Play Set Buyers Guide

#1 Guide to Buying a New Playset!

A playset can be a major purchase. Selecting the right one is like buying a new car. There are all kinds of gadgets and add ons some of which seem ridiculously expensive and others just plain useless.

The following is an objective buyers guide, which will help you in selecting the swingset that best suits your children's needs and your wallet. The information comes from our combined 30 years designing and retailing several brands of playsets from the absolute top of the line to the most basic do it yourself kits.

First . . .

Go to the park. Different children like different things. If you're not sure which components you're child or children enjoy the most take them to the park and simply observe.

Since some playset designs cater more towards climbing apparatus and others towards forts or swings it's a good idea to know what you're looking for before you begin to shop. This will save you both time and money.

Choose the swingset placement

Playsets come in a variety of sizes. You may fall in love with a model that simply won't fit in your yard. "I've gotten to a customers house and had to turn around and go back to the shop because the customers area was way too small for the set they selected." says Tom Doherty, a playset installation specialist. "The customers will even get upset with us for not being able to install it." He adds. Take the time to review playset catalogs and brochures taking into consideration playset dimensions including "buffer zones". (to read more about selecting your swingset placement click here (links to http://www.playsets.org/playset_site_preparation/index.php)

Designs, Good & Bad

Playset manufacturers typically follow industry guidelines in terms of safety when designing their sets. Although this is true for MOST it is not uncommon to see playsets with serious design flaws. The following is a list of reasons NOT to purchase a particular model:

Have openings less than 3 1/2" or greater than 9"

Openings that are between 3' 1/2" and 9" present a head entrapment hazard . Potential Entrapment and Strangulation Hazards - Open "S" hooks, especially on swings, and any protrusions or equipment component/hardware which may act as hooks or catch-points can entangle with children's clothing and cause strangulation incidents. Close "S" hooks as tightly as possible and eliminate protrusions or catch-points on playground equipment.

Pinch or Crush Points

There should be no exposed moving parts, which may present a pinching or crushing hazard.

Although not as serious as the examples above there are other design quirks, which are frowned upon but still regularly used by playset manufacturers.

Swings and Components Hanging from the Monkey Bars

This can cause entanglement when one child is crossing the monkey bars while another is swinging. The manufacturer may recommend that you remove the swings while a child is using the monkey bars however this greatly limits the number of children who can simultaneously enjoy the playset.

Metal Sides

Again common a few years ago most manufacturers have switched to plastic slides with UV inhibitors. If you really love a set yet it is equipped with a metal slide purchase it without the slide and buy the slide separately.

Which Wood is the Best?

There is a broad range of woods used in the construction of playsets. The following is a list of the most common starting with the best and ending with the least desirable.

Redwood

Redwood is a great wood for use in playset construction. It is strong, naturally weathers well and resists rot. The only thing to watch out for is excessive knots. Some manufacturers will use a low-end redwood to save money. Knots, depending on their location can weaken the wood.

Red Cedar/Northern White Cedar/Yellow Cedar

Although it is naturally rot and insect resistant today's western red cedar is not as dense as Redwood. This may cause bolts and screws to need re tightening frequently. Yellow Cedar is strong however not as readily available. Northern White Cedar is also a good alternative providing it is of high grade.

Non-CCA Pressure Treated Southern Yellow Pine

Although many playsets present in peoples yards are made using what is commonly referred to as "pressure treated lumber" the industry has voluntarily decided to move away from pressure treated woods using CCA (chromated copper arsenic). This decision was made even though there is no evidence that "pressure treated" wood presents any health risks. Quote from EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): "Although the Agency has not concluded that there is unreasonable risk to the public from these products, we do believe that any reduction in exposure to arsenic is desirable." This change will take effect December 31, 2003.

Other Pressure Treated Woods

During the past few years we have seen and worked with woods containing a variety of new pressure treatments. Some of these have been awful and others ok. The best that we have seen is a product called "Ultrawood". Another popular product is "ACQ". No matter which type of alternative pressure treated lumber you select we recommend it is kiln dried to prevent warping and extreme checking (cracking).

Vinyl Covered Wood

Ok this is technically not wood however it is an emerging alternative to pressure treated lumber as well as a low maintenance alternative to most wood construction.

A few years ago we were still on the fence about vinyl swingsets however they have come a long way. Originally, many of the vinyl swingset manufacturers were having a hard time configuring swingsets in such a way that they met basic safety standards. Now, many manufacturer through trial and error, have tweaked their designs to follow swingset safety standards.

The obvious benefit to vinyl swingsets is their longevity, appearance and small amount of maintenance. Todays vinyl swingsets can be found in a variety of colors including white, ivory, clay and gray as well as many styles and sizes.

Pine or Painted Pine

Several companies are still using a variety of pines in their playset construction. most are painting the wood in order to prevent almost immediate rot or insect infestation. Regardless of how the wood is finished the fact remains that if any part of the wood becomes exposed it will deteriorate rapidly.

There are several other types of woods and wood alternatives used in the manufacturing of playground equipment however we have listed the most common. Some other materials are: Teak and Mahogany, which are both strong and weather well. Trex, Fiberon and other so called "plastic woods". These products are not structurally strong however they are good for non-structural parts like playset decking and handrails.

