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By Tina Gleisner, My Handyman of Southern NH
Installing a swing set is not
difficult but it does take more time and patience, than most people
realize. Home owners should be realistic in estimating how much time
they have to devote to the project or include money in their budget for
help installing the swing set.
Very
few swing sets today can be assembled in a day. They are really more
like playgrounds with so many parts that you're really assembling the
equivalent of several swing sets. Some creative ideas for completing
the project include:
- Have
a handyman party and invite 1 or 2 skilled friends (with their own tools) to help with the
project. Start fresh on Saturday morning and decide end of day what
help you need on Sunday. You'll enjoy the project more working at a comfortable pace, and scheduling the "we got it done" celebration Sunday night.
- Recognize
that you won't be able to do the entire project yourself so share the
project with someone like My Handyman. Ways you can do this so the
project gets done in just a few days:
- Have a handyman start (schedule 1 day) and plan to spend a good portion of the weekend completing it.
- Spend as much free time as you can over the weekend and have My Handyman come Monday to finish up.
- Explain
to your children that it's a big project and you need their help. Set
expectations that it will take several weeks to complete the project
and review the instructions to pick logical end points each weekend, so
they can play during the week.
My Handyman assembles 3 to 6 swing
sets each year and we learn from each project. Assembly is
unpredictable because there are new manufacturers/models each year, so last year's box store "A" can now take 50% more time. An extremely challenging installation last year
provides a way to explain the problems and potential solutions, to
minimize the install time. If you want to minimize problems stick with an established brand and/or retailer who will support you through the installation.
- Problem: Part way through the assembly, you realize that the location selected isn't level, or you find you only have 3 ft of clearance from a fence or other unmovable fixture.
- Solution: Swing sets should be at least 6 feet from any potential hazards, with more room suggested behind the swings. When selecting your location, place small stakes in each corner and run string between the stakes. Make sure ALL the strings are level which may involve removing or adding dirt. You should also consider using an absorbent fill underneath like sand, pea gravel or synthetic mulch for safety. Shade is also a good idea as direct sunlight will cause the swing set materials to get overheated, possibly causing burns.
- Problem:
Delivery company dropped the boxes at the end of the driveway during
the rain causing all the stickers identifying individual pieces, to
come off.
- Solution:
Identify where you want the delivery company to leave the cartons and
have a tarp available if it's raining. Move the cartons to the location
where the swing set will be installed, using a furniture dolly if
weight is a problem.
- Problem: There are thousands of pieces of hardware (2,316 for the one shown in the photo) and they are not shipped in separate bags.
- Solution: Sort all the hardware prior to beginning the installation, and save time by placing each type in individual containers. For safety, you want to insure:
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Leisure Time's Cambridge 2007
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- Use of self-locking nuts or lock washers to prevent loosening
- Exposed bolts should be capped
- "S" hooks should be tightly closed
- Hardware should be resistant to corrosion.
- Problem: Like the hardware, there can be hundreds of pieces of wood (472 in swing set shown here) and they may or may not be labelled.
- Solution:
You will want to label all wood pieces ahead of time, and it is helpful to line them
up numerically, to speed up the time used to find them. You can also
identify any missing pieces and call the company or purchase wood to
use instead.
- Problem:
The manufacturer's original estimate for installation was 16 to 24
hours with 2 people. After a full summer of installations, they
admitted these kits were taking "closer to 48 hrs".
- Solution: With 2 skilled people, each with their own tools, assume you will need the maximum suggested install time and allow for some contingency, i.e. 25%. With a team of unskilled people, you probably want to double the estimated time. Write down how long each page of directions takes, and adjust your schedule after completing 3 to 5 pages of directions.
My Handyman completed this installation in 42 hours
but the customer was very unhappy. We talked to other companies
specializing in swing set installations and they reported similar
problems. The real proof, this company isn't visible anywhere on the
web although there are similar designs out there.For related information, you can also read:
Tina
Gleisner, President of My Handyman of Southern NH, publishes Handyman
News and writes articles that address customer questions and concerns. Copyright ©
2008 by 4 Walls 1 Roof LLC.
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