Monday, May 15, 2006

Wooden Swing Sets

Gorilla™ ready-to-assemble wooden swing sets are designed for the customer who wants to buy today and assemble this afternoon. Pre-boxed and ready to assemble, these economic wooden swing sets are in high demand. The use of T-nut construction makes home assembly of these swing set kits simple and safe using common household tools. Gorilla™ swing sets include pre-cut, pre-sanded and pre-drilled lumber as well as all the required hardware, accessories and step by step 3-D instructions to asemble the unit.

These wooden swingsets come standard as shown, and are designed with a child's safety in mind while providing a challenging recreational setting. All of the Gorilla™ wooden swing sets are constructed with arsenic-free ACQ® Preserve Pine (100% California Redwood in the Congo series). Far surpassing their competitors, Gorilla™ is committed to stability, longevity and safety. That's why they incorporate solid framing with heavy-duty swing belts, components and slides. This makes Gorilla™ swingsets extremely heavy duty and consequently the best-valued pre-milled kit in the marketplace.

Gorilla™ uses 20 oz. heavy-weight marine-grade vinyl for their canopies. They are UV protected, anti-mildew treated and crack resistant to -20° F. Stainless steel snaps or brass grommets make the canopy easy to remove and clean.

The wood roofs on Gorilla™ playsets are factory stained and sealed cedar lumber. Using the tongue in groove (interlocking shingles) tecnique makes installation a breeze and gives the playset a beautiful appearance.

Gorilla™ uses premium select ACQ® treated southern yellow pine or factory stained and sealed redwood. No cutting or sanding. Assembles in up to 70% less time than playsets without premilled lumber!

ACQ Preserve® treated southern yellow Pine is premium grade and double kiln dried. ACQ Preserve® Treated Southern Yellow Pine is pressure treated with ACQ®, an environmentally advanced formulation that is arsenic and chromium free. The ACQ® Preservative system provides long-term protection from rot, decay and termites without the use of any EPA listed hazardous chemicals. The main ingredient in ACQ® is copper, which has long been established as an effective preservative component used in timber preservation. Quat acts as the co-biocide in the ACQ® preservative, providing additional protection from fungi and insect attack that copper alone would not control. Quats are commonly used and are biodegradable in soil. Gorilla Playsets™ provides a Lifetime Warranty on ACQ® to the original owner. California Redwood is a natural alternative to pressure-treated lumber. Redwood naturally resists decay caused by the environment or by insect infestation. California Redwood does require annual sealing to maintain its aesthetic appeal. Gorilla Playsets™ provide a 10-year warranty on Redwood to the original owner. The California Redwood is hand selected. All lumber is strong and durable and conforms to the national standards for use in children’s play equipment. All Redwood playsets come pre-sealed.

Many of Gorilla™ playsets use poly coated wooden beams for a maintenance-free, splinter-free, and weather resistant alternative. These beams use an SPF grade Fir lumber that is protected from dry rot and termites throughout. Poly coating is UV stabilized and will not fade in sunlight.

Gorilla™ slides are said to be the best available. The slides feature the widest bed and the highest sides for maximum safety and enjoyment. Also available are other fantastic slides such as 360 degree spiral slides, spiral tube slides, and scoop slides that can fit a 7’ deck height. Gorilla™ uses a one-piece injection molded, or rotomolded, design with UV inhibitors to prevent heating and fading in direct sunlight. They do not require any additional wood framing for support.

Only 5/16” diameter and 3/8” diameter hardware is used on these playsets for maximum strength and stability. Galvanized wood screws are used for some non-structural components instead of nails that can rust and/or work their way loose over time.

Gorilla™ playsets, Ready to Assemble wooden swing sets and accessories are extremely sturdy, so your children will not be at risk while playing. Swing belts are made of heavy duty polyethylene with reinforced nylon grommets and UV protectant with powder coated chains.

Gorilla™ makes your swing set building experience quick and simple. For single swing beam units a one piece, heavy gauge steel swing beam bracketing system is used with a rigid 4 x 6 swing beam and 4 x 4 swing legs. This is just one of the many features that make Gorilla playsets easy to build.

