Swingsets

[Splash]

Help me.


Okay, I should just leave it at that! I imagine most people who have done this have been in the same boat!

I have NO CLUE which one to buy.
I don't want a Sunray (made by Rainbow).
I might want a Play-A-Round (made by CedarWorks).
I want a Rainbow.
I'm indifferent to CedarWorks.

This set (http://sunraypremiumplaygrounds.com/) costs about $1700... plus tax, and I (not I, no most certainly not I... my FIL and father) put it together, from approximately 1200 pieces.

To get a Carnival (Rainbow's lower end line) with that set up (or very close) is about $3800.
To get a Rainbow Rainbow with that set up is closer to $5000. Both of those are pre tax, but include installation. A Carnival really would work

On the CedarWorks side, I can get this set (http://playaround-swingsets.com/swingsets/detail.php?s=TP) for about $1600. No doubt that is a cool set, and I am sure the quality is fine, but I can't SEE it. I have to just order online, sight unseen. To get a "real" CedarWorks of that magnitude, it would be about $6000. But really, this is too much set for us. It really is. And I want the ramp on the same fort as the slide. And this one has weight limits on the swings (which I surpass, because I'm fat). But there are people who own them that say they swing fine on them.

The Rainbow one that I want is about $3800. It's one fort, with a wood floor and picnic table underneath. Slide and ramp on the same side, rock wall on the other side, 3 swings and monkey bars. Page 153 in this catalog. (http://rainbowplay.com/CatalogRequest/OnlineCatalog/Index.cfm). But will he still like that when he is older? Or should I get page 165 in the same catalog? Not as great for him now, but better for an older kid (I think).

I really wish I could see the Play-A-Round one in person. That would make deciding so much easier.

Anyone has any ideas? I don't want to spend any more than I absolutely have to, but I don't want to get one that will suck. I want it to last until he's at least ten or so (and I mean keep his interest, not just remain standing), but it'll hurt a lot less if he "outgrows" a $1600 set than a $4000 set.

The spot we have, essentially the entire backyard, is about 24x22.

[Mom2nj]

All I can say is WOW, what a swing set. My kids would absolutely love any one of those. Maybe someday when we own more than a small city lot...

[arly1983]

We are actually trying to make this desicion ourselves (since with the daycare we can write it off our taxes). I thought this was going to be one of those simple desicions....Its not.

[arly1983]

I like the stained wood look better.....The thrid one is of course awesome and the first one looks nice as well.

[TheRealMacGyver]

Splash, I am probably wrong on this, but I thought you lived in Florida? Anyhow, if so, I don't know if I would go with wood here. Not so much because of termites, since cedar (typically used) has a natural deterrent to them. It is just that wood tends to attract other things that may not be desirable, like spiders and wasps, etc. If you do co with wood, I would advise on painting it with a light colored paint so you can easily inspect for pests. I built a simple one from a kit at Lowes for my niece and bought the lumber from a sawmill locally. It is still sturdy after about 7 years, but it is just a simple swingset (A-frame). I just personally think the fort style ones in Florida get a little scary after a while, when critters find little cracks and crevices to make home.

If your really set on that type though, there is a good selection here: http://www.qualityplaysets.com/Catalog.asp?Submit=List&ConsumerType=Residential&Category=Playsets

You might want to look at a commercial grade ones that eliminate the wooden components and use steel and plastic instead: http://www.qualityplaysets.com/Catalog.asp?Submit=List&ConsumerType=Commercial&Category=PlayGrounds

I'm going to have to do the same thing, but I have some time before I'll have to deal with it:cool: Good luck.

[cpsaddict]

Re: outgrowing the set. My aunt and uncle live next door and they put in a Rainbow structure when their kids were 1 and 3. They are now 7 and 9 and still play on it almost every day it's nice. I think they are taking it with them when they move next month. That should be fun. They have the picnic table underneath and the fort with slide attached. They also have a hammock on one end that is great for adults. I fit into it and I am, ummm, not exactly small!

