Assembling a Swingset with the Best of Intentions

It's not always the work of an untalented handyman installing the new family swingset. Sometimes it's a parent, grandparent or another family member with good intentions who thought they could accomplish one of these challenging projects.

This Big Backyard Playset from Toys R Us is one of those that can be complicated to assemble. Dad called us for an installation quote and thought we charged too much for such an easy task. He decided to go at it himself and put in two very hard and hot days before he gave up and left it sitting. The picture to the left shows how far he progressed.

It sat like this for several weeks before he called us back. He explained that he was almost finished with the installation and just didn't have time to finish. He was convinced we could complete it in a few hours and asked for a break in our rate. We knew we would likely have to start over.

We charge our full rate to inspect and complete an unfinished installation!

Playset should be level and square for proper assembly.

Assembly is Required

Sure enough, as hard as he worked and as closely as he followed the instructions, (an engineer) he made a lot of mistakes. The truth is, the instructions are not always easy to follow and there are so many varying bolt sizes and parts, it's easy to make a mistake.

Off to A Bad Start

In this picture he got 1 out of 4 right. He used the wrong bolts in the beginning and was coming up short in others areas. He had to start using any bolt to continue working even if it was wrong. He was pretty confident the plans were written incorrectly and continued to work.

If the bolts sticks out this much, try a shorter bolt.

The Going Gets Tough

And continue he did. Lock washers were missing, boards were split, and even if he completed the build it would have been unsafe. The lack of lock washers in the build will cause the bolts to loosen over time and the structure will begin to lean. and weaken from stress.

This playset re-assembly doubles the time for installation.

Start Over

We had to break it down to a pile of wood and start over. You can see in the circle how the bolts are supposed to be flush with the surface of the wood or sticking out no more than 3/16".

Complete

Sometimes things just don't line up right and you have to see beyond the plans to make the next move. A trained eye is usually best and as you can see, leads to a more positive result.

Before You Begin

We don't want to scare you into using our service. There are plenty of smart people out there who can do these with enough time. Read our playset Installation tips before you begin.

Playset Installation and Swingset Assembly Tips From Uncle Jack

Backyard Discovery Pathfinder completed installation.

Whether you just want the experience or expensive playset installation cost eats into your playscpe budget, these tips will help you to be successful with your do-it-yourself project. Read our playset product reviews to determine level of difficulty before you buy. The following tips are offered in a chronological order of the actual build.

Before you begin, get your mind in a calm relaxed place. Do not rush and you will likely enjoy the project. Remember, it does not have to be done in one day.

Take the time to read and understand your assembly instructions. Read once to familiarize yourself with the plan, fasteners and layout. Read again to fully understand the scope of the playscape project.
Understand that you will build separate components or peripherals that will join together to make one complete play structure. The Pathfinder playset to your left has five basic parts: Fort, swing set, rock wall, ladder and slide. (Yes, the slide requires assembly)
Plan to assemble the peripherals, ie, rock walls, swings, monkey bars, ladder, or panels over a period of a few days before you start the actual build. For example, build the rockwall one night after work in the comfort of your garage. Most times you have to build a front and back panel before you join them with deck supports and fascia to make a base fort. Each peripheral part can take 1-2 hours to build.
Unpack your boxes, stack and match wood pieces that are alike. Keep a tape measure and your instructions handy to accurately match lengths and hole locations exactly. One hole in a different spot means it's different. If you can identify the parts as you unpack, stack all your rock wall boards together, ladder parts, roof parts, etc.
Separate fasteners, hardware and match like pieces. It's not uncommon for there to be a variety of bolt or screw sizes with only 1/4" difference between them. If you make a mistake and use the wrong fastener in the beginning of the project, it can lead to big trouble towards the end and leave you short of fasteners.
These box playsets are mass manufactured and are not perfect, however, the engineering and instructions are usually sound. Our rule of thumb, " If something seems very wrong, it's probably you".

Layout swingset hardware for easy reference and access.

Separate parts, hardware and fasteners

Build playground panels over several days for a more enjoyable experience

Build components and various play events

Join components and play events together

Things to think about before your hire a playset installation company

Do they have a website? In the 21st century, what real business doesn't?
Beware of swingset installers who don't list a phone number or an e-mail address. Where will they be next month or next year?
Is that guy you hired to build your family swingset a criminal?
Finding the cheapest deal isn't always the best thing. Beware of installers who don't charge enough. They could be hard up for cash and don't care what happens after they're paid. Playset installation is always a mental challenge and hard work. A true professional will know their value.