Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re curious about our slides, these commonly asked questions and answers are a great resource. You can also contact us to explore the benefits of a Little Tikes Commercial slide.

Can Little Tikes Commercial Slides Be Customized?

Our slides come in a wild assortment of styles, from straight and fast to winding and curvy. Kids love them all — but you know your audience best. If you have an idea for customization, our team can guide you through your options.

We have nearly every imaginable slide, from our extra-long Hypersonic to the classic Spiral with a smaller footprint. Choose one of these existing structures to match your playground concept or work with our design team and let your imagination take flight.

Here are just a few ways you can customize your installation:

• Pick a color scheme that suits your school or community flair.
• Explore our range of materials, including durable plastic.
• From the jungle to knights and castles, choose a theme for your slides and overall playground design.
• Adjust slides and other components to fit within the parameters of your space.

Whether you have a specific vision or an inkling of an idea, we want to make your dream slide a reality.

Do You Offer Warranties on Your Slides?

Yes, we offer warranties on all our products — including our wide array of slides.

As part of our commitment to meet and exceed industry safety standards, we create play structures built to last. That’s years and years of kids sliding down and climbing back up to do it again.

Our warranties provide extra peace of mind that we stand behind our materials and designs.

Are There Funding Options Available for Purchasing Playground Slides?

We believe that a limited budget should never stop communities from offering quality playground equipment to the families they serve. That’s why Little Tikes Commercial offers multiple funding solutions, and helpful information and guides.

• Financing: Lease your slide and spread your payments over time. You can also break up your playground concept into phases, introducing new sections as your budget allows.
• Grants: Provided by government agencies, nonprofit foundations, and other organizations, grants are an excellent source of playground funding.
• Local sponsors: Consider reaching out to a local business to garner support for your project.
• Government pricing: Schools, nonprofits, and government entities may qualify for special pricing and streamlined procurement.
• Fundraising and crowdfunding: Your local community is often a great funding source, whether through crowdfunding or fundraiser events.

Check out our playground funding resources for detailed guides and expert tips.

What Is the Best Material for a Slide?

Pros of metal slides include:

• Durability: Metal is a very durable material in general, which can make it a great slide material. Slides need to be resistant to a number of things, including normal wear and tear, weather, and vandalism. The durability of metal slides is one of their greatest advantages.
• Aesthetic appeal: Metal slides have a very classic look and can be aesthetically pleasing to look at.
• Fast speeds: Metal surfaces are slicker than other options, which allows kids to have a fun and fast ride. Fast slides are exciting for kids, making this material a great option for kids looking for an adventure.
• No static: Plastic slides tend to put off static. Metal slides don’t, making them better for kids with cochlear implants, as the static can interfere with or potentially damage their implants.

Considerations to make with metal slides include:

• Hot temperatures: One of the biggest disadvantages of metal slides is the potential for the metal surface to reach hot temperatures when exposed to the sun. While metal slides can be treated to resist high temperatures, they still tend to get hotter than plastic slides. Place them under cover to avoid this potential drawback.
• High cost: Metal slides can have a higher upfront cost depending on their size, any metal treatments, and where you purchase it.
• Potential for rust: While metal slides are durable and resistant, there is still a potential for rust. Rust can deteriorate a slide and may be difficult to repair. Choose rust-proof stainless steel or slides that are treated to resist corrosion.

Pros of plastic slides include:

• Versatility: One of the biggest advantages of plastic slides is the ability to change the material to create different shapes. Slides with fun shapes and designs are typically made of plastic and can be created in sections to allow for easy moving and installation.
• Ease of repair: Plastic is much easier to maintain, clean, and repair. This may help the slide last longer, even under harsh elements.
• Cost-effectiveness: Plastic slides tend to be cost-effective and appeal to a wide range of playground users. Plastic commercial slides are made with thick plastic for durability.
• Safety: Plastic slides are better at resisting heat and can be more user-friendly for young kids.

Potential drawbacks of plastic slides include:

• Ease of defacing: Plastic slides are more prone to vandalism because they are easy to damage and deface.
• Degradation: While the thick plastic used for commercial playground slides is still very durable, it will degrade over time. However, this does take many years, and plastic slides are easily repairable.
• Static: Plastic slides generate static electricity, which can interfere with cochlear implants and be generally uncomfortable for many kids.

Despite the pros and cons of both materials, plastic tends to be the more widely used material for slides because it’s more readily available, and more affordable. However, the best slide material may differ depending on the needs of your playground and its users. Consider implementing a mix of slides in different materials if it makes sense for your design and space.

What Is the Best Slide Shape?

The best slide shape will vary for each playground. While there is no one best slide shape, there are shapes that may work better in some situations than others. Spiral slides have a smaller footprint than other options, making them one of the best slide shapes for playgrounds with limited space. Straight slides work best in playgrounds for young kids because they’re simple and allow adults to easily supervise the fun.

The best slide for a playground can also depend on the preferences and abilities of the children who use the playground. Unique shapes and designs like the colossus slide or slalom slide tend to be more exciting and engaging for kids than traditional straight slides. So, it may be best to go with something a bit different. Doing so can also make your playground stand out in comparison to others.

What Slides Are Safe for Commercial Playgrounds?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has regulations to ensure commercial playground slides and other equipment are designed and constructed for safe use. To ensure you’re purchasing safe equipment, confirm that the manufacturer is CPSC certified so you know the slide you choose is compliant with safety guidelines. Keep in mind that a slide must be manufactured and installed with safety guidelines and standards for it to be safe in commercial playgrounds.

It’s also helpful to understand what the standards are for a safe slide. Look into CPSC and other guidelines for information about:

• Platforms: Ensure your platform meets proper height and drainage requirements, among others.
• Barriers: Barriers or guardrails serve as railings and have certain opening dimension requirements.
• Sides for straight slides: Open, flat slides should have sides that meet the necessary height and other requirements.
• Slope: The slide itself as well as ramps, ladders, and stairs have to meet certain degree requirements.
• Tube slide diameter: Tube slides should have a certain internal diameter.
• Slide exit: Slide exit height requirements may vary for toddlers’ and school-aged kids’ slides.