Hope that gives you an idea of how long it might "last".

[Yoshi]

Splash! Listen to me! Thise look great (at first) But I have seen time and time again what happens to the wooden sets- Even the better ones rot and fade and splinter EVEN when they have a lifetime warranty....you actually have to stain them and treat them (with toxic stuff, mind you) each year (not unlike expensive teak outdoor patio furniture) or they end up looking like weathered junk. All you have to do is take a drive around my neighborhood to realize this. I would get this one from Step 2. But that is my :twocents: :)
http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1411&stp2ssid=C3232162-1143-E489-2DF4247E05A46CC7
Oh yes- and wasps and bees in the wooden ones- YUP!!

[Patriot201]

The Rainbow one that I want is about $3800. It's one fort, with a wood floor and picnic table underneath. Slide and ramp on the same side, rock wall on the other side, 3 swings and monkey bars. Page 153 in this catalog. (http://rainbowplay.com/CatalogRequest/OnlineCatalog/Index.cfm). But will he still like that when he is older? Or should I get page 165 in the same catalog? Not as great for him now, but better for an older kid (I think).


Very nice!!!

Are you sure you don't want that King Kong set that is on page 119? :p :p Holy cow!! That is a big one!!!!

[arly1983]

Oh, I really want this one..http://www.qualityplaysets.com/Catalog.asp?Submit=Details&ItemNum=902-818&ConsumerType=Commercial&Category=PlayGrounds

But will probably end up with this if I can't save enough..http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1335&stp2ssid=C3232162-1143-E489-2DF4247E05A46CC7

They actually have one like the first one at a park about 10 miles away and we go play there on Saturdays for hours

[twokidstwodogs]

We have one made by Childlife that has held up amazingly well for the three or so years we've had it. It still looks practically new--even the ropes on the swings. They aren't cheap, but I was trying to avoid both wood treated with carcinogens and splinters. So far, so good on the splinter front! (We have just the very basic set with swings, trapeze, and a glider.) If you're already in the Rainbow price range, you might want to check out the Childlife ones:

http://www.childlife.com/

[Morganthe]

Wow, those are huge! Gorgeous, but I'd worry way too much about safety with young children. I can't help you decide. Sorry.

Currently, I'm searching for a basic swing set to go along with my 'steal' from last year. Last summer, I ordered this Little Tikes Climber (http://www.kbtoys.com/genProduct.html/PID/4196719/ctid/17/INstock/Y/D/) after a lot of consideration for dd's growth & maturity. The first order was lost by the shipping company. I was credited the entire shipping amount and it was resent. But then Little Tikes messed up at the warehouse and slapped my order tag on this Playhouse (http://www.kbtoys.com/genProduct.html/PID/4002139/ctid/17/INstock/Y/D/) instead. KB Toys told me to keep the playhouse and expedited shipping on the original Climber that was now on sale for around 20% off.
If I remember correctly, I paid $150 for the climber and the playhouse was completely free since it would have cost more to return it. :D

I just would like a swing set to go with them now :) Nothing fancy. And it's been very difficult to locate one.

Good luck on trying to decide what will work best for you & Charlie. Personally, I think these type of playsets are aimed for 7+ years up. My dd has absolutely no fear and she would be playing on something like this even though they're designed for larger kids. My poor heart couldn't take the constant fear of something bad happening. It's a long way to the ground :(

That's why I ended up with the climber. It was great for last summer and a couple of months ago, dd was playing with her friends on it too. The eldest was 9 years old and she still had a great time on it :) It will also be easy to pack up when we move out of here. :thumbsup:

[Splash]

I have a ChildLife catalog, but they're out because of the plastic coated wood and none of them appeal to me in the least, actually.

