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Playground Wood Chips

Playground Wood Chips — Safe, Certified Surfacing for Spokane & North Idaho

When kids are running, climbing, and falling — because they will — what they land on matters. Playground wood chips are one of the most widely used, safety-certified surfaces available, and for good reason. They cushion falls, drain quickly, look natural, and hold up through all four seasons of Inland Northwest weather.

Advanced Bark Blowing supplies and installs playground wood chips for schools, parks, HOA common areas, church playgrounds, and residential play areas throughout Spokane, Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, and surrounding North Idaho communities.

IPEMA-Certified. ASTM-Compliant. ADA-Accessible.

Not all wood chips are playground-safe. The material matters, and so does the testing behind it. Our engineered wood fiber playground surfaces are:

Third-party certified by IPEMA to ASTM F1292 and F2075 standards for impact attenuation and material specifications
Compliant with CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) playground surfacing guidelines
ADA-accessible when installed at proper depth and maintained regularly
Made from natural virgin wood by-products. No recycled pallets, no treated lumber, no chemical additives

This is what separates hardwood playground chips from basic mulch or garden bark. These materials have been tested, and the testing results are what let us guarantee a safer surface for children.

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Installed by Blower Truck — Not Dumped and Left

This is what makes Advanced Bark different from ordering a delivery of bagged chips or having loose material dumped in a pile. Our 60-yard-capacity Express Blower trucks apply wood chips for playgrounds evenly, at consistent depth, reaching into corners and around equipment that a wheelbarrow can’t access.

No piles left on walkways or parking lots
No wheelbarrow damage to surrounding turf or landscaping
Even depth across the entire play area — critical for consistent fall protection
Finished, professional appearance on day one

We can complete most residential and small commercial playground installations in a few hours. Larger parks and school grounds can typically be done in a single day.

How Deep Should Playground Wood Chips Be?

Depth depends on the fall height of your equipment. CPSC guidelines recommend a minimum of 9 inches of uncompressed wood chips for equipment up to 8 feet high, compacting to approximately 6 inches. At 9 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 36 square feet.

Not sure how much material you need? Call us — we’ll help you calculate it based on your square footage and equipment height. We’d rather give you an accurate estimate upfront than have you come up short.

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Serving Spokane, Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene & North Idaho

We supply and install playground wood chips throughout the Inland Northwest, including Spokane, Spokane Valley, Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, Liberty Lake, and surrounding communities. If you’re not sure whether we serve your area, just ask.

Ready to get a quote? Request a free estimate online or call us at (208) 777-2700. We’ll get back to you quickly with pricing and availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is playground wood fiber the same as regular bark mulch?

No. Engineered wood fiber is specifically processed and tested for playground safety. Regular bark mulch doesn’t meet IPEMA or ASTM standards for fall attenuation. If you need a certified surface, the material has to be the right kind.

Do you install playground chips at residential properties?

Yes. Homeowners with backyard play sets, trampolines, or swing sets are some of our most common residential customers. The same certified material used in public parks is available for home installations.

Can you install over existing bark or mulch?

It depends on the condition of the existing material. If it’s compacted or contaminated, we’d recommend removing it first. If it’s still in good shape, we can add depth to bring the surface back up to recommended levels. We can advise after seeing your space.

What's the minimum order?

Advanced Bark has a 10-yard minimum for installations. For most playground projects, you’ll need well above that — a typical school or park playground might require 30–80+ yards depending on the size.

How It Works

Step #1

Contact us on our contact form to request a free quote. Or give us a call for a quicker response. We will respond quickly.

Step #2

We will offer you a free quote for bark blowing on your property. If needed, we will be glad to assist with measuring and estimating.

Step #3

When you accept we will schedule and perform your bark blowing service enhancing the beauty of your property!

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Why Playground Wood Chips Hold Up

The Inland Northwest throws a lot at outdoor surfaces — freeze-thaw cycles, heavy spring rain, summer heat, and wind. Here’s how playground wood chips handle it:

Impact absorption — far more give than concrete, asphalt, packed dirt, or gravel, especially when a child falls from height
Drainage — the fibrous structure allows water to pass through quickly, so the surface dries fast and stays usable after rain
Stability — engineered wood fiber stays in place better than round or loose materials; it knits together once settled
Weather resistance — field-tested in extreme hot and cold conditions; maintains performance across seasons

We’ve installed playground surfacing for HOAs across the area — here’s what one of them said after installation:

“Our HOA has a park, and the playground area needed new bark. Advanced Bark showed up on time, delivered the bark and leveled it. They checked with me before they left to be sure everything was good. The material had been raked and looked awesome. I highly recommend them.”

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Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed

Your satisfaction is our priority and we strive to provide a service we are proud of. We start every project by gaining a thorough understanding of your goals and the needs of the project. We are meticulous about cleanup and follow up to ensure you are 100% happy with the results.

Playground Wood Chips