspx Playrite are the only UK manufacturer to produce needlepunch, tufted and woven synthetic surfaces and this means we can offer a diverse range of multi use and sports specific surfaces as well as playground safety systems and leisure grasses. Needlepunch surfaces are predominantly used for multi use games areas, tennis courts and playground safety areas, but are also very suitable for practice cricket areas and bowling green's as well as golf pathways and tee areas. The benefits of a needlepunch surface are durability and hardwearing alongside a high porosity rate, variety of colours, and Playrite's needlepunch surfaces meet EN15330 Part 2 standards. So how are needlepunch surfaces made? The construction starts with polypropylene staple fibres being placed into a machine at the exact pile weight requirement. The fibres are then combed into line through a carding machine layering the fibres in one direction, then into a needling loom which interlocks the coarser denier fibre creating a flat carpet. This is then placed on a structure machine which designs the required pile design and height specification.     http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/manufacturing-needlepunch-surfaces-for-sport,-play-and-leisure.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/march/manufacturing-needlepunch-surfaces-for-sport,-play-and-leisure.aspx Wed, 14 March 2012 16:07:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/what-is-a-3g-surface.aspx It has to be one of the most asked questions in the world of synthetic surfaces, alongside "what is Astroturf?" and "will my artificial pitch need maintenance?" A 3G surface, or third generation is a long piled tufted carpet that has rubber and sand infill. Predominately used for football, although some 3G surfaces with a 40mm pile heights are suitable for hockey and multi sport. These surfaces offer maximum comfort under foot, exceptional ball bounce as well as good ball roll and ball control. They are reliant on regular maintenance and infill levels should be checked weekly. Mainly an outdoor sports surface, 3G products look like grass and offers similar playing characteristics. The rubber infill allows studded boots to be used for extra grip, in addition to providing extra shock absorption. Installed over a shock absorbing underlay can provide extra comfort and increased playing performance, in addition to adding to the longevity of the surface. All tufted surfaces are manufactured in a similar way, by needling the fibre into a preformed primary backing cloth, creating a loop which is then cut into a U shape. The material is then coated with latex to keep the fibres in place. Made from either polypropylene or polyethylene fibre, a tufted surface can be manufactured with a pile height of up to 70mm.     A tufted surface is durable and hardwearing and a surface installed at a football pitch could be used all day, every day, which is why they are now becoming increasingly popular. Playrite manufacture a range of 3G surfaces called Conqueror which are available with varying pile heights and accredited to the FIFA 1 Star equivalent IATS standard as well as EN15330 part 1.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/what-is-a-3g-surface.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/what-is-a-3g-surface.aspx Wed, 01 February 2012 17:14:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/indoor-sports-centres-what-can-they-offer.aspx So at the beginning of the year I blogged about the benefits of using an outdoor gym and exercising outside, however with all the freezing cold weather we've had recently sometimes it isn't an option - especially when the ground is covered with snow and ice. This is when indoor sports centres become really popular. At Playrite we've recently seen an increase in terms of centres and arenas updating their facilities to ensure they offer users the best, which is important to keep customers satisfied. Another benefit that indoor sports centres have is that they often have a wider variety of sports on offer and this is where a multi use games surface can really help to ensure the club gets value for money.   44 Two Sports Centre in Kent is a prime example of this, they host a wide variety of sports including netball, cricket, badminton, short bowls, short tennis and five-a-side football, as well as offering squash courts and an outside football pitch. Play on Sport in London has nine courts that are used for 5 aside football, dodgeball, hockey, cricket, netball, volleyball as well as team building games. The English Netball Team also spends their time at the centre, training on the Matchplay 2 surface. But it's not just multi use games surfaces that are used indoors, as Soccer City in Huddersfield now has an indoor football centre featuring Playrite's Conqueror 50, a 3G (third generation) indoor or outdoor surface http://www.playrite.co.uk/sports/football that is filled with a combination of sand and rubber.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/indoor-sports-centres-what-can-they-offer.