Yeah, wood fades and wears, but wood holds up best and offers so much more to do than metal of plastic. And the CedarWorks ones (they claim) never have to be treated or sanded. I "visited" one recently (through their see-a-set program) and it had never been treated. It was splinter free (as splinter free as wood can be at least) and greying but still looked and functioned fine. And none of the cedar ones are treated with arsenic or copper (which is why we won't buy pine).

As for bugs, didn't really think of that... yeah, that sucks. But we use a chemical free treatment that works pretty good. I imagine we'll do it in his play area as well.

Arly- Make sure you don't get a residential one! You can't use a residential swingset in a licensed day care! And if ANYTHING ever happens to a kid on it, your liability insurance is off the hook since you're misusing the product.

[Splash]

The reason we're considering this is because he LOVES to climb, and I don't like taking him to the local playground. It's nice, don't get me wrong. And very close. But the slide is very very high, and there are just too many germs. I know I can't bubble him forever, but I will while I can!
The Rainbow one is actually really enclosed, which is why we like it. The only openings are where there is gear (rock wall, slide, ramp) and we'll close off the rock wall opening for now. The Play-A-Round is a bitter more open, but has so much more stuff for him to do. If I buy this thing, I want it to last until he's beyond playground equipment. He won't even look at the little plastic ones (that was my first intention).

[arly1983]

Arly- Make sure you don't get a residential one! You can't use a residential swingset in a licensed day care! And if ANYTHING ever happens to a kid on it, your liability insurance is off the hook since you're misusing the product.


Thanks, Splash, I just looked at the Bright From the Start manual and it is there, plain as day, so it looks like I will be getting the set I really want now that I can fully justify the extra money.

Ok, I am on the phone with my local inspector. She said, yep, that why the majority of daycares don't have swing set, play sets, etc because you have to get commercial one and they are a lot more expensive! So I need to start saving NOW because I really want one.

:thanx!:

[twokidstwodogs]

I have a ChildLife catalog, but they're out because of the plastic coated wood and none of them appeal to me in the least, actually.

It's actually more like an enamel paint. They give you a touch up bottle, which is why I know. I like the way it looks, but I can see why someone might prefer the look of the straight wood ones. The Cedarworks ones are certainly very high quality--I don't think you could go wrong there. (Our trapeze bar is yellow cedar without enamel, and it truly is splinter-free.)

[arly1983]

Ok, now I am off of the phone, No swing sets for us, I would have to get a commercial one and have 3 inches of wood shavings extending five feet around the diameter of the swingset.
My inspector said the best thing to do was email her what I was thinking of getting and she could tell me if it was ok or not....

[Splash]

Yeah, I just don't like painted or coated wood for safety, not looks. I don't like not being able to visually inspect the wood to make sure it's still structurally sound. I don't want to find out that a post has rotted when it collapses on my child. I know that childlife is a very high quality company, but it's beyond my comfort level to have weight bearing wood that I can't SEE.

[Splash]

Ok, now I am off of the phone, No swing sets for us, I would have to get a commercial one and have 3 inches of wood shavings extending five feet around the diameter of the swingset.
My inspector said the best thing to do was email her what I was thinking of getting and she could tell me if it was ok or not....

You can still buy one for YOUR kids. Just be big daycare meanie and tell the other kidlets no touchie due to sue happy society.

[arly1983]

You can still buy one for YOUR kids. Just be big daycare meanie and tell the other kidlets no touchie due to sue happy society.

True...But have you ever told preschoolers not to touch

Also forgot to mention the swingset/playset would have to be anchored down...

[kelly]

The Sunray ones from Costco are generally a really good deal if you happen to like the season's configuration. I see you nixed them though. They do have a lesser warranty, but its still 10 years, I think. I really like Sunray for the money.

We bought a house that has a basic Rainbow. Its currently 8 or 9 years old and looks fab. I did re-stain it with deck stain last summer, but it was purely for cosmetic reasons and because I was bored. We had some leftover deck stain, so I went to town.

