Best Surface to have Underneath a Trampoline
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 15:42 — justinThe ideal surface to have underneath your trampoline fulfills several criteria. First and foremost, a level surface is required to provide a base for the trampoline. It not only allows for the best possible bounce, but it implements an equal strain on the frame while bouncing. If the ground is uneven, it will cause certain areas of frame to receive more stress than others, thus increasing the likely hood of early replacement or failure of those parts. The second important factor is the cushioning ability or give of the ground. Grass or dirt are often two of the best choices because they can be level and provided some additional give. Once the ground becomes impacted from the trampoline frame, it is best to rotate the trampoline to continuously have the additional shock absorbing properties of the dirt. Other types of ground cover that can work are rubber mulch (on top of dirt), tanbark (on top of dirt), or any kind of rubber/foam ground covering (on top of dirt). Obviously, the key element here is shock absorption and materials such as concrete, brick, or stone are not recommend surfaces for this reason. If one of these stringent surfaces is used, it is best to layer with several inches of foam to provide a forgiving base. Remember these two factors, level and shock absorption, and the life and enjoyment of your trampoline will remain for a long time.