Gorilla™ insists on angled ladders with flat wide steps which is far safer then traditional vertical dowel and rung ladders. All Gorilla™ play systems, add-ons, and accessories are designed to meet ASTM standards and specifications. Just another way that Gorilla playsets are looking out for the safety of you and your loved ones.


Plan-it Play offers "do-it-yourself" wooden playset kits that are easy to assemble. All kits include everything you need (except lumber) to build your own professional-looking wooden playset with little or no carpentry experience. You receive the heavy gauge bolts, screws, swings, swing-hangers, bracketing system and an easy to read set of 3D illustrated step-by-step playset plans. Only standard dimensional lumber is needed (2x4's, 4x4's, 2x6's, etc.), available at any home improvement warehouse or lumber yard. With plenty of wooden playset models, add-ons and slides, accessories and color combinations you can customize and personalize your backyard playground.


Standard Features For All Playset Plans and Kits:

  • Every wooden playset kit is professionally engineered and designed
  • Extra wide ladder steps (2x6's versus dowels and 1" lumber)
  • Solid 4x4 framing with all bolt construction, no nails to work loose or ground anchors needed
  • Hot-dipped galvanized hardware to resist rust and corrosion, all included additional hardware not required
  • Recessed/ countersunk holes to hide hardware and give your playset that factory milled look
  • Non-metal components made from high impact resistant polymers, plastics and marine grade vinyl
  • Easy to read 3D illustrated step-by-step playset plans
  • 'Safety-zones', non-overlapping play areas that can lead to injuries
  • Meets or exceeds every ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) guidelines

EXTRA FEATURES FOR PLAYSET PLANS WITH SWING BEAMS:

  • Patented swingbeam bracketing system (7 gauge steel)
  • Three pair galvanized bolt-thru swing hangers (commercial upgrade available)
  • Three pair of spring clips for easy removal and height adjustment
  • Heavy duty swing belts, buckets, trapeze bars, etc. each with plastisol coated chains giving them a soft pinch free grip

Safety and Maintenance Tips for Your New Playset
  • It is recommended that on site adult supervision for children of all ages be present while playground equipment is in use.
  • Please refrain children from walking close to, in front of, behind or between moving items.
  • Refrain children from twisting swing chains or ropes since this may reduce the strength of these items.
  • Warn children to avoid swinging empty seats.
  • Teach children to sit in center of swings with their full weight on the swing seats.
  • Teach children to use the playground equipment in the intended manner.
  • Teach children not to get off play equipment while still in motion.
  • Parents should make sure children are dressed appropriately. For example; wear well fitting clothing, shoes, avoid ponchos, and scarves or any loose fi tting clothing, which is potentially hazardous while using the playground equipment.
  • Refrain children from climbing on playground equipment when wet.
  • Check all nuts and bolts twice monthly during the usage season for tightness. Tighten as required. It is particularly important to check & tighten bolts at the beginning of each season.
  • Check swings, chains, and slides for cracks or deterioration. Replacement should be made at first sign of deterioration.


Playgrounds should be inspected on a regular basis. If any of the following conditions are noted, they should be removed, corrected or repaired immediately to prevent injuries:

  1. Hardware that is loose or worn, or that has protrusions or projections.
  2. Exposed equipment footings.
  3. Scattered debris, litter, rocks, or tree roots.
  4. Rust and chipped paint on metal components.
  5. Splinters, large crack, and decayed wood components.
  6. Deterioration and corrosion on structural components, which connect to the ground.
  7. Missing or damaged equipment components, such as handholds, guardrails, swing seats.

Playset Surfacing Recommendations: These are some of the recommendations that The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers from its Handbook for Public Playground Safety.

Protective Surfacing: Since almost 60% of all injuries are caused by falls to the ground, protective surfacing under and around all playground equipment is the most critical safety factor on playgrounds. Certain manufactured synthetic surfaces also are acceptable; however, test data on shock absorbing performance should be requested from the manufacturer. Asphalt and concrete are unacceptable. They do not have any shock absorbing properties. Similarly, grass and turf should not be used. Their ability to absorb shock during a fall can be reduced considerably through wear and environmental conditions.

National Program for Playground Safety