We're in a blazing summer / bitter winter climate and its held up very well. No cracks or even splinters. The plastic parts are also doing well. Some fading is all. Even the canvas looks good and we don't remove it in the winter, we should, but just never do.

If our house didn't come with the Rainbow, I'd have bought the Sunray. I just think they are a good value and my husband and some buddies could put it together for the price of beer and pizza. :)

One thing to consider is space AROUND the set. If your backyard is that small, you really need to ensure that there's enough space to run around it etc. They probably tell you how much space it "needs" and how big it actually is, I'd think they would anyways!

[Splash]

Yeah, we know how much room it needs. We won't be doing the full six foot perimeter (which I think is a bit extreme... my kid is not going to take a flying leap off the roof of the clubhouse, and god save him if he does) but we'll have enough room for it.
The Sunray is a good deal, no doubt about it. I was almost sold on that before I found the Play-A-Round. For the money, I just like the PAR better. As far as warranty, if it lasts as long as my kid does, it's worth it.
Another thing I worry about it wind. 800 pound (sunray) just isn't that much. I know we'll stake down whatever we buy, but the wind issue worries me. Especially after cruising Sunray forums (uh, did you know there are FORUMS for these things?!) and found one knocked over by a strong wind. Eek! The Sunray also isn't made with the heart of the tree, and I want the heart. Because I'm weird I guess.

Nice to know your Rainbow is still going strong!

Anyone wanna show these pictures to a ten year old and ask their opinion? Because Charlie says yes to ALL of them.

[kelly]

Yeah, we know how much room it needs. We won't be doing the full six foot perimeter (which I think is a bit extreme... my kid is not going to take a flying leap off the roof of the clubhouse, and god save him if he does) but we'll have enough room for it.
__

Anyone wanna show these pictures to a ten year old and ask their opinion? Because Charlie says yes to ALL of them.

Yeah, I didn't figure you were filling up ALL your space to a dangerous degree, just mentioning that because we enjoy our non-playspace-filled yard too, and I'd be bummed if all we didn't have any usable lawn to speak of because of some giant playset.

The 10 year olds I know really only enjoy the fort. :) They'll "play" for only a little bit before they go hang out in the fort. Our neighbor boys wholly ignore their playset in favor of playing sports (they have a basketball hoop and a slab of concrete in their backyard) or running around in the grass playing other sports or games.

[DaniCPST]

We have a Rainbow that is about 5 years old and it has held up very, very well. It does not look gray and does not have a bunch of splinters. My kids LOVE their playstructure and all their cousins say they want to come to our "playground"! They are a hit for sure!

[Splash]

Yeah, we have a giant concrete slab on one side of the yard that I really hate. That takes up close to half the yard. Then we have pretty decent room on each side. One side is/will be dog territory, the other is the shed and things we'd rather not think of. Our yard was huge until we built on to the house. Well, not *huge* huge, but pretty big. This will basically take up most of the non concrete area, but we don't use our yard anyway. We have patio furniture and a gazebo dealy that we've eaten under ONCE. We had a hot tub that we never used in the 4+ years it was there, we finally got rid of it. We're not backyard people. Mostly because maintaining the backyard to be something nice and liveable is just too much work!

[Splash]

We have a Rainbow that is about 5 years old and it has held up very, very well. It does not look gray and does not have a bunch of splinters. My kids LOVE their playstructure and all their cousins say they want to come to our "playground"! They are a hit for sure!

Which one? Castle, or Clubhouse? Which size?

[jn__]

I am thinking of joining costco just to buy a sunray.

All you really need is some structure for them to play on but to me the important part is the thing the swings attach to doesn't sway like mine does (we have a cheapo set from TRU, sigh. My in laws teased us with a rainbow and then said no way. LOL)

But if you have the money for a rainbow, by ALL means. I like the 2nd page you linked. You can also sometimes find them used on craigslist. You can also look at/buy plans at a lumber store, some of them aren't too bad. But then you'd have to build them yourself. Putting our swing set together was kind of one of those "tests of marriage" if you know what I mean.