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/indoor-sports-centres-what-can-they-offer.aspx Wed, 22 February 2012 16:47:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/the-rules-of-the-playground.aspx Children are always being made aware of the rules of the playground; no fighting, no biting, no shoving....That being said, it's important that parents know and follow the Rules of the Playground. The Stir , an American CafeMom blog, last week published 9 unspoken guidelines that all mums and dads need to be following when at the playground, and here they are: Please close the gate when you enter and leave . I get that sometimes we forget, but just like you shut your door and lock it when you leave the house, please close the dang gate. The parks near me are next to very busy streets, and no one wants to hear screeching of tires if the unthinkable happens. Yes, I'm watching my kids as they run around, but you know how fast accidents can happen -- the gate should be securely closed, pretty please. Don't feed the children . Unless they are yours or you cleared the food with the parent. And unless you want to deal with the horrible consequences that come with a child with food allergies eating something they shouldn't be eating. And unless you want to be that mom that spoils dinner. No one wants to be that mom. Don't leave food out on your stroller tray and expect other kids not to eat it . For some reason, kids are drawn to other people's food more than their own much to the dismay of everyone. So if you prepared a deliciously healthy sandwich for your child to eat, leaving it out may mean your kid will never end up eating it. For example, I learned the hard way that my child loves seaweed chips. But only if they are someone else's seaweed chips. Play nice with other moms, dads, and caretakers . Yes, our kids should play nice, but there is no reason we can't be cool to each other either too, right? No, we don't have to be BFFs just because we happen to be at the park with our kids at the same time (though it would be nice to make friends wink, wink), but we should be able to maybe smile, nod hello, or even share some small talk (mood willing). Don't expect the other parents to watch your child while you are on your cellphone . I have my eye on my kids, and yes I am paying attention to the other kids too, and if something bad happens to one of them, I'll help out, but I can't be responsible for your child -- unless you want to bring me some coffee. Clean up after yourself . If you or your child spills food that can be easily picked up by other kids and eaten, it would be super awesome if you picked it up instead so the other kids don't come by and eat the food that is mixed in with the dirt around it. This also goes for those squeeze packets I see lying around with dirt and germs all over the sippy part. My daughter finds those particularly delicious, but is now learning how to be the park "maid" and throws things away. Which I guess is good. Don't judge other parents by just what you see at the playground . The time you see a mom at the park is just a small snapshot of her life. You don't know how stressed she is, what went on earlier in the day, whatever behind-the-scenes things she may have going on. So if she does seem odd one day, don't be quick to judge her for that. I think deep down we all know when we should worry about someone's behavior and when we shouldn't make assumptions. Never discipline another person's child . Kids can be little brats. They can. Even mine. Sadly. Still, it's never okay to scold another person's kid. Talk to the parent if you feel it's necessary. Yelling is prohibited . Okay, sometimes you have to yell -- like when the gate is left open and you see your child running really fast for the street or your peanut allergic kid is about to eat those peanuts belonging to another kid, but yell, YELL, YELLING is such a buzzkill for all the park-goers. I feel like it sends everyone into a frenzy. Let's try to keep it mellow and have a sunshine-y day. Written by Michele Zipp on CafeMom's blog, The Stir - to see the original article click here . Do you have any rules to add? Feel free to comment and let us know!   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/the-rules-of-the-playground.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/the-rules-of-the-playground.aspx Mon, 27 February 2012 17:07:00 Lorna Duncanson, David Hook http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/playrite’s-jose-conde-competes-in-the-itf-2012-san-diego-seniors-world-championships.aspx If you regularly read the Playrite news and blog then you'll have read about Jose Conde, Playrite's Spanish Distributor, back in August when he explained what he loves about our Matchplay 2 tennis surface . Well now we're writing about Jose for a completely different reason, he's been competing in the 2012 San Diego Seniors World Championships and we wanted to let you all know how he'd got on playing in the USA. Jose played in the ITF Seniors Team Championship representing Spain hoping to win the Tony Trabert over 40's Cup. During the round robin group stages the Spanish team were drawn with Latvia and Costa Rica and were convincing winners in both ties. Sadly, Jose and his team were defeated in the semi finals when matched against USA, whose team included former world ranking player Jeff Tarango. Spain were then narrowly beaten into 4 th place losing out to the Netherlands in a play off, with France running out winners over the USA in the Final. So what happens next for Playrite's Jose Conde? We asked him whether we'd be seeing him in more ITF championship matches - he told us "Of course I will participate in more ITF events" then added "but I need to lose a few more kilos first!"   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/playrite’s-jose-conde-competes-in-the-itf-2012-san-diego-seniors-world-championships.