Surfacing Finishing Options
Softline
Choose the finish that fits your project goals, budget, and visual direction.
The Right Finish to Your Playground
The core surfacing system is only part of the final product. The finish option plays a major role in how the surface looks, how it wears, how long color lasts, and how the project balances appearance with cost.
Softline’s finishing options give project teams a way to align the final surface with the priorities of the job—whether that means premium color, a more natural look, stronger budget control, or a practical balance of all three.
Best for
Benefit
More control over how the final surface looks, performs, and ages
Projects that need to balance appearance, durability, and budget on the visible surfacing layer
Why finish selection matters
Choosing the right finish affects:
color vibrancy
long-term appearance
UV stability
repair expectations
overall cost
the final visual feel of the project
For buyers, this is not just a cosmetic decision. It is part of the overall product strategy.
EPDM Virgin Rubber
Best when premium appearance matters most
EPDM is Softline’s premium finish option.
It is positioned around:
bright, vibrant color
UV stability
stronger long-term appearance
the longest-lasting color life
If the goal is a premium-looking surface that keeps its color over time, EPDM is the strongest option.
Color Fleck
Best when you want stronger aesthetics without full EPDM cost
Color Fleck blends EPDM color granules with recycled black rubber.
That gives project teams:
a darker, more blended aesthetic
a cost position below full EPDM
a middle ground between premium appearance and budget control
Natural Feel Mulch
Best when you want a more natural visual style
Natural Feel Mulch is designed to resemble wood mulch while keeping the accessibility and maintenance advantages of a rubber surface.
That makes it attractive for projects that want:
a natural playground look
easier accessibility than real loose-fill mulch
simpler maintenance and repair than wood-based surfacing
Pigmented Crumb Rubber
Best when budget matters more than long-term color life
Pigmented Crumb Rubber uses a colored coating over recycled rubber.
Its main advantage is cost. It gives buyers a lower-cost way to achieve a colored surface, but the cosmetic tradeoff is that the coating can wear down over time.
For projects where a lower price point is more important than long-term premium color retention, it can be a practical choice.
Recycled Black Rubber
Best when cost sensitivity leads the decision
Recycled Black Rubber is the budget-friendly finish option and is best suited to projects where function matters more than color expression.
It is a straightforward option for buyers who want:
recycled content
practical performance
the most budget-sensitive finish direction
TerraFlex
Best for tree surrounds, walking trails and garden footpaths.
TerraFlex™ is a finishing option exclusive to our FlexiStep™ system. Comprised of recycled rubber crumb and aggregate, it creates a highly porous, durable surface for tree surrounds, walkways and general-use areas.
Highly Permeable: third-party tested for rapid drainage and storm water management.
Designer Friendly: natural black rubber and aggregate paired with clear or pigmented resin for a unique look and feel.
Custom Applications: precast tree grates and tree surround options with easy installation.
Ideal for: walking trails, hospital gardens, university footpaths, arboretums, golf trails and memorial gardens.
How to choose the right finish
Choose EPDM for:
the best color performance
a premium visual result
longer-lasting appearance
Choose Color Fleck if you want:
a more distinctive aesthetic than black rubber alone
some cost savings versus full EPDM
Choose Natural Feel Mulch if you want:
a more natural visual style
the look of mulch without the same accessibility and maintenance drawbacks
Choose Pigmented Crumb Rubber if you want:
a lower-cost colored surface
a practical compromise on appearance versus price
Choose Recycled Black Rubber if you want:
the lowest-cost finish option
simple functional performance with minimal aesthetic emphasis
Binder options
Every poured-in-place rubber surface relies on a polyurethane resin binder to hold the system together. The binder choice affects how the surface cures and how colors appear after installation.
SOFTLINE STANDARD
Aliphatic polyurethane
UV-stable from installation. Aliphatic binder is specified as standard on Softline projects to support:
color clarity from day one
no curing-phase yellowing
consistent appearance across the life of the surface
stronger visual performance on high-visibility and high-profile projects
AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Aromatic polyurethane
The lower-cost, industry-standard binder used across most of the poured-in-place market. Aromatic binder can impart a slight yellow tint to certain colors as the surface cures — blues may shift toward green, greys may appear brownish. Although the effect is superficial and typically clears within 2 to 6 months of weathering, it cannot be guaranteed or covered by warranty.
Available on request for:
budget-sensitive projects
projects using colors less sensitive to UV yellowing
applications where initial color shift is not a concern
Every Softline project includes a color sign-off sheet documenting binder selection, approved colors, and placement to ensure protection of the design intent.
Personalize your surface
Finishing options should not be treated like an afterthought. They are one of the clearest ways projects can be personalized to match the look, lifecycle expectations, and budget.
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OUR LOCATIONS
7211 8 St NE
Calgary, AB T2E 8A2
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Surrey, BC V3S 7X1
POURED IN PLACE RUBBER
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