Once upon a time swing sets consisted of a metal frame with two or three swings and a glider on one side. Those days are gone. Some of today's playsets are nothing short of engineering marvels that require a degree to put together. Parents who have experienced the perils of playset assembly offer a few tips for newcomers to the challenge.
Setting realistic expectation in the beginning is crucial. When assembling playsets including enclosed forts, slides, multiple level swings, balancing beams, and climbing ropes, there is more to do than can be accomplished, by one or two people, in just one weekend. Your kids are going to be excited, but you have to explain that the job will take several weeks.
It will be less overwhelming if you set small, realistic goals for what you plan to accomplish each weekend. The progress being made and how the set will look when it's complete is easier to visualize this way. Enlisting the help of your kids, for safe, simple projects, is a good idea, if possible.
If you have some handy friends or family members, who know anyone who has put one of these sets together, now is a good time to invite them to come over. They might even be willing to give up a weekend to help you finish your project if there is the prospect of barbecue and beer at the end of it. Another option is to go as far with the project yourself as you can and call in the professionals to finish it up.
Select your location carefully, and level it before you start anything. In addition to keeping the dimensions of your actual set in mind, you also have to consider how far any swings will extend, both backward and forward. You can stake out your location on all four corners running string between them.
To prepare the ground, you can add or remove any necessary dirt before laying down sand or pea gravel for maximum safety. You have to think about how much shade will be provided. Metal gets hot when it's exposed to hours of summer sun.
Tell the delivery company exactly where you want the cartons left. Otherwise you might come home and find piles of lumber and packaging laying at the end of the drive or at your front door. If they unload their cargo in the general location of the space you've reserved for the set, you won't have to haul it to the backyard by yourself. You'll need enough tarps to cover the boxes so rain doesn't smear the parts enclosed information.
Check to make sure the parts are all labeled before you start the project. If they aren't, you should do it yourself. Each piece of lumber, and the parts, should to be laid out in the order in which you'll need them. That speeds up the job, and makes it a lot easier to identify any missing parts. You also have to check your tools before starting to be sure you have everything you need to complete the project.
Setting realistic expectation in the beginning is crucial. When assembling playsets including enclosed forts, slides, multiple level swings, balancing beams, and climbing ropes, there is more to do than can be accomplished, by one or two people, in just one weekend. Your kids are going to be excited, but you have to explain that the job will take several weeks.
It will be less overwhelming if you set small, realistic goals for what you plan to accomplish each weekend. The progress being made and how the set will look when it's complete is easier to visualize this way. Enlisting the help of your kids, for safe, simple projects, is a good idea, if possible.
If you have some handy friends or family members, who know anyone who has put one of these sets together, now is a good time to invite them to come over. They might even be willing to give up a weekend to help you finish your project if there is the prospect of barbecue and beer at the end of it. Another option is to go as far with the project yourself as you can and call in the professionals to finish it up.
Select your location carefully, and level it before you start anything. In addition to keeping the dimensions of your actual set in mind, you also have to consider how far any swings will extend, both backward and forward. You can stake out your location on all four corners running string between them.
To prepare the ground, you can add or remove any necessary dirt before laying down sand or pea gravel for maximum safety. You have to think about how much shade will be provided. Metal gets hot when it's exposed to hours of summer sun.
Tell the delivery company exactly where you want the cartons left. Otherwise you might come home and find piles of lumber and packaging laying at the end of the drive or at your front door. If they unload their cargo in the general location of the space you've reserved for the set, you won't have to haul it to the backyard by yourself. You'll need enough tarps to cover the boxes so rain doesn't smear the parts enclosed information.
Check to make sure the parts are all labeled before you start the project. If they aren't, you should do it yourself. Each piece of lumber, and the parts, should to be laid out in the order in which you'll need them. That speeds up the job, and makes it a lot easier to identify any missing parts. You also have to check your tools before starting to be sure you have everything you need to complete the project.
About the Author:
When you are seeking playset assembly, there are lots of options to select from. Check out this useful web page at http://www.dpassemblyllc.com/about right away.
quite engaging one
ReplyDeletePlayset Installation san diego