Choosing Your Installation Site
Creative Playthings swing sets will fit just about any backyard, but there are some important things to keep in mind when deciding where it's going to go.
1.) Choose a site free of obstacles like low branches, overhead wires, trees, stumps, roots, large rocks, sprinklers, bricks or concrete and at least 6 feet away from structures such as a fence, shed, pool or your house.
2.) Make sure the ground is level. Leaning and “racking” puts additional stress on all connections and joints and in time will cause those connections to loosen and fail.
3.) An ideal location is one where you'll have good visibility of your kids while they play. Consider whether the installation site is viewable from inside the house, so you can keep an eye out just in case.
Is Your Yard Sloped?
Even if your yard appears flat, it's always a good idea to double check the grade. The acceptable guideline is a slope of less than 6 inches, left to right and front to back. Any more than 6 inches is not recommended since it can cause the swing set to become unsafe.
What You'll Need
• Spool of String
• Measuring Tape
• Line Level
• (4) Wooden Stakes (at least 18 inches in length)
• Hammer
• (4) Marker Flags
• Scissors
• Dimensions of the required area for your new swing set
The Space Around Your Set
Recommended clearance is 6 feet away from any hazard. This could be a tree trunk, large rock, exposed root or anything that may cause potential injury if encountered during play. This amount of clearance is especially important in front of the slide, rock wall and swings.
In certain circumstances, (such as if a potential hazard is next to the A-frame swing beam legs) a lesser amount of clearance may be acceptable.
If you have a question regarding your unique space, consider scheduling a phone or at home consultation!
Measuring the Grade of Your Installation Site
Attach the string to the first ground stake and secure it into the ground at one end of where the set will be installed. Using the string, form a straight line across the site and secure the second ground stake at the other end of where the set will be. Using the line level and the measuring tape, you will now be able to determine whether your site has an acceptable grade of less than 6 inches. Please Note: Some sites may need regrading to reduce the slope.
If you still have a question regarding the slope of your property, Creative Playthings is here to help. Professional site surveys are available only within our normal delivery area, and upon placement of a fully refundable order.