Backyard swingset/slide/playgrounds. Whatcha got? (1 Viewer)

[OC Zed]

How old? I'd say the standard fort/ladder/swing/glider lasts to second grade, although it peaks around 4.

Oldest turning 4, youngest just starting to walk, maybe more to come after that.

Do it. Going to park is fine. But being able to just walk my boys out the door and have them playing is great.

+1

We have a park not too far away with some awesome equipment and we walk over there on weekends sometimes. On a weekday when we don't have as much time, its really nice to be able to just walk out back. Plus, the dog can be out there playing with us and I can fire up some dinner on the grill at the same time.

The previous owner of my house had a nice backyard play set for his two boys. He told me they never used it after the first 3 months. He gave it to my next-door neighbor before I moved in and the next-door neighbors' two kids also preceded to never use it for the next couple years. He was ecstatic when he finally got rid of it this past fall.

Alternatively, I've been very happy with walking my daughter to the park two blocks away. It's much bigger than any backyard set, there are usually plenty of other kids for her to interact with and the walk itself is nice.

I guess it all depends on your kid(s) and how close the nearest park is.

 

[Wooderson]

How old? I'd say the standard fort/ladder/swing/glider lasts to second grade, although it peaks around 4.

Oldest turning 4, youngest just starting to walk, maybe more to come after that.

Do it. Going to park is fine. But being able to just walk my boys out the door and have them playing is great.

+1We have a park not too far away with some awesome equipment and we walk over there on weekends sometimes. On a weekday when we don't have as much time, its really nice to be able to just walk out back. Plus, the dog can be out there playing with us and I can fire up some dinner on the grill at the same time.

The previous owner of my house had a nice backyard play set for his two boys. He told me they never used it after the first 3 months. He gave it to my next-door neighbor before I moved in and the next-door neighbors' two kids also preceded to never use it for the next couple years. He was ecstatic when he finally got rid of it this past fall.

Alternatively, I've been very happy with walking my daughter to the park two blocks away. It's much bigger than any backyard set, there are usually plenty of other kids for her to interact with and the walk itself is nice.

I guess it all depends on your kid(s) and how close the nearest park is.

You having one kid is the biggedt factor I think.

 

[OC Zed]

How old? I'd say the standard fort/ladder/swing/glider lasts to second grade, although it peaks around 4.

Oldest turning 4, youngest just starting to walk, maybe more to come after that.

Do it. Going to park is fine. But being able to just walk my boys out the door and have them playing is great.

+1We have a park not too far away with some awesome equipment and we walk over there on weekends sometimes. On a weekday when we don't have as much time, its really nice to be able to just walk out back. Plus, the dog can be out there playing with us and I can fire up some dinner on the grill at the same time.

The previous owner of my house had a nice backyard play set for his two boys. He told me they never used it after the first 3 months. He gave it to my next-door neighbor before I moved in and the next-door neighbors' two kids also preceded to never use it for the next couple years. He was ecstatic when he finally got rid of it this past fall.

Alternatively, I've been very happy with walking my daughter to the park two blocks away. It's much bigger than any backyard set, there are usually plenty of other kids for her to interact with and the walk itself is nice.

I guess it all depends on your kid(s) and how close the nearest park is.

You having one kid is the biggedt factor I think.

Ya, but that's why I also wanted to point out that the former playset was never used by both of the 2-kid families that had it previously. (Those kids were all close in age too so not having a playmate wasn't an issue.)

Also, FWIW, my neighbors across the street have a cheap vinyl set in their fenced-in front yard. It gets some use from their son and some of the other kids on the street (including my daughter), but all of the kids still prefer the park over both.

 

[Tennessee_ATO]

Check Craigslist for people moving who are trying to get a couple extra bucks for their swing sets. We got a set that retailed for over $5000 and was about 2-3 years old for $1000. They also threw in some long rubber retaining blocks that we used to enclose the swingset area and put down playground mulch. I had to go to their house, disassemble, move to my house, and put it back together (after I powerwashed as well) but it was totally worth it. Borrowed my FIL's truck and trailer and was able to move in fairly large pieces so wasn't too much trouble to put back together. Took us a couple days though.

