Do-It-Yourself Swing Set Kits

By Jonathan Berohn

It seems like wooden swing sets and play sets are all the rage these days as the ultimate backyard accessory. With prices topping $1,000 though, they are often the unattainable ultimate backyard accessory. Seeing an opportunity here, several companies have jumped into the market with reasonably priced do-it-yourself kits that let your kids enjoy the wonders of their own swing set without forcing you to suffer the burden of the huge prices of the pre-made sets.

Difficulty Level

This is always the first question that pops into my mind when it comes to do-it-yourself projects: how likely am I to be able to really do this? With swing sets the answer is surprisingly good. If you can use a saw, a drill, and a level, you’re basically home free. That’s because the kits on the market come with detailed plans and all the hardware that makes your life easy. One thing the kits don’t come with is lumber, so you will have to select your own wood, but the people at the local hardware store are generally happy to help out with that endeavor if you have any questions. Lumber costs generally start at $150, and the kits typically start there, too.

Options

The easiest way to go bout finding the right kit is to visit one of the big home improvement centers. Both Home Depot and Lowe’s offer a nice selection of swing set and play set kits. You can choose anything from a simple swing set to a play fort (with or without swings) to a multi-level club house. You can then add accessories like slides, trapezes, climbing ropes—even climbing rocks to customize your creation to meet your kids’ wildest dreams.

If you are feeling a little more industrious, there are a number of outfits on the web that offer their own customizable swing and play set plans:

• Detailed Play Systems
• Backyard City
• Jack’s Backyard

All of these options are actually quite similar. You buy the basic kit that includes the hardware, select any extra accessories and options, then buy the wood and put it together. This process will, of course, be much more difficult that driving down to the local swing set shop and telling them when you want it delivered, but it will save you a bundle of cash. You also get the satisfaction of being the cool parent who built the swing set—and that never hurts either.