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/playrite’s-jose-conde-competes-in-the-itf-2012-san-diego-seniors-world-championships.aspx Wed, 15 February 2012 16:55:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/exhibiting-and-presenting-at-the-south-yorks-buildingex.aspx Today, Mark and I are at the one day exhibition, South Yorks Buildingex in Sheffield which offers local building and construction professionals to meet fellow industry experts and discuss some of the latest innovations. Mark will be presenting our CPD presentation on Synthetic Surfaces for Sport, Play and Leisure which includes details on manufacturing processes, which surfaces are suited to certain projects and maintenance information. Other presentations at the Street, Landscape and Play section of Buildingtex included Play, Safety and Style by Heras Uk Fencing Systems, Creating Living Roofs by City Roofs, Geotechnical and Structural Stabilisation Solutions by Anchor Systems and The Management and Eradication of Non Native Plant Species by Japanese Knotweed Control Ltd. We will let you know how we get on.....   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/exhibiting-and-presenting-at-the-south-yorks-buildingex.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/february/exhibiting-and-presenting-at-the-south-yorks-buildingex.aspx Wed, 29 February 2012 09:26:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/a-new-start-to-the-new-year.aspx Let me begin the first Playrite blog in January off by wishing all our readers a Happy New Year and a successful 2012. For us, we expect to see lots of changes throughout the year both professionally and personally and as we return to work we're all looking forwards to the new opportunities that the year will bring. The first 6 months of the year is already looking pretty busy for us, with lots of exciting developments, meetings, exhibitions and conferences and here are just a few of the things that'll be keeping our marketing department and sales team busy up until summer. January   Settling back into work, getting new case studies uploaded to the website and publishing a few press releases    February Work continues with Playrite's new website, launch expected end of February/beginning of March March Visiting the Education Show on the 15 - 17 th March at Birmingham NEC. Click here for details April Weather permitting, we're hoping to do some new photography over the Easter break as well as launching our new Tennis competition May We'll be attending SAPCA's Annual General Meeting at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire on Tuesday 29 May 2012. Click here for more details   June Hoping for a good summer this year as we'll be visiting PlayFair 19 - 20 June 2012 at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry. Visit www.playfairuk.com for more details 2011 has been another great year for Playrite and we've had the opportunity to work with some good people and get involved in some really interesting projects. Let's hope 2012 continues in the same way!   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/a-new-start-to-the-new-year.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/a-new-start-to-the-new-year.aspx Wed, 04 January 2012 09:43:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-an-outdoor-gym.aspx Across the UK, outdoor gyms are becoming increasingly popular. Exercising outside has been known to help burn more calories than inside and is more likely to improve your mood and self esteem than exercising in a traditional indoor gym. Not only that, they are free and are often less crowded than indoor gyms. But why else is it good to exercise outside? Outdoor training provides a total body workout Outdoor workouts are often more challenging due to your body having to work harder with uneven surfaces Training with the uneven surfaces also helps to improve your balance and core skills Because of this, training outdoors can burn up to 20 percent more calories Being outdoors provides us with essential vitamin D which helps to maintain strong healthy bones If you want to get fit this January, as I know many of us do, click and download The National Trust's 31 day exercise plan as well as their top tips for exercising outside . Last year Brierley Hill Urban Regeneration Project saw the development of a new outdoor gym, featuring toning, cardio and chill out areas. The area now provides a stunning fitness area for the local community throughout the year and the Matchwinner surface and Matchpad underlay manufactured by Playrite provide a low maintenance, high performance surface with easy impact on user's joints. To locate your nearest outdoor gym visit tgogc .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-an-outdoor-gym.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/what-are-the-benefits-of-using-an-outdoor-gym.aspx Wed, 11 January 2012 09:35:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/playrite’s-company-of-the-month-astrosport.aspx This month, Playrite are happy to have Astrosport as our company of the month. Paul Gelsthorpe, office manager, has been good enough to send over some information about the company and explain a bit more about what they do. Paul has worked for the company since August 2010 and can often been found tweeting on behalf of Astrosport - click to join the conversation on Twitter or like them on Facebook .   So Paul, tell us more about who AstroSport are? AstroSport Limited is a specialist sports surfacing company supplying and installing a wide range of synthetic sports and recreational surfacing. As a dedicated specialist, we are able to provide a more comprehensive and cost-effective service for clients looking to refurbish or resurface their current artificial sports facility. And how long has the company been established for? The company has now been established for 10 years. What is AstroSport's involvement with Playrite? We recommend, supply and install a range of Playrite products. In fact you can read a case study on a recent project we completed using 3G surface Conqueror 50. This was at Three Corners adventure playground in East London, who wanted an artificial pitch they could use for five - a - side football. Click here to read more. Finally, what makes AstroSport different to any similar companies currently in the industry? I'd say it was our excellent track record and ability to offer synthetic surfacing solutions across a number of sporting environments, coupled with our expertise and experience in the sector that makes us a leader in our field. If you have any questions for Paul about AstroSport and the type of work they do please feel free to comment below. Alternatively, you can visit their website www.astrosport.co.uk .