In the Swing

If you think a backyard play set is just for your kids, think again.

Besides providing children with a steady supply of fun and exercise, play sets keep them within view, so you know where they are and what they’re doing, even when you’re not there swinging with them.

When it comes to safety, current models are also a giant step beyond yesterday’s rickety contraptions. And they’re far better looking than the metal ones you might remember from your youth.

Showrooms and catalogs are filled with premium redwood and cedar play sets that are handsome enough to

be the centerpiece of backyard landscaping.

Best of all, the latest play sets complement the traditional slide and swings with things like towers, covered slides and cargo nets that spark children’s imaginations.

Keeping your kids interested in the play set for years is important: Although basic models start at about $100, high-end play sets can easily reach $3,000 or more.

Also called gym sets and swing sets, play sets come three basic ways: wood sets, wood kits and metal sets.

Wood is the material of choice these days. Its natural look is more at home in a backyard than metal. And because wood sets are modular, they free manufacturers to create new designs and add-ons, such as fire poles, funnel slides and ramps. That same flexibility also makes it easy for homeowners to add accessories.

“Many people make the mistake of buying a small set that their kids outgrow in a year,” said Fred DeFines, marketing director of Creative Playthings, a manufacturer based in Framingham, Mass. “Look for activities that will keep the children interested throughout their childhood.”

* Wood sets are the most convenient way to do that. Also known as “wood completes,” they come with all of the necessary components pre-cut and pre-drilled for easy assembly.

The smallest tower measures about 6 feet across. A complete setup that includes swings, a slide and tower can span 25 to 30 feet. The most popular of these fall in the 15- to 25-foot range and are available in pressure-treated lumber.

Sets made of pressure-treated lumber cost the least, from $300 to $600.

Many parents worry about the toxic chemicals in pressure-treated wood. According to Scott Saxman, construction safety manager for Kaboom, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., that helps low-income communities build playgrounds, most such fears are unfounded.

“Pressure-treated lumber is used in commercial playgrounds all the time,” Saxman said. “Just be sure to avoid lumber that’s oozing or has dried droplets kids can put in their mouths.”

Pressure-treated wood can also be sealed with two coats of stain or sealer to eliminate concerns.

Another option is to buy a set made from a different type of wood. Redwood and cedar play sets are a step up from pressure-treated sets when it comes to looks.

Unfortunately, these elegant woods also raise prices considerably. For example, Cedar Works of Maine, based in Rockport, uses only Northern white cedar for its play sets, which start at more than $1,000.

Before buying any wood set, balance how much you can spend with the accessories you want now and as the kids mature.

For example, if you have young children, include toddler swings equipped with a safety harness, then replace them later with sling or standard seats (about $25 to $50). A 5-foot molded plastic slide will cost about $150 to $200.

Wood completes are sold at large retailers, dealers (look under “Playground Equipment” in the Yellow Pages) and directly from manufacturers. You can install the set yourself or have the installation handled through the dealer or manufacturer for about $200.

When shopping for a wood set, look for rounded edges for safety. And make sure the structural supports are sturdy and the connections are reinforced, especially where vertical supports join components that hold swings or gliders.

Don’t forget delivery. Shipping a large kit, which might weigh up to several hundred pounds, isn’t cheap.

Finally, remember that you should stain or seal a wood play set to preserve it. Some manufacturers, such as Creative Playthings, sell some of their high-end units pre-finished.

* Wood kits include only the accessories and directions. That means you supply the lumber and hardware and must also drill all the holes and assemble the set.

Kits, which typically range from about $75 to $400, are sold through most home centers with the idea that homeowners will buy the kit, lumber and hardware at the same place.

You’ll find designs and sizes similar to those in the wood complete sets. Those that include swings and a climbing tower are the most popular.

Look for kits that include a complete list of the lumber you’ll need to avoid repeated trips to the store. And choose straight, clear wood to help ensure a safe, attractive play set.

Installation times will vary with your skill. A simple model could take a few hours to build, and some of the more complicated ones will take at least a few days.

* Metal sets cost the least (about $100 to $500) and come as complete kits that can be assembled in a few hours.

