My Shopping Bag
Stainless Steel vs. Plastic Playground Slides: How to Choose
Stainless steel and plastic slides solve different problems. Landrec designs, engineers and fabricates both, along with climbing nets and themed play structures, so this guide compares them side by side to help you choose the right material for your deck height, budget and setting.
Stainless Steel vs. Plastic Slides at a Glance
| Factor | 304 Stainless Steel Slides | Rotomolded Commercial Plastic Slides |
|---|---|---|
| Expected life | 75+ years | 15 to 20 years |
| Warranty | 25-year limited warranty on stainless steel material | 10-year limited warranty |
| Shapes | Straight, spiral, tube, wide-bed and embankment, built to your drawings | Tube and spiral sections in molded configurations |
| Best fit | Architectural, signature, indoor and high-traffic projects | Standard playground structures and tighter budgets |
| Look | Brushed or polished metal that reads as architecture | Colored plastic that reads as play equipment |
| Standards | Landrec builds both to ASTM standards for public, indoor and residential playgrounds | |
When to Choose a Stainless Steel Slide
Choose stainless steel when the slide is a design element, not just equipment. It suits stair-side slides inside homes, embankment slides set into a hillside, lobby and atrium slides, and public parks where the slide must last for decades. Because each stainless slide is fabricated to your section, it can match an unusual deck height, run length or radius.
When to Choose a Plastic Slide
Choose a rotomolded plastic slide when you need color, an enclosed tube on a standard play structure, or a lower first cost. Plastic slides are a good fit for modular playgrounds and for projects with a shorter planning horizon.
Slide Types at a Glance
Planning by Deck Height
Most buyers start with the deck height, such as a 6, 8, 10 or 12 foot platform. Send us the deck height, the available run length and whether the slide is indoor or outdoor. We recommend a slide type and material, then provide CAD files and dimensional drawings your team can drop into the set. Custom deck heights are available on our stainless slides. Our most common deck heights are 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 ft, available across our slide types: open embankment, stainless tunnel embankment, spiral tunnel, curved plastic, curved stainless, custom tunnel and custom open slides.
Lead Times
Normal custom fabrication takes 10 to 16 weeks from an approved design. Some products ship in less than 4 weeks. Installation runs through licensed contractors, and we serve all 50 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which lasts longer, a stainless steel slide or a plastic slide?
A 304 stainless steel slide can last 75 years or more and carries a 25-year limited warranty on the stainless steel. An commercial plastic rotomolded plastic slide typically lasts 15 to 20 years and carries a 10-year limited warranty.
Can Landrec build a slide for a 10-foot deck?
Yes. Our stainless steel slides are custom fabricated to your deck height. Send your section or deck height to info@landrec.com for a recommendation and quote.
Do your slides meet playground safety standards?
Yes. Everything Landrec builds meets ASTM standards for public, indoor and residential playgrounds.
Can I buy just the slide to mount on my own structure?
Yes. Landrec supplies the slide to mount on your play structure, deck or embankment hill. Our slides are not freestanding, so they need a structure or slope to attach to.
Get a Quote
Send a section, site plan or deck height to info@landrec.com or call (888) 857-2001. See more of our work on the custom slides page.
