backyard playsets...do your kids use yours???? (considering spending $5K and wondering)

[Anonymous]

If you use mulch, I would suggest rubber mulch. Otherwise, the neighborhood cats and racoons will use it as a litterbox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why is it dangerous to put it on grass?

If you have several inches of rubber mulch, head and other injuries from falls can be less severe. You have to put down enough depth to match the height of the fall potential. I have never seen anyone actually put down the mulch.

I am the PP who posted the link last night about why installation over grass is dangerous. While I would never install over grass, I don't think that you need rubber mulch unless you're going for maintenance-free mulch. We put down wood chips (i.e. playground mulch) and have had no issues with it being tracked into the house. If you put down regular double shredded mulch, you will have issued with it sticking to your children's clothes. Rubber mulch is a lot more expensive, but doesn't need replacement like wood chips do (every 2-3 years).

While the PP has never seen anyone put down mulch, every playset that my children have played on have mulch underneath. I think (and hope!) it is quite common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We never did buy one and our kids are preteens. We put that money into their college funds instead and took them to the park nearby.

we got one used. Kids play on it everyday. I make dinner and out my window can watch them play out there. Sooo worth the investment. We go to the park (have 3 within 5-8 min walking distance) but nothing beats the back yard. Neighbor kids come over, too. We also save for college (based on a recent WaPo article we exceed what most put away), so stick that in your ear!

[Anonymous]

We put ours over 12" depth pea gravel at the suggestion of the swing set builder. It has been fabulous -- never gets hot, it's squishy to land on and the kids use it to shovel into dump trucks, etc. We've had no problems with any animals being attracted to it either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put ours over 12" depth pea gravel at the suggestion of the swing set builder. It has been fabulous -- never gets hot, it's squishy to land on and the kids use it to shovel into dump trucks, etc. We've had no problems with any animals being attracted to it either.

You know, I think I'd rather like a pea gravel bed to sleep on in the summer time. I know, crazy. But still.

[Anonymous]

I am wondering what the h*ll it will take to pull that thing out of the backyard when the time comes. It was here when we bought the house and the kids are still young..but as soon as they get old enough I want it out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who bought the set used, did you take it apart and re-install it yourself? I am not the op but I am also looking for a playset and dh and I are not handy at all. To hire a handyman to do the takeaway and delivery, it seems it would almost make sense to just buy new and have them do the installation and at least we know it would be done right...

ditto our exact situation - woud love to hear from some non-handy people and how they did this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put ours over 12" depth pea gravel at the suggestion of the swing set builder. It has been fabulous -- never gets hot, it's squishy to land on and the kids use it to shovel into dump trucks, etc. We've had no problems with any animals being attracted to it either.

We did the same thing, though only 6" and then we put the rubber mulch over it. The best part about this, is that it drains so quickly. Given the rubber over the gravel, they can play on it right after it rains and not get dirty or wet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who bought the set used, did you take it apart and re-install it yourself? I am not the op but I am also looking for a playset and dh and I are not handy at all. To hire a handyman to do the takeaway and delivery, it seems it would almost make sense to just buy new and have them do the installation and at least we know it would be done right...

ditto our exact situation - woud love to hear from some non-handy people and how they did this.

We hired a guy who does playset installs. He picked it up in MD, brought it to our home in VA and installed it for $350.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who bought the set used, did you take it apart and re-install it yourself? I am not the op but I am also looking for a playset and dh and I are not handy at all. To hire a handyman to do the takeaway and delivery, it seems it would almost make sense to just buy new and have them do the installation and at least we know it would be done right...

ditto our exact situation - woud love to hear from some non-handy people and how they did this.

We hired a guy who does playset installs. He picked it up in MD, brought it to our home in VA and installed it for $350.

can you rec the guy? sounds like a great deal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who bought the set used, did you take it apart and re-install it yourself? I am not the op but I am also looking for a playset and dh and I are not handy at all. To hire a handyman to do the takeaway and delivery, it seems it would almost make sense to just buy new and have them do the installation and at least we know it would be done right...

ditto our exact situation - woud love to hear from some non-handy people and how they did this.

We hired a guy who does playset installs. He picked it up in MD, brought it to our home in VA and installed it for $350.

I can't imagine he has a webpage does he ? I am the first pp and we have a very small yard but all I really need is are swings and a slide for my sensory-seeking son. I could probably go with one of the sets at Lowe's and just need someone with experience to set it up...

[Anonymous]

PP here who paid $350 for the install. The company is Stronghold Remodeling and the owner is Fernando. He does not have a website (how did you know, PP?). I think he will only do installs in VA, so if you're in MD or DC, don't be surprised if he turns you down. I don't want to put his cell phone number out on this site, but if you email me, I'll be happy to send it to you. My email is aly_d at rocketmail dot com.

[Anonymous]

does anyone know how much Lowes charges to install a playset?

[Anonymous]

OP, check out this set at Costco, it incldes installation:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11535409&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|111|4060|4062&N=4000203&Mo=14&pos=0&No=9&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=4062&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC11007-Cat4060&topnav=

[Anonymous]

Regular swings take up a lot of space. To the PP with the sensory seeking son and the small backyard - you might do better with a climber/raised playhouse with a tire swing underneath. You can add a slide if you have space. It will take up far less room in your backyard, and give him many options for sensation-seeking- especially if you have different climbing options to get to the top (chain ladder, rock wall, etc).