The simple swings and slides at the low end of the scale are fine for toddlers and preschoolers. But because these play sets can’t be customized, kids outgrow them quickly.

Those in the upper price range offer more activities to hold your child’s interest. For example, the Amusement Center Royale from Mount Prospect, Ill.-based Hedstrom comes with swings, a two-person rocket rider and a molded-plastic clubhouse with slide. When shopping for a metal play set, look for galvanized-metal supports and padded legs for safety. Be sure the manufacturer provides clear instructions for anchoring the set.

gravel or shredded bark under the play set. The cushioning material should extend 6 feet from the perimeter in all directions. Be sure to clean and replace the cushioning material as needed.

The safest play sets will have these features:

* Federal guidelines for safety of playground equipment dictate that all accessible openings must be less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches to prevent head entrapment.

* Be sure that corners and edges are rounded. Protruding bolt ends are dangerous. Cut off the bolt ends with a hacksaw (filing down any rough edges) or cover them with cap nuts.

* Many children fall from wooden play sets simply because grab bars and handles are too large for them to grasp. Handholds should be placed at strategic points and should be easy for a child’s small hands to grip.

* Chains on swings can cut into small fingers. To make the chains softer to hold, cover them with slit lengths of foam pipe insulation or garden hose. Or cut garden hose one inch extra long and pull the swing chain through the hose.

* Most falls from slides happen from the top, where children jostle each other. There should be side guards securely installed at the top of the slides to prevent accidents.

* The slope of a slide should be no more than 30 degrees, with a flat horizontal section at the bottom to slow the child’s exit speed.

* Swings should be placed 24 inches apart, with the seats at least 30 inches from the frame.

* Any platform that is more than 30 inches in the air should be protected with a solid or tightly slatted enclosure at least 38 inches high.

* Avoid molded plastic and aluminum swings. They weigh from 30 to 80 pounds and can cause severe injury to a child struck by one.

For More Information

Cedar Works of Maine

Box 990

Rockport, ME 04856

(800) 462-3327

www.cedarworks.com

Consumer Products

Safety Commission

(800) 638-2772

www.cpsc.gov

Creative Playthings

33 Loring Drive

Framingham, MA 01702

(800) 444-0901

Hedstrom Corp.

585 Slawin Court

Mount Prospect, IL 60056

(800) 323-5999

Kaboom

2213 M St.

Suite 200

Washington, D.C., 20037

(888) 789-7529

www.kaboom.org

Swings-N-Things

23052 Lake Forest Drive

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

(714) 770-7799

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Out of Harm’s Way

Where you put a play set affects more than just aesthetics.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, falls account for 60% of backyard play-set accidents that send children to hospital emergency rooms. You can protect your kids by following these guidelines:

* Start by choosing an open, level space. Be sure it’s visible from the house.

* Before building, stake out the dimensions of the play set and provide at least 6 feet of open area around it. Swings require an open area twice their height--what the safety commission calls the “fall zone.” Measure height from the ground to the swing hangers.

* Most play sets end up on grass. But wood chips, double-shredded mulch, sand or fine gravel are safer because they absorb more impact from a fall, a crucial concern given that many play-set towers and climbing activities are four to six feet off the ground. Be sure this ground cover is at least 5 inches deep; 8 to 10 inches deep is better.

* Also be sure all towers and platforms higher than 30 inches have guard rails. Fences and rail uprights should be placed no more than 3 1/2 inches apart.

* Check ropes frequently for fraying. And sand any wood splinters smooth.

* Hardware should be countersunk or covered with plastic caps. Open S-hooks should be closed so they don’t catch hood strings and other clothing.

* Finally, be sure equipment is firmly attached to the ground with auger-type anchors. If it’s not anchored, verify that it’s heavy and stable enough so it won’t tip.

Play sets can be as simple as a set of swings and as elaborate as a miniature fortress. By following the safety and quality guidelines covered here, you’ll end up with a play set that gives your kids years of safe, supervised fun and offers you peace of mind.

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This article is reprinted from the June, 1998, issue of Today’s Homeowner magazine. To subscribe, call (800) 456-6369 or go to www.todayshomeowner.com.