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Once upon a time swing sets consisted of a metal frame with two or three swings and a glider on one side. Those days are gone. Some of today's playsets are nothing short of engineering marvels that require a degree to put together. Parents who have experienced the perils of playset assembly offer a few tips for newcomers to the challenge.
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.
Select your location carefully, and level it before you start anything. In addition to keeping the dimensions of your actual set in mind, you also have to consider how far any swings will extend, both backward and forward. You can stake out your location on all four corners running string between them.
You may have to add or remove dirt to level the ground before adding sand or pea gravel to maximize safety. Factor in the amount of shade the playset will get each day. Metal parts can burn tiny hands and feet during the heat of the day.
Tell the delivery company exactly where you want the cartons left. Otherwise you might come home and find piles of lumber and packaging laying at the end of the drive or at your front door. If they unload their cargo in the general location of the space you've reserved for the set, you won't have to haul it to the backyard by yourself. You'll need enough tarps to cover the boxes so rain doesn't smear the parts enclosed information.
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.
Select your location carefully, and level it before you start anything. In addition to keeping the dimensions of your actual set in mind, you also have to consider how far any swings will extend, both backward and forward. You can stake out your location on all four corners running string between them.
You may have to add or remove dirt to level the ground before adding sand or pea gravel to maximize safety. Factor in the amount of shade the playset will get each day. Metal parts can burn tiny hands and feet during the heat of the day.
Tell the delivery company exactly where you want the cartons left. Otherwise you might come home and find piles of lumber and packaging laying at the end of the drive or at your front door. If they unload their cargo in the general location of the space you've reserved for the set, you won't have to haul it to the backyard by yourself. You'll need enough tarps to cover the boxes so rain doesn't smear the parts enclosed information.
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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