Talk to me about Backyard Playscapes

kiarox2002

So, we're thinking of getting Kate a backyard playscape for Christmas.  Problem is, we're not interested in spending $1200- $2500 on it.  (I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I started pricing these.)  I would love to have my parents have a kumbaya moment and come together on this, but it's not going to happen.  My Dad is going to contribute some.

That being said, DH is really handy and has quite a bit of building/ remodeling experience.  Anyone have any experience with one of the kits that come with all the hardware and you buy the wood separately?  Something like this?

https://www.wayfair.com/Swing-n-Slide-Alpine-Playset-Project-611-NE5007-SNS1094.html?refid=AC49-SNS1094

Anyone just draw up plans on your own and build one?  (This is DH's plan since he wants to build something "awesome."  I'm pretty sure that just having a slide in the backyard is going to blow Kate's mind, but DH likes to go overboard.)

Common problems?  Things you wish you had done differently? 

FusionLMT

They go used on craigslist all the time, you "just" have to take them down and then reassemble again, but they are usually hugely discounted.

joyco

Slides on their own are pretty expensive, so piecing things out gets pricey.  We did that though--bought 2 bucket swings, a belt swing (adult size swing) and then a slide.  Then my husband and his dad built a swingset from scratch.  All told, it cost a little more than 400. 

My FIL built one in his backyard, with all the same stuff, but for cheaper b/c he saw a neighbor down the way from his house who had an old playscape that was falling apart and asked if he could buy the slide (which was still in excellent condition).  The neighbor just gave him the slide.  If you go on Craigslist, you will probably find a number of people selling their playscapes/slides.  I'd highly recommend getting a slide that way.  It's usually the wood that falls apart before the slide ever does.  

Make sure you put it in a shady spot, obviously.  And I'd recommend cementing the poles into the ground--the boys like to swing really high and at first, Jay hadn't cemented the poles so it was a little wobbly and a bit scary.  I wish Jay had made the platform going from the steps to the slide a little bigger, but it works for now.  He can always pull it apart and rebuild if it gets to be an issue.  Of course, we do have the huge-gigantic playscape as well...  

amyinaustin

I want to say that Joyco's DH built theirs - but don't quote me on that.  Perhaps she'll chime in.

molliedb

we got ours used, took it apart and transported it and it was well worth it!

i think the kit sounds like a neat idea though!

molliedb

example on craigslist now HERE- you could buy that and just uses the pieces (slide, swings, etc) if the rest isn't in great shape!

joyco

molliedb:

example on craigslist now HERE- you could buy that and just uses the pieces (slide, swings, etc) if the rest isn't in great shape!

Even for just the slide, that's a fantastic deal!  Those climbing "rocks" are about $15-$20 apiece too.  Damn, that's a great buy.

AustinAggie01

Ali and her DH bought a kit and I think she's pretty happy with it.  Hopefully, she'll jump in tomorrow and tell you all about it.

Joyco's DH may have done that too.  Well, you know, after they put a huge Burger King or whatever playscape up (totally not kidding and I think it's totally awesome - lucky boys!).

My kids still have the Step 2 climber thing that I thought was so cool, off of CL.  Hopefully we'll upgrade in the Spring.  I have something picked out in my mind and DH wants to make it all custom and "awesome" as you put it,  At their ages, I'd rather go with what's in my mind and when they are older, I think they should help DH build the "awesome," they'd love to help in that process.

 ETA: There you go, Joyco has experience in these matters.  Guess we were posting at the same time.

 

ali-1411

Yes, we bought a kit and love it.  We bought ours from C S N Stores dot com.  We have a small yard so ours is very simple, just the A frames with a beam, and 4 swing slots.  The plan is to build a platform with slide off it, DH will make that design on his own.

All told, ours cost less than $200.  About $100 for the kit and then another hundred on the lumber.  We went with the more expensive pressurized or something lumber, you could do it even cheaper by getting the basic stuff.  DH built it all on his own in a day. 

If he's handy, I definitely think its the way to go.  The playscapes are expensive and I think ours is much more sturdy.  

Like joyco said, you could cement the posts in but I don't think its necessary.  Jakob and his friend - two 9 yr old boys - will both get swinging and the set does rock a bit but its not going anywhere

joyco

ali-1411:

Yes, we bought a kit and love it.  We bought ours from C S N Stores dot com.  We have a small yard so ours is very simple, just the A frames with a beam, and 4 swing slots.  The plan is to build a platform with slide off it, DH will make that design on his own.

All told, ours cost less than $200.  About $100 for the kit and then another hundred on the lumber.  We went with the more expensive pressurized or something lumber, you could do it even cheaper by getting the basic stuff.  DH built it all on his own in a day. 

If he's handy, I definitely think its the way to go.  The playscapes are expensive and I think ours is much more sturdy.  

Like joyco said, you could cement the posts in but I don't think its necessary.  Jakob and his friend - two 9 yr old boys - will both get swinging and the set does rock a bit but its not going anywhere

My mom bought a kit for her yard--from Wal-Mart, I think it was ($500, slide, climbing wall, monkey bars, 2 swings and one of those things where you push and pull w/ 2 kids sitting back-to-back...) and the wood used on that is pretty thin.  I don't think it will last as long as our swingset will. 

Ali--your swing set must be much bigger!  I'm not too worried w/ the slide being there now (if it didn't have the cemented in parts) but before w/ just the 3 swings, when I would push the boys really high, the whole thing would just start rocking and it freaked me out.  I'm a worrywart by nature though, so that didn't help. 

ali-1411

joyco:

ali-1411:

Yes, we bought a kit and love it.  We bought ours from C S N Stores dot com.  We have a small yard so ours is very simple, just the A frames with a beam, and 4 swing slots.  The plan is to build a platform with slide off it, DH will make that design on his own.

All told, ours cost less than $200.  About $100 for the kit and then another hundred on the lumber.  We went with the more expensive pressurized or something lumber, you could do it even cheaper by getting the basic stuff.  DH built it all on his own in a day. 

If he's handy, I definitely think its the way to go.  The playscapes are expensive and I think ours is much more sturdy.  

Like joyco said, you could cement the posts in but I don't think its necessary.  Jakob and his friend - two 9 yr old boys - will both get swinging and the set does rock a bit but its not going anywhere

My mom bought a kit for her yard--from Wal-Mart, I think it was ($500, slide, climbing wall, monkey bars, 2 swings and one of those things where you push and pull w/ 2 kids sitting back-to-back...) and the wood used on that is pretty thin.  I don't think it will last as long as our swingset will. 

Ali--your swing set must be much bigger!  I'm not too worried w/ the slide being there now (if it didn't have the cemented in parts) but before w/ just the 3 swings, when I would push the boys really high, the whole thing would just start rocking and it freaked me out.  I'm a worrywart by nature though, so that didn't help. 

Really?  Cause ours isn't big by any means.  The main beam is a 12 foot long 4x6 and the supporting A frames are 4x4s.

I wonder how much difference the ground makes.  Up here, its all rock.  Just like most of Austin, right?  Is it all rocky down in NB?  When they built the deck, it took DH and his buddy a full day to dig the holes.  Digging sucks around here, so we weren't inclined to sink the posts for the swingset

JayandJack

What's your budget? We were leaving the south Austin Walmart on Friday night on our way out of town and saw one on display for $500. They seem to be a good price if you want to go new and they have a few options available.

https://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=outdoor+playscapes&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0

kiarox2002

Lots to think about.  Thanks ladies!