Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [play-structures]

playground equipment, play houses, tree forts, swings and other stuff kids play on

54 questions
31
votes
8 answers

When pouring concrete, is it safe to add large rocks to increase volume?

Backround I'm going to pour some concrete to anchor a swing set. The base of the swing set that is being anchored is two 4x4s with a 2x4 footer crossed perpendicularly to the 4x4s. I have a bunch of large softball-sized rocks in my yard. I was…
Walter Stabosz
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14
votes
4 answers

Is this a stress fracture or natural cedar characteristics on a swing set?

This a 3 year old (lightly used) weather exposed swing set. Should I be concerned about the cracks?
Marinaio
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10
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2 answers

Outdoor kids playset - type of lumber use/look for

I'm looking at getting a wooden playset (one of those with a rock wall, swings, slide, and small clubhouse up top) and I was wondering what type of lumber I should be looking for. Not so much the type of tree it came from but the treatment of the…
Curtis
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7
votes
2 answers

Plans for building a simple swing set out of wood

I would like to build a simple A-frame style swing set, which obviously has to be safe while also accommodating up to two swings. Where can I find plans for building such a swing set?
Sebastien
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7
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3 answers

How can I make the underneath of an outdoor playset usable and not a mudpit?

Based on this bulletpoint from the allowed topics: Which tools, materials, and best practices for home improvement task. I'm looking for advice on dealing with our playset. Specifically the area beneath it that they usually recommend being a…
TheCleaner
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4
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1 answer

Playhouse Structural Question

I have created a playhouse deck that is 8'x 8' and 5' off the ground. It is supported by 10' 4x4s on all four corners. I want to place a 12' beam across the top of two of 4x4s in order to place a simple climbing rope. Question: Are there any charts…
RWL01
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4
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3 answers

What is the most durable wood to use for an outdoor swing set

I'm looking to build an outdoor swing set for my kids in the garden. I'd like to know what is the most durable wood to use that doesn't warp or bend. I've been down to the big department stores to get wood, but it is mostly warped already and it has…
Andrew Findlay
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4
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1 answer

Safely securing a 4x4 vertically and horizontally

I'm looking to find the safest way to secure a 4x4 to act as a beam for rope-climbing. In the picture below, the "top" beam sits on-top of two 4x4 posts. The rope will extend from the far right of the post, putting upward force against whatever…
Numpty
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4
votes
2 answers

How can I prevent animals from eating my wooden swingset?

I have a Rainbow swingset made of a Chinese wood called Cunninghamia. The squirrels and deer in my backyard have begun to chew the wood relentlessly. Is there anything I can do to prevent them from doing this? I've been told that ROPEL (animal…
Rob Sobers
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4
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5 answers

How to make a swing swing straight?

I don't know if this is "home improvement" since it is about an item in my garden but it is not about "gardening and landscaping" either so I am going to ask it here in the hope that, since it I think the skillset required to answer questions here…
kmp
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3
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2 answers

A-frame angle for swing

I'd like to figure out the smallest angle possible for the kid swing A-frame. I will be using 4x8 beam on top and 4x4 for the legs. I am reading two sources and each has different angles: This site…
HP.
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3
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1 answer

A-Frame Bracket for 4x8 swing beam

I would like to build the A-frame swing structure. One end of the beam attaches to the playhouse. The other end is the A-frame and I plan to use 4x8x12 treated lumber as the beam since I already bought one extra from previous project. I have been…
HP.
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2 answers

What kind of sand should I use for a sandbox?

What type of Sand is normally used for Sandboxes? I've heard some people love Masonry sand because it clean of small pebbles. Other like Concrete sand because it packs well.
Scott
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3
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3 answers

I'm assembling a swing set, having issues keeping it square

Let me start off by saying I am a complete and total newb when it comes to wood work, so any advise is super helpful. Okay, so I purchased a swing set that you assemble yourself. I started to put it together and I'm already stuck on like the fourth…
Kyle
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3
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2 answers

Fix broken basketball pole

I have this basketball from previous owner of the house and it's concreted to the ground. Now after many years (I assume), it's rusted and broken on top. I am wondering what is the best way to connect the two pieces without replacing it: Is there…
HP.
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