The days of the old metal swing set that came complete with a couple of swings and a glider on the side is pretty much a thing of the past. Playsets today are more like complete playgrounds requiring a degree in engineering to put together. Parents who have survived a playset assembly have some tips for those new to the process.
Set up realistic expectations in the very beginning. Putting together playsets that come with forts, multiple swings, slides, climbing ropes, and balancing beams are not afternoon projects. As excited as your kids will be, they have to understand that it might be several weeks before they can actually play on the sets.
It will be less overwhelming if you set small, realistic goals for what you plan to accomplish each weekend. The progress being made and how the set will look when it's complete is easier to visualize this way. Enlisting the help of your kids, for safe, simple projects, is a good idea, if possible.
If you've got some adult friends who know their way around tools, or have put up one of these sets themselves, you should invite them over. You might be able to coerce them into a whole weekend of help if you promise them barbecue and beer as soon as the set's completed. If you don't have these kinds of friends, and you get stuck, calling in a professional to finish the project is a good option.
The location you choose is important. It's also important to level the ground before assembling the set. When figuring the amount of space needed, be sure to include the breadth of the swing span, both ways, in your calculations. Staking the corners of the space and running string will help you determine if the ground is level.
Add or take away dirt, raking it level, and adding pea gravel or sand for maximum safety. Be sure to consider how much shade the set will get. Metal parts can burn hands and legs with exposure to the hot summer sun.
Tell the delivery company where you want the cartons placed. If the drivers don't know where to take your delivery it might be sitting in the middle of the drive or by the street when you get home. It's a lot easier to have them unload in the backyard than hauling heavy lumber and parts on your own. You need to have tarps ready to cover the cartons until you need the parts in them. If you don't, rain might smear the identifying information, making assembly that much more difficult.
If the parts aren't already labeled, label them yourself before you get started. This is where any construction experience will be helpful. After labeling, you need to organize the pieces of lumber in the order that you'll need them. This will speed up the operation, and make it readily apparent if there are pieces missing. By the same token, you want to make sure you have the tools you need to complete the job before you start.
Set up realistic expectations in the very beginning. Putting together playsets that come with forts, multiple swings, slides, climbing ropes, and balancing beams are not afternoon projects. As excited as your kids will be, they have to understand that it might be several weeks before they can actually play on the sets.
It will be less overwhelming if you set small, realistic goals for what you plan to accomplish each weekend. The progress being made and how the set will look when it's complete is easier to visualize this way. Enlisting the help of your kids, for safe, simple projects, is a good idea, if possible.
If you've got some adult friends who know their way around tools, or have put up one of these sets themselves, you should invite them over. You might be able to coerce them into a whole weekend of help if you promise them barbecue and beer as soon as the set's completed. If you don't have these kinds of friends, and you get stuck, calling in a professional to finish the project is a good option.
The location you choose is important. It's also important to level the ground before assembling the set. When figuring the amount of space needed, be sure to include the breadth of the swing span, both ways, in your calculations. Staking the corners of the space and running string will help you determine if the ground is level.
Add or take away dirt, raking it level, and adding pea gravel or sand for maximum safety. Be sure to consider how much shade the set will get. Metal parts can burn hands and legs with exposure to the hot summer sun.
Tell the delivery company where you want the cartons placed. If the drivers don't know where to take your delivery it might be sitting in the middle of the drive or by the street when you get home. It's a lot easier to have them unload in the backyard than hauling heavy lumber and parts on your own. You need to have tarps ready to cover the cartons until you need the parts in them. If you don't, rain might smear the identifying information, making assembly that much more difficult.
If the parts aren't already labeled, label them yourself before you get started. This is where any construction experience will be helpful. After labeling, you need to organize the pieces of lumber in the order that you'll need them. This will speed up the operation, and make it readily apparent if there are pieces missing. By the same token, you want to make sure you have the tools you need to complete the job before you start.
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