[lynsgirl]

Anyone wanna show these pictures to a ten year old and ask their opinion? Because Charlie says yes to ALL of them.

:2thumbsup: Ds1 is ten and I showed him your links. He said his first choice would be the one from Play-a-Round. Second choice was the Carnival one on pg 153. The other two were so-so to him. So that's the feedback I have to offer :D .

[DaniCPST]

Which one? Castle, or Clubhouse? Which size?
Sorry, I have no clue which one it is...it was here when we bought the house a year ago. It is very basic though and nothing as fancy as some of those in the catalog you linked. Whooo, good thing I know better then to show that page to my kids.

[gwenvet]

WOW that PAR one is a GREAT price!!! I have the Cedarworks catalog on the coffeetable in front of me right now, because I've been doing the same thing. I didn't even know about PAR though! Doesn't Rainbow need to be stained every year? That, and the fact that the guy at the store couldn't tell me what they were treated with, made me dislike them, but with them I can get the tire swing without having to have a long swing structure. What I really want is a climber with lots of things on it now, and then add on the monkey bars and swings later. I have a Cedarworks one designed that I can forward to you via email (I think) but I'm not ready to pay the $3000!!! Yikes!

I got some REALLY good advice from a friend with 3-10 yr old kids though. She has a cedarworks basic structure and she wished she had a bigger platform at the top because the girls like to go up and pretend to cook. Since I have boys I asked what they like the best and she said that they don't care about how big the platform is...they just want to climb everywhere. The one thing that I REALLY like about Cedarworks is that you can make it safe for our young ones (with fences and the sure-step stair system) and then add on to it as they grow. But I agree...I'm scared to death that they will stop playing with it!

[southpawboston]

my older sis has a cedarworks set that she purchased in 2003, so it's about 4 years old. it is beginning to get chalky/splintery from the elements. it's still solid, but i wonder how long before it will need a lot of reconstruction/maintenance... ?

[groovymom2000]

We have JUST gone through all of this! LOL! We too looked at the Cedarworks one, and I actually talked with someone over there. I asked him about carpenter bees(they are everywhere here, and though they are harmless(the males anyway), they drive my kids nuts! :rolleyes: ). I had read on some forums(yes, I read them too) that the bees were a big problem. (We're in SC) Bless his heart, he basically said we could just hang this non-pesticide repellant up and it would shoo them away. He may be right, but I got the impression that he had never seen a carpenter bee--the company is in Maine.

I've talked to a LOT of people who have put these things together. Chris at Cedarworks assured me that it was easy. But, they deliver these pallets to the end of your driveway and drive away....I had thoughts of beging trapped in the house until I got the stupid thing put together while my children circled me like rabid dogs. There are lots of pieces. I saw a neat one at Sam's club---until I talked to someone who bought one and was still working on it 3 weeks later because all of the labels that identified the pieces fell off in the box...

Long story that you really didn't want to know. We decided to go with a local dealer--we're using the Ultrabuilt stuff. We're paying too much for it, but we are getting free delivery and install. I'm tired of looking at them, and my kids will be happy with whatever we get--we don't have a neighborhood playground, so our set is going to be a bit more involved. Hopefully we'll get use out of it until the youngest is 10 or so--which gives us about 6 years.

Good luck--it's mind boggling, isn't it. I had no idea that there were so many of these things until I started looking into it...I know more about the things than I ever wanted....

[Starlight]

I think if we were buying one, we'd pick this one up from Sams:

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=358863
http://graphics.samsclub.com/images/products/0752113600713_L4.jpg

I don't know who makes it, but man, it is nice. My kids love it. We have a flexible flyer cheapy metal swing set that I picked up (rather, my Mom picked it up) for less than $99. They love it too.

I love all of the wooden playsets, they're great.

But what I really love, is powerwheels. My eldest plays on his every single day, the swing, maybe 2x per week. The trampoline, 3-4x per week. The playhouse? NEVER.