No way is Otis doing this.

This times a zillion.

Even if this wasn't Otis,I would be so against this that it isn't funny. The weather beating and general wear and tear that kids put on these is not for reuse.These things are like that put together computer desk. You build it once and leave it in one spot and it is fine. Try to disassemble it and move it and it is junk.

Just depends on the quality of the set. Redwood sets that have been maintained will easily last 10-15 years and can handle disassembly and reconstructing. Treated pine and thin/low level cedar sets won't.

 

[Tennessee_ATO]

How old? I'd say the standard fort/ladder/swing/glider lasts to second grade, although it peaks around 4.

Oldest turning 4, youngest just starting to walk, maybe more to come after that.

Do it. Going to park is fine. But being able to just walk my boys out the door and have them playing is great.

+1We have a park not too far away with some awesome equipment and we walk over there on weekends sometimes. On a weekday when we don't have as much time, its really nice to be able to just walk out back. Plus, the dog can be out there playing with us and I can fire up some dinner on the grill at the same time.

The previous owner of my house had a nice backyard play set for his two boys. He told me they never used it after the first 3 months. He gave it to my next-door neighbor before I moved in and the next-door neighbors' two kids also preceded to never use it for the next couple years. He was ecstatic when he finally got rid of it this past fall.

Alternatively, I've been very happy with walking my daughter to the park two blocks away. It's much bigger than any backyard set, there are usually plenty of other kids for her to interact with and the walk itself is nice.

I guess it all depends on your kid(s) and how close the nearest park is.

You having one kid is the biggedt factor I think.

Ya, but that's why I also wanted to point out that the former playset was never used by both of the 2-kid families that had it previously. (Those kids were all close in age too so not having a playmate wasn't an issue.)

Also, FWIW, my neighbors across the street have a cheap vinyl set in their fenced-in front yard. It gets some use from their son and some of the other kids on the street (including my daughter), but all of the kids still prefer the park over both.

I want the neighborhood kids coming to my yard to play. I can keep an eye on things better that way.

 

[shuke]

Since when are having a play set and going to the park mutually exclusive?

 

[OC Zed]

Since when are having a play set and going to the park mutually exclusive?

They don't have to be. I'm just relaying my own and my neighbors' experiences who regretted the playsets. If your kids love it, awesome.

 

[NutterButter]

How old? I'd say the standard fort/ladder/swing/glider lasts to second grade, although it peaks around 4.

Oldest turning 4, youngest just starting to walk, maybe more to come after that.

Do it. Going to park is fine. But being able to just walk my boys out the door and have them playing is great.

+1

We have a park not too far away with some awesome equipment and we walk over there on weekends sometimes. On a weekday when we don't have as much time, its really nice to be able to just walk out back. Plus, the dog can be out there playing with us and I can fire up some dinner on the grill at the same time.

The previous owner of my house had a nice backyard play set for his two boys. He told me they never used it after the first 3 months. He gave it to my next-door neighbor before I moved in and the next-door neighbors' two kids also preceded to never use it for the next couple years. He was ecstatic when he finally got rid of it this past fall.

Alternatively, I've been very happy with walking my daughter to the park two blocks away. It's much bigger than any backyard set, there are usually plenty of other kids for her to interact with and the walk itself is nice.

I guess it all depends on your kid(s) and how close the nearest park is.

This is so my kids. Love the park. Never use the playset.

ETA: I think the problem for me is that once you install a tire swing with a 30 ft rope that can go way up in the air, the rinky dinky swings on the playset don't stand a chance. And the slide on that thing is just weak.

 

[Wooderson]

Update ?

You didn't get one did you ? That's no way to earn your #1 dad mug.

 

[Hawks64]

Update ?

You didn't get one did you ? That's no way way to earn your #1 dad mug.

It's being assembled a week from Monday for 10 racks. It's Otis.

 

[Insein]

I got this one in the fall. Came with free delivery and install. Paying dividends this spring so far. Twin four year olds on it every day.

