Playsets

So spring has finally arrived here and naturally my thoughts turn to playsets for the backyard. I would like the wooden type with swings , a fort and some other attachments. Anyone recommend some? What works, what doesn't as far as attachments. My two will be 3 in June. I have seen kits at Home Depot, TRU, and some beautiful(but uber expensive) ones at a local garden centre(Rainbow brand). Any first hand experience? I am willing to build it myself with the help of my two older brothers!!
Mike
Oops, almost forgot. Nowadays they recommend a substrate of some sort under the structure(showing my age here, 44, but in my day substrate was grass!!) so did/do you use sand/ mulch/ pea gravel or nothing???

 

We're in the midst of this decision as well. Also thinking of a DIY set . . . if you google "swingset kit" or some equivalent you'll find many many more than there are at Home Depot - mostly the kind where you purchase the plans, the hardware, and some of the pieces, along with a list of what lumber you need.

From what I've heard, a lot of people think the Rainbow sets are totally worth the money, but I just can't see spending so many thousands of dollars. They have a lot of showrooms - check there website and see if there's one near you. You can just go in and play all day while deciding if you want to buy one.

Another good brand (I've been told) is Cedarworks, but it's equally expensive.

I thought that even the sets from Walmart looked pretty nice, but then I read the reviews - sounds like they're pretty small, extremely difficult to put together - they're inexpensive, so you get what you pay for.

Not very helpful I know . . . having a hard time making a decision myself.

Rachel

 

My SIL is researching this and has come to the conclusion that the one she wants is at Home Depot - fwiw!

My DH won't let us have one because he doesn't want to dig out the grass or have to mow and weed whack around the legs (it scuffs up the legs and grass growing up the legs would be unsightly. AND the grass will get worn out and depending on where you live could turn into a dirt and mud pit - hence the need for "substrate" (whatever that might mean - too early in the morning). I know some people who did a VERY nice job with theirs and dug it out and put railroad ties around it (sorta dug in) and then got the tire chips painted to look like wood (very comfy if a child should fall. not going to be poked etc...) If you substrate with anything other than grass - I'd look into that!

 

When we bought my house, it came with a creative playthings swing set.

My girls love it. Just so you know if you get a wood set, they all seem to recommend that you paint it every year. We are having creative playthings come tomorrow to restake, tighten the bolts and seal it. My girls do the monkey bar. They love climbing the rope ladder.

 

We got one of the two wooden ones they had a Wal Mart. We used fine grade mulch instead of playground bark. Huge price difference. The pic is from the day we finished it.

 

We are still unsure how we will put the swing set in our back yard (our yard isn't totally flat). As we are in process of redoing our water drainage (have problems) along with a professionally landscape on both side of the existing fence area.

I saw a photo picture of our play group that had a really small swing set w/2 swing, small tower, and slide by Menards. Anyone brought swing set from Menards? If we can't get a swing set, I'll make sure my twins have plenty of other outdoor toys to play with such as water/sand, toss & ring, basketball, picnic table, and a possibly of a glider at Target (online). They'll be going to several park this Summer through their play group.

I have always wanted a 2-seat swing for our patio. So, that could in turn be a swing for the twins too, ha! See-See
D, w/Rianna and Justin

 

I saw a very nice one at Costco. It is wood and it has a playhouse, climbing wall, slide, swings and monkey bars. We haven't bought one yet, mainly because of the "substrate" issue. We'd rather not deal with that, although we'll probably cave in and do it sometime in the next year.

ETA - I'd really like to move to a house that already has one all set up like the pp! :laughing:

 

We built a home depot one about a month ago and we love it. It took my husband about three days--and they weren't full days. He did it pretty much by himself; I helped when I could. The girls love it and so does my ten year old. It is very sturdy and very economical considering the prices of the other wooden sets. We didn't dig out, probably should have to have it nice and level. We have had some really bad storms and straight line winds and not a budge. It doesn't shake or rock. As a matter of fact, it is so heavy there is no way it could be moved with tearing it down.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o113/ut...22/IMG_0031.jpg

 

We have one of the kits from Lowes. It is beautiful -and VERY sturdy. My DH put it together in about 4 days (He had to cut all of the wood) It really is an awesome set. I will post a pic tomorrow when it is daylight and I can take a good one!