If you’re thinking about building a swing set for your child, or buying a commercial one and assembling it yourself, there are some things to keep in mind. Swingset assembly requires a number of tools and skills. While it’s definitely not impossible for the average person to do, it’s important to ask yourself whether or not it’s worth it. If you’re the sort of person who’s already pretty handy around the house, and you have the right tools on hand, assembling your own is a great idea. If, on the other hand, the idea of putting things together makes you break out in a cold sweat, and your tool shop consists of a hammer and a screwdriver, it’s probably better to pay a pro. If you’ve decided that putting together your own swing set really is for you, here are a few tips to make things go more smoothly.
Organization is Key
Before you get started, make sure that you’ve got everything under control. This means taking a look at the plans or instructions, and making sure you have the right tools and all the swing set parts you’ll need. This prevents you from realizing, mid project, that there’s a piece missing, or something you’ll have to run to the hardware store to purchase. Stopping work in the middle of a project is annoying, plus it increases the chance that your project will be abandoned and forgotten.
Buy Quality to Start With
Plans, raw materials, or swing set kits can all be pretty expensive, and cutting corners is pretty tempting. However, that’s not the best idea. Instead of buying a bargain set of plans or kit, make sure that you have the best one you can afford. Higher quality swingset parts and better made plans are crucial to having an easy time building your own swing set. One important area not to skimp on is swing set anchors. These are the metal pieces that help keep your swing set in the ground if you’re unable to cement it in. They should be strong, and you should buy enough swing set anchors to fight against the stresses that swinging and playing will put on the structure. Otherwise, vigorous play could cause the play set to tip, and your children are at risk of injury. It’s also important to get durable, high quality chains that won’t pinch little fingers, and to make sure that all fasteners are strong and well sunk into the et, so that scrapes and abrasions aren’t a risk.