Building a Backyard Play Structure
By Rhonda Cliett
A child’s dream backyard includes a play structure complete with a slide and
swings just like the one at the neighborhood park. Once you have made the decision
to make your child’s dream come true then you have several backyard playgrounds
designs from which to select depending on the amount of money and time you can
invest.
One of the most economical means of obtaining a backyard play structure
is to buy a used one. Since children eventually outgrow their play structures
you can often find a used one at a fraction of the cost. Your time investment
will require disassembling and reassembling the structure. To make the task
of reassembling easier, you should take a photo of the play structure prior
to disassembling. Check your newspaper classifieds and once you find one, call
immediately since they tend to sell quickly. You should also check to see if
your newspaper places their classifieds online. Many times the online version
is available sooner than the print version which will give you a leading start.
If you decide to build your own backyard play structure you have
many options available. You can build totally from scratch by designing a set
of plans, purchasing the material needed, and building the set. This is obviously
very labor intensive and probably not the best project for a beginner.
Backyard Playgrounds Designs
Another option is to purchase a kit from a store such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.
You can purchase a kit for as little as $299 which includes: design options,
some accessories, hardware, brackets, and plans. You must separately purchase
slides, lumber and the remaining accessories. You can also purchase a complete
kit which contains all material including lumber. These options are as labor
intensive as the previous option but they take the guesswork out of design and
building. The final and most expensive option is to purchase your playground
already built.
Whichever backyard playgrounds designs you decide upon you need to make certain
that the structure is built safely and that your children know how to safely
play on their new play structure. According to the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, each year approximately 205,860 preschool and elementary
children receive emergency treatment as the result of injuries sustained on
playground equipment. Therefore, when it comes to playground equipment, safety
definitely comes before price.
Rhonda Cliett is the owner and founder of Beyond
the Apron, a home ownership website for female homeowners. She has written
many home improvement and home purchasing articles. Visit Beyond
the Apron today and subscribe to their newsletter which is packed with the
latest tips and resources for homeowners.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Be sure your dream of giving your child a backyard play structure doesn't
turn into a nightmare! Make sure to consider all safety options before you purchase
or build a play structure.
Los Angeles, CA
For more information on backyard playgrounds designs.