Cool outdoor playsets come in various designs and feature various add-ons. Therefore, the addition of a playset in a backyard is based on a yard’s dimensions and size and the age or ages of the users. Whether a playset features a jungle gym, tower, playhouse or swings, it should be safe, easy-to-see, and made of premium materials.
Surfacing the Play Area: Why This Is Important
Any yard that features a playset must be prepped with surface materials that soften a kid’s fall when playing. The choice of materials is important, as you want to make sure the surfacing beneath the playset is both safe and aesthetically pleasing. Popular soft materials include sand and shredded rubber.
The depth for the surface beneath the playset should conform to Consumer Safety Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommendations for surface types and fall height. For example, if your child’s playset engages him or her in more aggressive activities, you want to make sure the surface is softer.
Cool Outdoor Playsets – Scaling the Playset’s Design
A tower design in cool outdoor playsets is an example of a vertical playset design that can be scaled for add-ons or switch-outs. Therefore, as your child ages, you can include age-appropriate add-ons, such as swings, and remove “little kid” features, such as gliders.
What Are Some of the Unique Add-ons in Playset Designs?
Cool outdoor playsets may feature towers with traditional swing beans, making it possible to include upgrades, such as rock walls, cargo nets, ladders, or curly-cue slides. Canopies may also be added for sun protection.
Cool Outdoor Playsets and Playhouses
If your child likes to pretend play, a playhouse may provide a creative outlet. A child-sized version of a house, a playhouse may feature slider windows and can be designed to match the primary home’s architecture and colors.
How to Set Up a Play Area
To plan a play area, you need to follow the tips below to ensure a playset can be nicely incorporated into your yard’s design.
Leave Ample Room for Recreation and Safe Play
Quality and cool outdoor playsets should maximize a kid’s entertainment without using all the space in a backyard. You also have to account for the other add-ons you may include in your yard’s design. These accessories may include a hammock, barbecue pit, or a space for a flower or vegetable garden. Allow for more room around the play area so your child can safely play and you can expand the playset, if required.
Determine the Playset Location
How far can you place the playset in relation to the house, fence, property line, electrical lines, or other buildings? Ask this question first before deciding on a location.
Cool Outdoor Playsets Made of Wood
Wood playsets are preferred for their strength and looks. The lumber is typically pressure-treated to control insect infestation and rotting. Wood must be re-stained yearly to prevent splitting or fading, and splinters. Quality playsets made of pressurized wood last about 15 years.
Metal Playsets
Known for their resilience and lighter weight, metal playsets usually are powder-coated to prevent rust and corrosion. Keep a metal playset in a shaded area, as the metal can become extremely hot in the summer. Metal playsets have an average longevity of 15 years.
Vinyl Playset Designs That Are Cool
Cool outdoor playsets clad in vinyl are about five times stronger or four times more adaptable than playsets made of wood. Expect them to last about 25 years, as some of the add-ons, such as swings, are less likely to get wobbly.
Simply use a garden hose to clean the playset in the spring and summer for ongoing play throughout the year. However, remember - vinyl or plastic is not always so robust. Plastic swing sets made for toddlers last only about five years.