With great play comes great responsibility. Here’s a friendly breakdown of typical warranty coverage for schoolyard installations and seasonal maintenance tips!

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Playground Walkthrough

Before the playground opens, we have a construction walkthrough to ensure everything is ready for opening day. During this walkthrough with the TPL, contractors, and landscape architects, we discuss basic playground maintenance.

• We will provide custodial engineers with both hard copies and emailed copies of all equipment warranties. It’s important that these documents are kept in a safe, accessible place, especially in the case of custodial staff turnover, so that future staff can reference them if needed.
• Before the playground officially opens, all play equipment is thoroughly inspected by both the manufacturer and our landscape architects. This ensures that everything meets safety and quality standards, and that the space is fully ready for children and the community to enjoy.

Warranty Summary

Play Equipment

• Visual inspection confirmed installation met manufacturer specs and CPSC guidelines.
• Warranty applies to equipment installed as specified; excludes foundations and subsurface work.
• Not covered if improperly installed, planted, or maintained.

Drinking Fountains

• 1-year limited warranty covering defective material or poor workmanship.
• Replacement parts provided (labor not included).
• Must be installed and maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications.
• Damage from freezing (if not shut off and drained for winter) is not covered.

Synthetic Turf

• 5-year limited warranty against workmanship defects, UV degradation, and loss of tensile strength greater than 50%.
• Guarantee against pile height decrease of more than 50% when installed and maintained properly.
• Warranty voided if damaged by snowplow chains, improper infill, heavy loads, or unauthorized repair.
  

Trees & Plantings

• Trees are expected to establish within the first 2 years if watered properly.
• With basic care, trees can live up to 80 years.
• Warranty responsibility held by the site’s custodial engineer.
• Not covered if they are stressed, declining, or improperly planted. Must be completely dead for replacement.

If the repair is not covered under warranty, TPL will still work to fund the repair, depending on cost and available funds.
The Department of School Facilities is also a source for parts, supplies, and materials needed to make repairs.

Winterization Tips:

• To prevent freeze damage which will break the fountain and void the warranty, shut off the water supply and drain the lines before November 10th, and keep it off until early April or until all danger of freezing has passed.
• Do not use chained tires on the surface of colorseal.
• If plowing is unavoidable nearby, wrap plow blade edges with cloth to prevent scraping.
• Minimize salt use to avoid damage to both Color Seal and nearby concrete curbs.
• Turf cannot be plowed. Allow snow to melt naturally.
• Report seam separations or rips immediately after they appear.
• Use leaf blowers carefully; avoid placing heavy objects, tents, or chairs on the surface.

Key Takeaways

1. Follow seasonal maintenance: winterize water fountains, protect turf, and care for trees during early years.
2. Understand warranty obligations: improper use, lack of maintenance, and unauthorized repairs can void coverage.
3. Act promptly: report defects or damage to manufacturers right away to prevent further issues.
4. Document everything: keep records of inspections, repairs, and upkeep.

By knowing your product warranties and sticking to manufacturer-recommended care, we can preserve our schoolyard’s beauty, function, and safety for many years.

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