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We had been planning on buying a swing set for a while, but we assumed we would get a wood or vinyl set, because metal ones brought back memories of cheap swing sets from our childhoods.
This play set far exceeded our expectations! It looks like something you'd find on an "actual" playground. The metal is all powder coated, and the plastic components all feel very sturdy.
Initially, we were apprehensive about the assembly, but the directions were clear and thorough, and all of the hardware needed was organized with the corresponding steps in the directions, so it was easy to grab the exact thing we needed, instead of digging through bags of random nuts and bolts.
The way the bolts are attached is very secure, but it was a bit of a downside during the assembly process, because it got a bit fiddly at times (and if you have issues with carpal tunnel, get someone else to help with the bolts). It took us over an hour to attach the cross-bar for the swings to the tower, but we learned later that it's because it was not lined up exactly right, even though it looked like it was while we were working. While I appreciate that there was no way to force it to work, and I'm happy that it's sturdy, I wish there had been a better way to ensure that that piece lined up correctly so that we didn't waste so much of the assembly time.
It says that it should take 2-3 people 6-8 hours to build this. Had we not gotten snagged on that step, we probably could have finished assembling it in one day, but by the end of the first day, we had HAD IT, so we finished it the next morning. Most of it went fairly quickly with two people, but there is one step that requires a third person, and it was nice to have a third person to work ahead on a few of the steps (like assembling the ladder and the roof while we finished up parts of the tower).
Now that it's built, my favorite part is how the swings attach to the swing set. The swings securely clip in at the top, so if you already had another swing, it takes less than 30 seconds to take a swing off and put a new one on. We have a bucket swing from when our kids were babies, and we've swapped out the trapeze with the bucket swing so that our friends' toddler could swing safely.
Overall, I highly recommend this swing set! Just make sure you factor in the safety zone when you're thinking about where you're going to put it. We almost didn't have enough room, but we were able to make it work, and our kids have played on it every day since we built it!
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
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