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/playrite’s-company-of-the-month-astrosport.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/playrite’s-company-of-the-month-astrosport.aspx Wed, 18 January 2012 09:33:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/playrite-visits-the-bigga-turf-management-exhibition-at-harrogate-week.aspx Yesterday was the first day of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition and Pauline Thompson event organiser tweeted that it was a "great first day @ #HarrogateWeek with 3009 visitors through the doors, I think that's a record!" With that in mind I'm really looking forwards to what I'm going to see there.... The BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) is regarded as Europe's leading showcase for turf and grounds care professionals. The event this year is taking place from 24 - 26 January 2012 at Harrogate International Centre, and is now in its 24th consecutive year. Visitors to the exhibition will find information on a wide range of products from artificial grass to grounds care machinery and alongside this BIGGA are hosting 54 educational workshops and seminars over five days. So today, myself and northern area manager Mark Waite met sales director Chris Pickles and had a look at what BIGGA had to offer. (Celebrating 25 years) (Visitors are invited to share their memories) (Great use of Ipads on a stand) We also had a great chat with the Institute of Groundsmanship and found out more about their new website with maintenance information for synthetic surfaces - visit www.iogsynthetics.co.uk to find out more. For more information on the BTME click here .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/playrite-visits-the-bigga-turf-management-exhibition-at-harrogate-week.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2012/january/playrite-visits-the-bigga-turf-management-exhibition-at-harrogate-week.aspx Wed, 25 January 2012 09:29:00 Richard Steadman http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/outdoor-artificial-bowling-green-maintenance.aspx There are several people that would be under the impression that an artificial surface does not need any maintenance. As with all synthetic surfaces maintenance is required in some form and this is the same with an outdoor bowling green. Although the maintenance required is not as intense as a natural surface there is some basic maintenance required on a regular basis that can help preserve your green for as long as possible. Here are my top recommendations: Vacuum the surface on a fortnightly basis to remove dust and grit. Always keep the green free from debris. Leaves, tree debris, pine needles and other detritus should not be allowed to remain on the surface for any length of time. Allowing this, results in rapid decay forming a drainage-inhibiting barrier within the surface, and providing a growing medium for algae, moss and weeds. Spray the surface twice a year for moss, once around March/April and again October/November. Moss is not usually found on that part of the surface that is trafficked and it may not be essential to treat these areas, although it is still a wise precaution to do so. Particular attention should be paid to those perimeters and other areas that are not trafficked, especially if they are shaded by walls or overhung by trees. Any good proprietary product is satisfactory provided it is not oil-based. The manufacturer's instructions should always be closely followed. These are three basic rules that if followed should help with the longevity and aesthetics of you bowling surface. For more details on artificial bowls surfaces contact Dales Sports Surfaces .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/outdoor-artificial-bowling-green-maintenance.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/outdoor-artificial-bowling-green-maintenance.aspx Wed, 14 December 2011 09:58:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/happy-christmas-from-the-playrite-team.aspx     This year has seen Playrite publish 50 blogs - and we wanted to highlight a few of these so here are our top 5 most popular blogs throughout the year: Protect your Artificial Pitch from Frost this Winter. Although synthetic surfaces are often described as being suitable for all weathers, just like any outdoor facility a synthetic surface will be susceptible to extreme weather conditions such as harsh frost.... Guten Tag! From Playrite at FSB . Well ladies and gentlemen, it has finally happened. After months of planning since I first started at Playrite in December we've finally made it to FSB all in one piece. The stand is set up, the floor laid, we've got our corporate shirts on... Artificial Turf and the Question of Maintenance . There is no doubt that the introduction of artificial playing surfaces some 25 years ago has been  fundamental in changing the way many people play a whole raft of sports. The revolution was most effectively felt in the sports of football... ConstrucTALKs and the Be2 Awards. Still reeling from the shock of being nominated for an award, I packed my bags for London to represent Playrite in the hope of bringing back a trophy, set with pen and paper for taking notes on the talks... Meet the Playrite Team . So this is the third blog entry, we're nearly at the end of January, and I've just realised that for those of you who are unfamiliar with the Playrite team, you'll have no idea who we all are! So let's meet the team...   We hope that you enjoy reading about Playrite and all the news behind the scenes. Next year is set to be a great year for us with a new website, new product development and you'll see our surfaces installed at some great projects too.   Happy Christmas from the Playrite team!   Please note our offices will be shut from Thursday 22nd December at 3:00pm opening again on Tuesday 3rd January at 8:00am http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/happy-christmas-from-the-playrite-team.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/happy-christmas-from-the-playrite-team.aspx Wed, 21 December 2011 09:48:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/specialist-surfaces-for-education-offer-school's-brand-new-kit-for-team.aspx Leading UK carpet manufacturer Heckmondwike has joined forces with sister division Playrite in order to promote the benefits of specialist carpets for the education sector. With shared corporate values such as commitment to quality, tradition for innovation and a belief that customer service is paramount, Heckondwike and Playrite have gone from strength to strength in their shared manufacturing base in Liversedge, West Yorkshire. It makes sense that the manufacturers, both part of National Floorcoverings Ltd, would join forces to promote their products into the education sector. And to celebrate we are launching a competition to those working in the education sector to win a sports kit for their school's team! All you have to do is complete the form HERE and the winner will be chosen and random. Competition closes Friday 30th March and the winner will be contacted and announced 2nd April. Good luck!   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/specialist-surfaces-for-education-offer-school's-brand-new-kit-for-team.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/december/specialist-surfaces-for-education-offer-school's-brand-new-kit-for-team.aspx Wed, 14 December 2011 09:45:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/how-a-roof-top-playground-or-roof-top-sports-area-can-transform-your-school.aspx A roof top playground is an excellent solution when space is limited. By making the most of an area that may otherwise be unused, schools, nurseries, colleges and universities are able to maximise their facilities and transform roof top areas into gardens, playgrounds and even sports pitches. An artificial surface is ideal for roof top gardens, balcony areas and multi use games areas, especially when it is difficult to get water to the area. The joy of having an artificial surface means that the maintenance required is minimal compared to natural turf so this can save money as well as time. St Vincent's school in Marylebone first benefitted from the installation of a roof top playground in 2008 and have recently updated another area to include some fun shapes and bright colours. The project created an open area where the children could play and enjoy the fresh air whilst also maximising the space that was available to the school. Another recent project saw St George's School in London using Matchwinner and Nearlygrass 20 to create a running track and a football pitch area. Utilising the space available to them made sure that this city school was able to have access to a sports pitch all year round, whatever the weather, which otherwise would not have been an option. Aston University in Birmingham had an influx of 1,800 new students last year so to accommodate them a new city centre halls of residence with a multi storey car park was build to meet the demand. Wanting to make the best use of the facilities and the 4,000m² space on the top level of the car park, a roof top multi use games area was created, surrounded by 180 linear meters of 5 meter high fencing and over head netting.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/how-a-roof-top-playground-or-roof-top-sports-area-can-transform-your-school.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/how-a-roof-top-playground-or-roof-top-sports-area-can-transform-your-school.aspx Wed, 09 November 2011 10:20:00 Sean Colbert http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/protect-your-artificial-pitch-from-frost-this-winter.aspx Although synthetic surfaces are often described as being suitable for all weathers, just like any outdoor facility a synthetic surface will be susceptible to extreme weather conditions such as harsh frost. Playrite Area Manager Sean Colbert has put together some information below on why pitches freeze, how you can prevent frost occurring and most importantly how to protect your pitch throughout the winter. Why are artificial pitches affected by frost? Basically, low winter temperatures allow for the freezing of any moisture present in the infill of the carpet. A vast majority of outdoor carpet will contain a sand component and aggregate at the base of the carpet is likely to retain moisture for some time, especially during the winter months. Low temperatures will allow this moisture and consequently the sand to freeze. What problems can this create in terms of play? This can severely inhibit the playing and draining characteristics of the carpet and pose a health and safety risk to the users of the facility. The severity of the risk is something that will need to be determined locally and take into account the nature of the users and the types of sports - it's worth remembering that where the infill fills the carpet completely then the risk to the users will be greater. Can the frozen surface simply be left to thaw? This is the less risky option, leaving the frozen surface along with the natural surface to thaw. Occasions of freezing weather have tended not to last long, and the synthetic nature of the fibre can hold residual heat and thaw relatively quickly. Does covering the surface work? This is only really effective on small areas such as tennis courts. Covers can be fitted across the carpet and this may be enough to prevent the surface from freezing in the first place. What can be done if the surface is covered in snow? If snow fall is experienced on the surface it can be removed by hand or by machine. Extreme care needs to be taken and this should be done in degrees and in the direction of the seams to help avoid damage. Space is needed at the edge of the surface to store the removed snow, and don't forget to replace any infill that may have been removed when temperatures return to normal. The removal of the snow may reveal a frozen pitch beneath that may need to be thawed. Can frost be prevented in the first place? Agents can be sprayed onto the pitch prior to the freezing conditions arriving, usually taking the form of a de-icing liquid mixed with water and sprayed onto the pitch. Depending on the product used, this will have an element of de-icing exiting frozen infill as well as preventing freezing in the carpet pile for a pre determined time. Drawbacks of this are the cost and the fact that the product will only work for so long and only down to a certain temperature. These conditions may be acceptable to the operator of the surface if they have a specific important event at the facility. Can salt be used to melt the ice? Yes, but it's very important to remember that the salt used needs to be a certain variety, in the same way that only certain infills in the carpet are fit for purpose. Salt needs to be near a human consumption level - sometimes known as vacuum dried salt - as this product will be extremely low in any contaminants and will act quicker on any frost build up. The use of rock salt or similar products must be highly discouraged, not only will the various contaminants within this salt break down and sit at the bottom of the carpet, possibly affecting drainage and causing standing water, the nutrients within the salt will provide a resource for various mosses and algae to form within the surface. This is likely to lead to problems with the pitch for years to come.   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/protect-your-artificial-pitch-from-frost-this-winter.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/protect-your-artificial-pitch-from-frost-this-winter.aspx Wed, 16 November 2011 10:15:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/how-playrite-are-using-social-media.aspx This week, I got the opportunity to write a guest blog for Pauley Creative using Playrite as an example of how a construction product manufacturer uses social media. In case you missed it you can read the interview below or click here to view it on the Pauley Creative site. An Introduction to Playrite I'm Lorna Duncanson the marketing manager for Playrite who manufacture artificial sports, playground and leisure surfaces. Our products appear in tennis clubs, schools, leisure centres and gardens all over the UK, Europe and across the Globe. We have been established for 20 years now and are the only UK manufacturer to produce woven, tufted and needle punch surfaces giving us a huge insight into the industry. As marketing manager I am responsible for all the marketing decisions; I look after the website, manage all social media accounts, create new literature, raise brand awareness… (the list goes on). It's just me in the department currently, but I do get a lot of support from our sales team and area managers. Why do you use social media and Twitter in particular? When I started at Playrite social media was one of the first things I wanted to get involved with, mainly because it's a great way of communicating with customers (and competitors) and the only real cost, essentially, is time. In January 2011 I started the Playrite Blog , which is updated every week without fail. Twitter and Facebook are great traffic drivers to our blog (and website) and also keep our followers up-to-date with recent case studies and other Playrite news. Twitter is an excellent tool for keeping the rest of the Playrite team updated with the latest industry news. At Playrite, we consider ourselves to be experts in our industry and so it's important to keep up to date with what is going on. Twitter helps us to do this as well as gaining insight into how architects communicate , what information they like, and how they like to receive it. In the future, we aim to get more of our sales representatives tweeting and answering questions live online. Together we have a huge amount of knowledge and expertise that we want to share with our followers. How did Twitter help promote Playrite at the recent FSB exhibition in Cologne? Cologne was such a whirlwind - 10 months of planning for essentially a 3 day exhibition! Twitter really helped us to communicate with everyone back home and in Germany, allowed us to create a lot of buzz about our stand and let everyone know where we were and when events would be happening. Right from the beginning I uploaded sneak previews of our stand and blogged directly from the Koeln messe whilst in Cologne. This drove a huge amount of traffic to the site where we uploaded images, videos , and I wrote a blog post every day for the 5 days we were in Germany from my personal blog. All of this was linked through Twitter, and during those 5 days my blog received almost 300 hits , with the Thursday (Playrite's 20 th Birthday) receiving close to 100 hits. Not bad for one day's work! Using the Twitter search functionality for "FSB" and "FSB Cologne" also helped me to identify who else would be there, find new followers and meet new contacts as well as raising awareness of Playrite's presence at the exhibition. How do you manage your time on social media? Currently, I am the only person who tweets for @PlayriteSurface although our Northern sales representative also tweets under his own account @Playrite_North . Currently I just manage my time as best I can and find that the 'quality rather than quantity' rule applies with Twitter, if I've got nothing interesting to say then it's okay not to say anything at all, although I will be investigating into Hootsuite and Tweetdeck after learning more about these dashboard tools at the Pauley Creative Event in Manchester . Have you managed to develop relationships online which you took offline, with Architects in particular? In terms of meeting architects, I would say that as of yet we haven't managed to take a relationship offline, but we have managed to reach many people that we wouldn't have been able to communicate with if it wasn't for Twitter. In terms of customers, we have managed to get quite a few enquiries from Twitter directly and take these relationships offline. Most importantly, Twitter has helped us to strengthen relationships with existing customers , especially those outside of the UK. It also gives a feeling of authority to Playrite, and often our customers want to get involved with case studies and online projects because they know their company will also get promoted through our social media activities. Through Twitter we have also met up with some great individuals at companies such as Pauley Creative, and arranged tweet-ups at events such as FSB, PlayFair and The Education Show. Having a strong Twitter presence does help your company get noticed and remembered. Proof of this came with the number of people who visited our stand at FSB in Germany saying, "Hello, I follow Playrite on Twitter!" You recently published a Specification Guide for Architects/Specifiers, how did Twitter help you raise awareness of this publication? First and foremost, it was an article on Twitter that gave me the idea to produce the guide! Su Butcher wrote an article on her blog focusing on an alternative strategy to the usual sales push . This gave me the idea of producing a document that contained helpful information detailing what architects should consider when specifying synthetic grass , as well as some information on who Playrite are, what we do, some recent projects we've worked on and how to get in touch. Also, I liked the idea of providing useful information for free - something that Pauley Creative inspired me to do with their downloadable E Book: "The Construction Marketer's Guide to Social Media." Our specification guide was designed as a PDF, although we have also posted a few copies out and included them in our literature folders when meeting Architects. Twitter helped us to share this information and our followers re-tweeted the link and extended Playrite's reach. We also got some really positive feedback from the document that lead us to create a further PDF on the different types of cricket surfaces available , which again was shared on Twitter. The "Information for Architects" guide also helped us to promote our online RIBA accredited CPD that went live around the same time. This proved that within the business world, Twitter is an excellent way of communicating with a large audience. Have you got any advice for other manufacturers who are still unsure of social media? I think the key to social media is to always remember that you are communicating directly with the World Wide Web. That includes your current and prospective customers, your competitors, your colleagues and your bosses. This can be seen as a negative thing, but as long as it's kept professional I personally like the idea of promoting a more transparent and approachable company. My advice is that if you have the time to spare, and you've got something interesting to say, then I would recommend you just go for it! Twitter has proved more successful for Playrite than I ever thought possible. It is easy to use (once you get your head around it), helps you network without having to leave your desk, extends your reach, and you discover insightful information often way before anyone else does. Thank you to Ayaan and the team at Pauley Creative for giving me the opportunity to guest blog for them and (hopefully) encourage a few more individuals in the construction industry to get involved with sharing useful information online! http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/how-playrite-are-using-social-media.