Backyard Playset

That is just fantastic. It looks totally pro! Did it come out cheaper than buying one? I know I have a tendency to think I’ll make something cheaper, then I go way over somehow :)

Also, how did you put the roof and shingles on? Were you hanging from a crane? Excellent work!

-- Gary, Los Angeles, video game animator

looks good…I bet the kids love it…reminds me that I should build one of these for my grand kids…..good job

-- Todd, Oak Ridge, TN, Hello my name is Todd and I'm a Toolholic, I bought my last tool 10 days, no 4 days, oh heck I bought a tool on the way here! †

oh so much fun!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Nice construction skills…. and it looks like the customers are satisfied!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Great job. My girls would love something like that.

-- Alan, Prince George

Thanks, everyone!

Gary, to answer your questions…
Yes, it is cheaper than buying one, but it still wasn’t all that cheap. I think everything, including the playchips and surround, it ran about $2000. BUT, if you were to price the ones at the fancy playset stores, a comparable set would set you back around $4000, not including the leveling prep and the surround. The key is making it big enough that the kids use it for a long time. Then it’s worth it. Also, it is made in a modular fashion – each side panel comes off in one piece. So I figure I’ll be able to sell it when the kids are done with it if I want to.

The roof looks great, but I really wouldn’t make one that fancy again. I’m not sure how I’d remove it when the time comes without using a crane or taking it apart completely! First I made the A-frames on the ground with the sun pattern on them. Obviously I had help putting those up, but it wasn’t too bad because the bottom horizontal rung of the A-frame rests on top of the main vertical supports. Then just mark my holes while it’s up there so I know where they go. Once the A-frames were up, I used some old 2×6 decking recycled from my father-in-law. (It’s unpainted in the first picture, but it’s painted now). Then the roofing paper and shingles. It wasn’t too bad to reach with a ladder. But I really should’ve just used some overlapping cedar siding for the whole roof. Would have been much easier!

I didn’t mention in my description, but I used deck stain for all the plain cedar parts, and tinted Benjamin Moore exterior woodstain for the purple. The color has held up amazing well so far – it still looks brand-new after almost 3 years so far. Whereas right now the cedar needs another coat of deck stain.

-- Beth

First.. Welcome to Lumberjocks! and WOW ! You did a fantastic job. I love it.

-- - " If you want square work, You don't cut corners. " - -- Tom Goodman, Santa Maria, CA. woodworkertom@gmail.com

There’s some happy looking kids. Great job!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Thanks for the extra info, Beth! Looks like you did manage to save money, but even if it were double the price of just buying one, the coolness factor of your kids always being able to show friends the pics and say “My mom made this for us” makes it worth it. This has a lot of love in it.

-- Gary, Los Angeles, video game animator

This is really cool. Hope the kids get some great use out of it.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken

You know, I’ve seen hundreds of wooden playsets but I think this is the first one I’ve seen in color! Looks great! I love it!

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Welcome to JLs As a 20 year contractor I think your play set was built as well as I would build one. I’m also a beginning woodworking teacher for an adult class through our local community collage and now have about 70 percent woman students. Many are retired so I’m so pleased to see a busy mother and wife able to take the time to do woodworking. I love that photo of your whole smiling family on your play set how gratifying that must be.

Jim

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

You rock! My kids would love that! Would you come build one at my house and watch my kids while you’re at it?

Holy cow – we can barely manage to keep our kids out of trouble, much less building a great playset at the same time. You have my admiration.

-- -- Kevin in Mentor, Ohio

Thank you all for the nice comments! It makes me smile to read them! :)

-- Beth

Welcome to LJ’s..it’s always nice to see another woman on here. I built a few things for my kids when they were little, but nothing this impressive. Gives me an idea for my grandkids though. I want them to LOVE coming to grandma’s house. They live far away so having something fun like this when they visit would be wonderful…the wheels are turning….thanks for sharing. Hope you don’t mind but I’m adding you to my “buddy” list.

-- robbi-Yadahooty!

Sorry I missed your post when it first went up. I think you did great! I am so impressed with the effort, creativity and results. I threatened to build a big play set for my nephews but it never seemed to fit into my travel and work schedules. They are in college now—I just don’t think they would use it much any more!
Michael

-- ShopDogs, Tulsa, OK

This is great maybe i can hire ya to make one for my son hee hee. Guess i should do it myself i’m just lazy sometimes. This is very cool.

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug