We had an awful messy patch which was a dustbowl in summer and a dirtbog in winter, but didn't want a hard surface for the children to play on. Pave It Safe make a durable, safe and attractive rubber tile product which fit the area perfectly.

They come in a range of attractive colours and can be cut to fit any area. They have safety rating to Australian standards and are virtually indestructible, clean up easily with broom or hose, and water just runs off or is absorbed as the top layer is slightly porous.

The company prepared the ground by digging out to level surface and laying crushed rock and sand, then the pavers on top. There are also attractive edging pieces you can finish off garden beds with to complete the area. We were supremely happy with the finish - no messy tan bark chips which need replacing and impact absorbing so falls are negligible.

Only one word of warning - if you have big trees nearby, the roots can be in danger of "lifting" the tiles. We had to have the company back to re-seat them, but of course, that wasn't their fault or the fault of their product.

They do come at a bit of a price but it was worth it for what we get - years of safe, easy to maintain surface. Just clean the cracks between the tiles every now and then so you don't get an accumulation of dirt which can attract mosses etc. But otherwise they are maintenance free.

You can "do it yourself" as well. But for our area we chose to have them come in. Many applications as well as just children's playgrounds - animal areas, sporting etc.

Very pleased with our area and if you do happen to damage some, because they're not glued or cemented or anything, a section can be lifted and replaced. Very happy with the ongoing result.

Approximate cost: $Our job - b/w $3,000 and $4,000