https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:42:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830924 Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:44:27 +0000 codeitall 2830924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Dad built our swing set and fort. He kept it pretty simple with a couple add-ons: he built a rope ladder and a rope swing attached and just bought a plastic slide. The swingset was a lot easier since it was just a couple A-frames connected by long boards.</p> <p>If you find something out there that you like, go for it. If you don't it isn't too hard to repurpose an existing plan out there to be what you want, like this: <a href="http://www.ana-white.com/2014/06/play-deckfort" rel="nofollow">http://www.ana-white.com/2014/06/play-deckfort</a></p> <p>I built my own garden boxes and while they aren't the prettiest things, I learned a lot (mostly about planning so the screws don't run into each other :silly: ) and I'm very proud of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830916 Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:12:02 +0000 krispi 2830916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought the kit from Amazon, and then DH went to the store and bought the lumber and built a swing set. We wanted ours to be a little smaller than the plans called for, and he was able to make the adjustments. My husband is very DIY inclined and used to work construction many years ago. The year before he built the swing set, he built a shed from scratch in our back yard (no plans or anything). So unless someone has lots of experience building things, I'd just get the kit and put it together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830824 Wed, 27 Jun 2018 06:28:34 +0000 gotkimchi 2830824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eminthevalley: fine - my husband took a friend and they took it apart in 3 pieces, so it was in three big chunks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830803 Tue, 26 Jun 2018 22:17:28 +0000 Eminthevalley 2830803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: looking at this route...how was disassembly and reassembly? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830802 Tue, 26 Jun 2018 22:16:34 +0000 Eminthevalley 2830802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: did they have a plan they used? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830267 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 18:41:43 +0000 gotkimchi 2830267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got one off craigslist for 250. Totally recommend! Just slapped some paint on and called it. Day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830260 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 17:43:39 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2830260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and father in law built ours in a weekend. It doesn’t have swings though. Just a tree house with a slide down/stairs up. A sandbox underneath. I think we will add swings but that should be easy now that the structure is in place!</p> <p>ETA it’s not actually in a tree. I think it’s about 5x5 with a roof. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830256 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 17:39:23 +0000 hellobeeboston 2830256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just got one from BJ's this year - we saw it in the store and the kids loved it and it was really well-constructed. It took my husband and Dad two full days to put it together with my mom as the organizer of the million pieces that were all labeled.... it was a lot of work, but worth it - kids love it.... I think they charge $400 to build it for you, which depending on how much you want to spend, may be totally worth it:</p> <p><a href="https://www.bjs.com/product/backyard-discovery-canyon-creek-swing-set/3000000000001046090" rel="nofollow">https://www.bjs.com/product/backyard-discovery-canyon-creek-swing-set/3000000000001046090</a></p> <p>If you belong, this one was $700, and its really nice quality... Costco has some too I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830255 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 17:02:16 +0000 erinbaderin 2830255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Buy. There’s so much DIY already involved - they come in literally a million pieces, it took my husband a full three day weekend to assemble - and the idea of planning and cutting as well is A LOT. We have this one and it’s great: <a href="https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.jamboree-fort-wood-complete-playset.1001063446.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.jamboree-fort-wood-complete-playset.1001063446.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830252 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:42:02 +0000 Sams Mom 2830252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dad and uncle are very mechanically inclined. My dad works on cars and my uncle is a machinist; they probably could build (read overbuild) a swing set better than the one my mom was going to buy for us... But they bought the pipe for it and there it lays next to my dad's shop (I'm almost 30).</p> <p>So I might be a little biased in my recommendation to just buy one because lumber isn't cheap and if he doesn't have every tool or saw to do everything it will get expensive really quick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830251 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:34:38 +0000 Foodnerd81 2830251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DIY sounds sooooo hardand time consuming! And fwiw DH made us a farmhouse table, which is beautiful, but once t was in the kitchen it’s warped and the top is sort of uneven and we’ve had to stick things under the legs to make them level. So I can only imagine the room for error on a swing set. </p> <p>I vote buy unless you or your SO are actual carpenters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wooden-swingset-buy-or-diy#post-2830250 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:25:16 +0000 Eminthevalley 2830250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm overwhelmed. Looking for a wooden playset for outside--requirements: some sort of clubhouse/fort on top, slide, something to climb on. I was looking at a few DIY kits that come w/ hardware and plans but you buy lumber, but I don't know that it will be any cheaper than just buying a premade set. Budget is $1000. Preferably more like $800 if DH has his way! My boys are 5 so I don't want something too small that they will outgrow next year. </p>