The old wooden playset my dad built vs. the kit I put together last spring

My dad built our playset back in '92 with pressure treated lumber and basic tools. That thing lasted 20 years without a single issue. Last year I bought one of those kits from the big box store for $400. It came with those thin brackets and stamped metal parts. I followed the instructions exactly and by fall the slide bracket had already rusted through. I ended up reinforcing every single joint with extra screws and brackets from the hardware store. Has anyone else had better luck reinforcing those kits or am I just better off building from scratch next time?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenniferwells10d ago

My dad's still got a cedar swing set from the 80s that's holding up better than my new one.

jana58410d ago

My cousin bought a cedar set last spring and the wood's already splitting and the swings are sagging. Meanwhile my aunt still has her 1986 set in the backyard and the only thing wrong with it is the paint is faded. They sure don't build things like they used to, that's for sure.