 

[shuke]

Speaking of...time to stain mine again. I'm not completely happy with the stuff I bought last time. What do you guys recommend?

 

[Otis]

I got this one in the fall. Came with free delivery and install. Paying dividends this spring so far. Twin four year olds on it every day.

How did you get the install? Bought it at your local BJs and arranged it there? Looks like a good one at a nice price.

https://m.bjs.com/product?url=/adventure-playsets-scout-swing-set-with-bonus-2-person-glider.product.238704%3FdimId%3D2000834

 

[Insein]

I got this one in the fall. Came with free delivery and install. Paying dividends this spring so far. Twin four year olds on it every day.

How did you get the install? Bought it at your local BJs and arranged it there? Looks like a good one at a nice price. https://m.bjs.com/product?url=/adventure-playsets-scout-swing-set-with-bonus-2-person-glider.product.238704%3FdimId%3D2000834

After purchase, a company that gets the work subbed to them contacts you. They arrange a time for delivery and assembly. Usually within 3-4 weeks of purchase. They did good work considering my yard is a hill. I leveled it as best as I could but they made it work.

 

[Tennessee_ATO]

Speaking of...time to stain mine again. I'm not completely happy with the stuff I bought last time. What do you guys recommend?

I did my play set and deck with the higher-end stuff from Lowe's. I'll see if I can find what the exact name was and post. I just did them last year, so I can't say anything about how it holds-up over the long haul. I've been reasonably satisfied with it thus far though. I've been trying to find that sweet-spot between cheap and durable for a while without much luck so I'm hopeful but not overly so. I loathe staining my deck.

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

I clicked on three of these links and now my FB wall is full of "suggested posts" about swing sets.

 

[Insein]

I clicked on three of these links and now my FB wall is full of "suggested posts" about swing sets.

Don't use facebook?

 

[Righetti]

I would love to just get a tire swing. We were at a birthday party today and the parents had this swing on this huge rope. The kids loved it and it was the hit of the party even with a petting zoo, a bunch of activities and an Elsa cake

I'd love to get one but don't have any trees with big branches overhanging our yard.

 

[Righetti]

Otis, just found your next swing set

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/564638872005415263/

 

[Otis]

Purchased one of these today. Should be delivered and installed in a couple weeks. $$$

 

[glvsav37]

Anyone have one of these vinyl ones? Total crap, stick with the wood?

Link

I have a vinyl one and love it. My wood one fell apart in a few season.

Take a look on Craigslist. People move and don't want to move theirs or the new owners may not want it.

I'll post pics as soon as I can, but mine retailed for $11k. Got it on CL for 3k and that included all the rubber mulch (worth 3k alone), border bumpers and a sweet spring ride on frog...like the ones you see at the play ground.

I paid wood kingdom $500 to pick it Up and move it then assemble at my house. And my landscapers $250 to move the mulch.

As a fellow LI guy, our winters suck too much. And leaving this out there all winter distorys them. With the vinyl, I power wash it every year, store all the swings for the winter and that's it.

Swingset 1

Swing set 2

Froggy 1

Froggy 2

Its available for parties

 

[glvsav37]

Since when are having a play set and going to the park mutually exclusive?

They don't have to be. I'm just relaying my own and my neighbors' experiences who regretted the playsets. If your kids love it, awesome.

We don't have any parks within walking distance here. Some cool ones a few mins drive, but that becomes a few hour trip minimum.

I love that my kids friends come over and play and I can still get yard work or whatever done. Then as it gets late, give them a few pushes on the swim between flipping steaks on the grill.

My kids are 9 and 5 and use it all summer.

 

[GoBirds]

I got this one in the fall. Came with free delivery and install. Paying dividends this spring so far. Twin four year olds on it every day.

Looking at same one, did they install within the 2-3 week delivery window or is that a whole different wait period?

 

[Insein]

I got this one in the fall. Came with free delivery and install. Paying dividends this spring so far. Twin four year olds on it every day.

Looking at same one, did they install within the 2-3 week delivery window or is that a whole different wait period?

Nope same time. The company that does delivery installs it.