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/how-playrite-are-using-social-media.aspx Wed, 23 November 2011 10:11:00 Lorna Duncanson http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/playrite-tennis-surface-review-of-qualities-and-suitability.aspx At Playrite, we are always going to be saying the best things about our synthetic surfaces, so it's great to hear our customer's feedback to ensure that it reflects our opinions on our products. Below is a report from Pensford Tennis Club who visited Ember Sports Club after Playrite's Matchplay 2 surface was installed. They played on the court for about an hour then Peter Dunning of Pensford Tennis Club put the following questions to Malcolm Baird from The Ember Club. The full news article can be viewed by clicking here . How differently does the court play when it is wet? Lower bounce? Skidding off the surface? Unlike some artificial grass surfaces, the playing characteristics of the carpet surface do not change much when wet. The bounce is not much different and the ball does not skid. Is the bounce different when the ball hits a line? The bounce is different when the ball hits the lines. Many types of court have this problem, even tarmac to a small extent. On our courts the ball tends to stay low. This may be partly due to the way that they were laid. The carpets are not stuck to the tarmac surface underneath but the lines are joined by a wide sticky tape. The reason that the carpet is not stuck to the tarmac is so that it can be lifted without damaging the tarmac at the end of the life of the carpet. Can the courts be played on in frosty conditions? Frost does not prevent play and we do not find the surface slippery in these conditions. However, if they are icy (after snow has fallen and then frozen) then they are of course slippery. Are there any circumstances when the court is slippery? Apart from icy conditions, we have not found them slippery. Does the amount of sand visible on the surface vary according to whether the courts are dry or wet? The sand is slightly more visible when the courts are dry but this does not change the playing characteristics of the court. What maintenance do you carry out on the courts, and how frequently? e.g. application of sand, re-distribution of existing sand, removal of debris, moss, etc. As far as maintenance is concerned, we drag the courts monthly (we have a four-foot-wide stiff brush for this purpose) to remove debris and to prevent algae from forming. This also has the effect of redistributing the sand to remove footprints, etc. Our courts have been laid for two years this April and we have booked our first external maintenance visit. This is to vacuum up the existing sand, clean/filter it and redistribute it back on to the court. They will assess whether any additional sand is required and adjust as necessary. We have not needed to add any sand so far. If the courts are susceptible to algae/moss i.e. because of overhanging trees, continually damp/shady areas, a 6 monthly spray should prevent any problems. Can the courts be played on immediately after rain, even after a heavy downpour? We can play on our courts immediately after heavy rain but obviously the court drainage must be good. To what degree do the balls pick up moisture from the court? Do the balls fluff-up? What balls do you use? Do balls last longer? The balls do pick up a bit of moisture after rain but not as much as we have found when playing on astro-turf. We have found that the balls do fluff up, especially when wet. This can be a problem because they can get quite fluffy but it does depend what type of balls are used. We normally use Slazenger Wimbledon Ultra Vis with Hydroguard and we were advised that these would be the best choice for water repellent qualities. They are fine when the courts are completely dry but, in the wet, these fluff up badly. We have therefore switched to using Wilson Double Core balls when the carpet is wet and these are perfectly okay as regards fluffing. They are a "harder" ball and our members sometimes remark that they prefer the Slazenger balls (but understand why we use them). The balls do last significantly longer than when used on our all-weather tarmac courts. Do players have to wear a particular type of shoe, or, like indoor carpet courts, is it preferable to wear a slightly worn out shoe? We were advised by the court suppliers that ordinary tennis shoes should be worn (not trainers with ridged soles). Unlike indoor carpet courts, a sole with a good grip is preferred. There is some slight "slide" quality created by the sand. Mr Baird indicated that the Club was very satisfied with the courts, so much so that they are to re-surface their two remaining tarmac courts with the same surface later this year. Thank you to Pensford Tennis Club for letting us include this information on the Playrite blog and if anyone has any further comments or questions we'd be happy to answer them or click here to find out more about our Playrite Tennis Surfaces .   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/playrite-tennis-surface-review-of-qualities-and-suitability.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/november/playrite-tennis-surface-review-of-qualities-and-suitability.aspx Wed, 30 November 2011 10:02:00 http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/october/guten-tag!-from-playrite-at-fsb-cologne.aspx Well ladies and gentlemen, it has finally happened. After months of planning since I first started at Playrite in December we've finally made it to FSB all in one piece. The stand is set up, the floor laid, we've got our corporate shirts on and the beers are in the fridge cooling. Now we're just putting the finishing touches to our stand and waiting for our first visitors to arrive; so I thought I'd take some time to upload a blog direct from the Koelnmesse. Not in Cologne but want to check out a sneak preview of our stand? Check out the short video above. More pictures and videos to follow, keep an eye on @PlayriteSurface   http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/october/guten-tag!-from-playrite-at-fsb-cologne.aspx http://www.playrite.co.uk/media/blog/2011/october/guten-tag!-from-playrite-at-fsb-cologne.aspx Wed, 26 October 2011 08:42:00