[groovymom2000]

That's the one that I looked at--and the one that the man we talked too was on his 3rd week putting together because all of the labels had fallen off.....it looks really cool though.

[gwenvet]

Does anyone know the scoop on treated lumber (is that pressure treated? with what?) vs aresenic free? Did someone mention copper...what's the deal with that? I am inclined to go with Cedarworks, becase it is chemical free, but I wonder how much of the issue is hype and I just don't have the time or patience to research it thouroughly.

[Michi]

My 9 year old DD is begging me to get a wooden jungle gym. We have a basic wooden A-frame 'swings-only' swing set - but she really wants the clubhouse/monkey-bars/trapeze deal - even at 9! So plan for LONG term use!:)

We are also debating which system to get. We don't have Cosco back here - we have Sam's Club, but this year's model at Sam's doesn't look sturdy enough for older kids, and we can't afford Rainbow - so we are looking at the "build your own" kits from Home depot and Menards.

[Michi]

Just curious - where are the forums about the swing sets? Are there reviews on different models there?
Thanks,
Michi

[R&J'sMom]

Splash, we just ordered this for our 2 & 3 year old boys: (With our hot climate, we decided plastic would be better). It should arrive in a couple weeks and I can give you a better review!

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1411&stp2ssid=C78AAB49-1143-E489-2DA337404DE92D81

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/melissashoulders/772800_popup.jpg

[twokidstwodogs]

my older sis has a cedarworks set that she purchased in 2003, so it's about 4 years old. it is beginning to get chalky/splintery from the elements. it's still solid, but i wonder how long before it will need a lot of reconstruction/maintenance... ?

This is why I went with the Childlife. Same yellow cedar, same quality, but the enamel paint on the outside is a huge help. Our set seriously looks almost new, despite being three years old. I've seen one that's closer to six or seven years old and it also looked terrific.

[Michi]

Our neighbors have a Step 2 swingset...their child is 5 and he has already outgrown it, so that isn't an option for us.:(

[NatenMaddiesMommy]

We purchased the Rainbow Carnival Kids Kingdom last summer. We had a strict budget of $2500, so the Castle and Clubhouse models were out of the question. Although we have a friend who splurged and spent twice as much as we did. The only difference I can see if that it has a much higher deck which I thought might be dangerous for smaller kids, but great if you are the type of parent that likes to climb around on the thing with your kids. I think the retail price for the one we bought was close to $3000 with tax, but we got a factory second and saved about $500. It really has no flaws other than some noticeable stain blotches. They did a great job installing it and put it exactly where I wanted it. My 3 year old loves its and so do both his 2 and 7 year old cousins. Our neighbor's daughter is 8, and she still plays on it with my son. So it will last a LOOOOONG time age-wise. And I believe you can purchase more stain from Rainbow if you need to do touch-ups, but so far ours has held up well over the harsh winter :)

[R&J'sMom]

Our neighbors have a Step 2 swingset...their child is 5 and he has already outgrown it, so that isn't an option for us.:(


Step 2 just came out with a new product that is huge and could accommodate a child well past 6 or 7. The older sets are a lot smaller. We just ordered it...Here is a link:

http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1411&stp2ssid=C7F8D0AC-1143-E489-2D1F571B5C590A2F

[vamom]

My folks have a wooden set from 84 lumber. My mom's friend built two kits for their kids, now 11 and 13, so I think 8 years ago or so? They took it partially apart and brought it to our house. It is treated wood, but no stain, and it has held up great. It has two slides - 1 curve and 1 wave, a small playdeck, a fort(complete with perscope, pirate's wheel, and megaphone thingy), a rope ladder, a rope, two swings, rings, sandbox, and a merry go round! We also have the 8 in 1 little tikes thing and the baby little tikes square climber. The baby one we kept in the house to climb/slide until recently.