Do your research online

Search online for playset dealers in your area. Your best bet is to use major search engines such as Google and Yahoo! Searches for "playsets", "playground equipment", "swingsets" or a specific type of swingset ie. "vinyl swingsets" yield the best results.

Search engines such as Google allow their advertisers to show their ads to people in a certain geographical area so look at the ads at the top and to the right on your results page when doing a search. If the advertisement is from a local retailer you will see the city or state under the advertisement.

If you don't get many results online refer to your local yellow pages directory. Of course the advent of the Internet has made searching for virtually anything easier. Many of the Yellow Page listings will have websites so you may do your research from the comfort of your home without waiting for catalogs to come in the mail. In many cases the prices will not be listed on the retailers websites. Once you have done your preliminary research call the retailers who do not have prices listed. Be sure to have the model number and they should be able to quote you a price over the phone.

Watch out for the "add-on" game.

While seeking out prices be careful of what we like to refer to as the "add on game". Many retailers will advertise grandiose playsets at what seem to be incredibly low prices. Once you get into the store however you find that the accessories pictured in the ad are not included with the playset. The most common "trick" is to not include such basic items as the slide, tent top, swings or other components. Even more often these "options" are severely overpriced to make up for the low swingset price. You soon find that the swingset is twice what you thought it was going to be. One way to avoid this borderline scam is to seek out the fine print. Often times somewhere in the advertisement there will be a small blurb that states "shown with optional accessories". If you see this find a different retailer.

Ask about warranties.

Quality manufacturers offer some type of warranty or guarantee. Granted they will in most cases be limited in scope they should still protect you against faulty parts which you will notice almost immediately after installation.

Swings and Accessories

The included swings should ideally have Plastisol coating on the chains. Plastisol holds up very well and eliminates "pinch points". Another option is "soft grip" which is a very thick covering which makes it easier for children to grip the chains. This product is good yet plastisol is still the better option.

Tents and Canopies

If you are searching for a playset with a play deck or fort, be sure it has a tent top, canopy or roof. The children will undoubtedly be spending a great deal of time there so protection from the suns rays is important.

Ladders and monkey bars

Playset ladders and monkey bars ideally have powder coated or plastisol coated rungs as opposed to wooden rungs.

There are so many manufacturers of playground equipment, playsets and swingsets today that is hard to list every possible benefit and drawback. Simply use your best judgment and ask questions.

Good luck with your playset purchase and remember SAFETY FIRST!

Playset Site Preparation

The following are the guidelines we recommend for wooden playsets. Although these guidelines should work for most wooden playsets it is possible that manufacturers guidelines may vary. Be sure to read your manufacturers instructions before following these playset guidelines.

Before you begin your playset assembly it is important that you have selected and prepared the site.

You should select an area that is relatively level (within 6-8" of grade) and is free from debris (leaves, burried stumps etc). It is also important that you select an area which can be seen from the house and more specifically the room(s) you would most commonly be in while the children are playing in the event you can't be outside.

Next, using the instructions provided with your playset kit to determine the size, outline the area with some string.

If your instructions recommend a "buffer" zone follow the instructions. If the instructions simply show the dimensions of the playset it is a good idea to add 14' to both the width and length to provide adequate space should a child take a tumble while swinging.

Once you have mapped out the area you need to determine what type of ground cover you will use.

The following are our recomendations in order from best to least desirable.

Shredded Rubber (AKA Rubber mulch)

Rubber mulch comes in a variety of "grades". The product used for play areas must be free from wire/steel which is common in rubber mulch used in landscaping.This option is by far the most expensive.

Pea Stone

Many people balk at the idea of placing stones under a playset however pea stone is very forgiving due to it's round shape. It is also relatively inexpensive and comes in a variety of colors. Note: Be sure to use 3/8" stone or smaller. Do not use Pea Gravel which is more course and compacts quickly.

Bark Mulch

Bark mulch can also be used however it deteriorates rapidly and does not rebound from compaction quickly enough. If you opt for bark mulch use Red Cedar mulch due to it's rot and insect resistent nature. Shredded or double shredded mulch works the best.

Grass

If you don't like any of the preceding options then simply leave the grass (assunming there is grass).

Play Sand

Sand is really not a good play area surface. It will find it's way into your childs clothes, hair, ears etc. and will stay wet up to several days after it rains. Oh yeah. Neighborhood cats love it.

So you've mapped out the area, selected the ground cover and are ready to get to work.

Grab a spade shovel and begin removing the grass and soil from the lowest area of the site. You want to dig down about 9 inches. 12 inches if you're going to be suing sand as the base. At this point you need to work your way around the peremiter. Once you reach the high spot of the site you will need to dig down deeper in order to create a level area.

Finish removing the grass until the area is clear.

We recommend that you erect the playset in the center of the cleared area. Leave off any ground support boards (those which stabilize the playset by running across the surface). If your playset has a slide it should also be left off for now.By erecting the playset before backfilling it will be more stable upon completion. Note: Some playsets should be installed after the area is backfilled. Read the manufacturers instructions before erecting.

Once the playset is installed backfill the area and install the ground supports that were previously left off. Next install the slide.

Check the playset to be sure that you tightened all bolts and components and adjust the swing heights appropriately.