Wooden Swing Sets

Big Sky Swing Set

Wooden swing sets are an excellent addition for any backyard. Metal ones are acceptable however, the choice is really up to you, depending on budget and the landscape of your backyard. Wooden swing sets are generally safer than metal swing sets, and tend to last longer a lot longer. They don't rust, and generally provide a more professional look. With that, comes one caveat, they usually require a larger cash investment. Wooden swing sets are commonly made from yellow pine, cedar or redwood. Northern white cedar is considered by some as the premium material for swing sets because it lasts longer than most other wood.

As with any type of outdoor play equipment, wooden swing sets require regular inspection, as well as sealant touch up, replacement of damaged, loose or protruding parts. Additionally, it's a good idea to sand or glue cracks that could lead to wood splinters. Most wooden swing sets include a 5 to 10 year warranty on the wood, along with a 1 year warranty on all the other parts of the swing set. Without regular maintenance as prescribed by the manufacturer, however, this warranty may become null or void, so it's important to heed these instructions. You may want to bookmark this page so you can review it at a later date.

Wooden swing sets can mean hours of fun for the whole family. Children tend to spend hours in the backyard, playing with wooden swing set, thus getting much needed exercise and fresh air, as opposed to sitting in front of the TV or playing video games. Wooden swing sets include belt swings that are generally made from canvas, for comfort. Likewise, a lot of wooden swing sets include a “glider” type swing which may allow more than one person to ride, and are generally made of plastic. Some of the upper end, hardier wooden swing sets may even include a tire swing, with specially treated chains to avoid pinching. Some of the features available include:

acrobat swings
awning
climbing ladder
climbing ropes
corkscrew slides
belt swings
glider swings
monkey bars
picnic table
periscope

play decks/play house
rings
rock climbing wall
rocket swings
rope ladder
rope swings
rung step ladder
safety bars
sandbox
straight slides

steering wheel
sun roof
telescope
tic-tac-toe board
tire swings
trapeze
tube slides
wave slides
windows with shutters
zip lines

Wooden swing sets are sturdier than most metal swing sets, supporting around 50 pounds more per child than typical outdoor play sets and also tend to last longer than plastic or metal swing sets. The latter can show signs of wear and tear within a few years, whereas wooden swing sets are made for the long haul.

Public playgrounds are great, and have some amazing equipment for children, but require parental supervision. With wooden swing sets, parents have a worry free environment in which their children can play with little or no supervision. With the vast variety of features available for wooden swing sets, and the ability to extend certain wooden swing sets, parents will have more time to perform other activities without worrying about the child's where abouts.

wooden swing sets
Pioneer Peak Swing Set

Wooden swing sets should be factory stained or sealed for rot and insect resistance. Most wooden swing sets come pretreated from the factory, but if not, the instructions for performing this step tend to be simple and fully illustrated. There is a bit more effort involved with wooden swing sets, but wood is rust-proof, heftier and looks better than many of the flimsy metal swing sets available on the market, so the time and effort is well worth the final results.

If you are considering wooden swing sets made from wood/plastic composites, the good news is they generally exhibit low moisture absorption and high resistance to decay, insect, and UV ray damage. The wood component provides the composite with greater dimensional stability than plastic lumber, but not nearly the stability that real wood does. Real wood treated with these preservatives is generally available as well.

Wooden swing sets generally come pretreated and precut, and are meant for those who have moderate skills in putting together structures, but don't want to do all the work themselves. Wood swing sets are designed to grow with your children as they grow and their skills improve.

Click here to review the product catalogue of wooden swing sets, parts and accessories.

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