We also have a basic set (from my house when I moved) that only has 2 swings, rings, and a rock climbing wall. I think the kids (usually 2-10) play with it as much, if not more so then the big set.

My friend went with the covered wood set from walmart and I am so glad that we did not. It has not held up and it just looks unsafe to me after two years.

Good luck - I know I was going crazy trying to decide which one!

Wendy

[RubysGirl]

I like this one, and I don't see any reason why it couldn't be modified to put swings in a row with legs off one end of it and monkey bars added later when he's old enough. http://www.rona.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentServlet?assetId=385&langId=-1

[twom]

We have one from Swing-n-Slide that we've had for several years, and it's holding up great. My kids are 9 and 5 now and still love playing on it. Ours is one of the smaller ones since we had a very limited space to put it in, but there are tons of options.
http://swing-n-slide.com/

Good luck!
Jody

[twokidstwodogs]

Does anyone know the scoop on treated lumber (is that pressure treated? with what?) vs aresenic free? Did someone mention copper...what's the deal with that? I am inclined to go with Cedarworks, becase it is chemical free, but I wonder how much of the issue is hype and I just don't have the time or patience to research it thouroughly.

Happily, the lumber industry phased out wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) at the end of 2003. They did, however, continue to use stockpiled wood for some time afterwards. We bought our swingset in 2004 when stockpiled wood was still a concern. I would imagine it's long gone by now, and so I would not bworry about a new swingset being made from CCA-treated wood. That being said, it's unclear how safe the newer alternatives are, particularly for children's play equipment. I'm a freak about unnecessary pesticide and toxin exposure (and I have the crabgrass and dandelions to show for it!), so I went with Childlife's enamel-coated yellow cedar. The splinter issue was at least as important to me, though, as there are few minor emergencies I dread more than removing a splinter from a three year-old's hand.

[tchanbaby]

Being that we are all here because we are so worried about our childrens safety in cars; I wonder, how many of you that have swing sets have wood chips (or a similar cushion) and a 5 ft border around your sets?

When we bought our set....it cost us so much more than we originally thought because once I got it home (we bought that years costco version) and read the directions and warnings; I couldn't NOT put anything underneath it. Am I the only one? I know not many of our friends have wood chips under their play structures but also not many of our friends rear face past a year either.

Anyway, we didn't have enough yard space for the 5 ft border but we do have a 3-4 foot border and every couple of years have to put in new wood chips!

[vamom]

I was surprised that when my parents got their set and I mentioned the recommendations for footing, my dad went right out and got mulch. A lot of mulch. I would say maybe 10" worth and it extends 5-6 around the swingset. We need to get another load this year to freshen it up though.

Of course I have ben amazed at how much my mom brags about our husky to everyone too!

When we first moved in with my folks, my car broke down and my dad had to come and get us. We had three people and 1 baby with a pick up. My dad wanted to put the carseat in the back so we could all fit. I refused. Now they would never dream of taking him out of his seat (my dad even wanted to upgrade his seat to have one as nice as the husky).

I wa surprised too that when the neighbor came to trim the trees around the area where the swingset was going to go (it is in our woods for shade) - he even told my folks about the footing needs!

[Michi]

We only have a small A-frame swing set, but we just put down some rubber mulch. I like it SO much better than the wood chips we used to have!

[TheRealMacGyver]

We only have a small A-frame swing set, but we just put down some rubber mulch. I like it SO much better than the wood chips we used to have!

Just an FYI, you should only use "playground grade" rubber mulch as other types may have the steel belts from radial tires sticking out of the pieces-ouch:thumbsdown:

[Splash]

We will probably be using rubber mulch or pea stone. We've looked into the possibility of having rubber poured, and we still might, but probably not.

I'm not doing a 6 feet perimeter everywhere. He's not going to take a flying leap off the roof of the clubhouse! We'll probably do a few feet around the closed sides of the clubhouse, with lots of room around the open sides, and ten feet from the swing beam in each direction.