Deciding whether to build your own swing set or buy a pre-made one is an important decision for many families with young children. A high quality swing set can provide hours of fun and exercise for kids, but they can also be quite expensive, with pre-made sets often costing $500-$2,000. This leads many DIY-minded parents to consider making their own swing set as a way to potentially save money. But is it actually cheaper to build your own? There are pros and cons to both options.
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Pros of buying a pre-made swing set
There are several advantages to purchasing a pre-fabricated swing set rather than making your own:
Convenience
Pre-made swing sets come with all the parts and instructions needed for quick and easy assembly. You don’t have to source the materials, design the plans, or cut all the wood yourself. Assembly of a store-bought set may only take 1-3 days.
Safety
Swing sets from reputable brands are built with safety in mind. They adhere to ASTM safety standards for home playground equipment and undergo rigorous testing. With a DIY set, ensuring the same level of safety is up to you.
Quality materials
Pre-made swing sets utilize weather-resistant woods like cedar and pine, along with powder-coated or galvanized hardware designed to prevent rust. While you can purchase similar materials for a DIY set, the quality may not be as high.
Warranties
Most major swing set brands offer warranties of 5-15 years on their products. This protects against defects in materials or manufacturing. If parts break, you’re covered for free replacements. DIY swing sets won’t come with any warranties.
Resale value
When the time comes to take down a pre-made swing set, they tend to retain some of their value if sold used. People will pay extra for a complete set from a well-known brand. A DIY set likely won’t recoup nearly as much value.
Cons of buying a pre-made swing set
However, there are some downsides to purchasing a pre-fab swing set as well:
Higher upfront cost
Pre-made swing sets range from $500 on the low end up to $5,000 or more for large, deluxe structures from premium brands. Even mid-range sets cost $1,000-$2,000, which is a hefty price tag for many families. DIY sets can often be built for less.
Set designs are not customizable
With a pre-made set, you’re limited to whatever designs the manufacturer offers. You get to choose from preset options for color, size, etc., but you can’t customize the layout. With a DIY set, you control the design.
Ongoing maintenance costs
While pre-fab sets are built to last, they do require some maintenance over the years as parts wear out. You’ll need to re-stain or seal the wood annually, replace rusty hardware, and repair or swap out broken parts. This adds to the long-term cost.
Permanent structure
Store-bought swing sets are typically large, heavy structures meant to be installed permanently in your yard. This reduces flexibility. A DIY set might allow more options for disassembly or relocation if needed.
Pros of building your own swing set
So what are the advantages of opting to build your own swing set?
Cost savings
For the handy DIYer, building your own set from scratch offers the biggest chance for cost savings. You can purchase the materials individually at the best prices. Home improvement sites estimate most DIY swing sets can be built for $500-$800, compared to $1,000+ for pre-made sets.
Customization
When you build it yourself, you can customize the size, layout, color scheme, and included accessories exactly how you want. Add extra swings, a taller slide, a climbing wall, or anything to fit your space and kids’ needs.
Creative freedom
Beyond customizing the structure itself, a DIY project allows you to get creative with the swing set design in a way you can’t with a store-bought set. Let your imagination run wild!
Learn new skills
Taking on the challenge of building a swing set is a great way for DIYers to hone their skills. You’ll learn about structural design, woodworking, hardware assembly, and more. That knowledge can be applied to future backyard projects.
Lower maintenance
Because you construct and install it yourself, a DIY swing set gives you intimate knowledge of how all the pieces fit and work together. This can make ongoing maintenance easier compared to a pre-made set.
Cons of building your own swing set
However, opting to build your own swing set does come with some disadvantages:
Time investment
For the average DIYer, building their own swing set will take a significant amount of time – potentially weeks or longer. From designing plans to buying materials to construction and installation, it’s a major time commitment.
Learning curve
If you lack experience with complex woodworking and construction projects, there will be a substantial learning curve to building a safe, durable swing set. Be prepared to make some mistakes along the way.
Upfront legwork
Before you can even start construction, building a DIY set takes a lot of upfront planning, research, material sourcing, and tool/skill acquisition. This prep work must be accounted for.
Uncertain structural safety
Ensuring your DIY design meets the proper structural engineering requirements for a safe swing set is tricky. You may need to over-engineer some parts to be totally certain of its structural soundness.
No warranty support
When you DIY, you alone are responsible for any repairs or replacements needed down the line. There’s no company warranty to cover you. Any problems or defects are on you to fix at your own cost.
Cost comparison
To determine if a DIY set can provide significant cost savings, let’s break down an example materials list and price estimate:
DIY swing set material and cost estimates
| Item | Estimated cost |
| Wood (cedar) for A-frame, beams, etc. | $200 |
| Hardware kit with hangers, brackets, etc. | $100 |
| Swing seats and chains | $50 |
| Slide | $100 |
| Lumber for stairs, railings, etc. | $100 |
| Play accessories like trapeze bar | $50 |
| Fasteners and adhesives | $50 |
| Paints and sealants | $50 |
| Total Estimated Cost | $700 |
As you can see, a DIY swing set can be built for an estimated $700 in materials using good quality components. Now compare that to a pre-made set:
Pre-made swing set example
Backyard Discovery Oakmont All Cedar Swing Set
– 2 belt swings
– Trapeze bar
– Playhouse
– Picnic table
– Slide
– Price: $1,999
Here, a nice cedar set with comparable features from a leading brand costs $1,999 – nearly 3x the estimated DIY price!
However, this doesn’t factor in the cost of tools you may need to purchase, extra wood if you make mistakes, and the value of your time. Realistically, you may spend $1,000-$1,500 building your own set vs. $2,000 for a similar pre-made set. The cost savings are there, but less substantial than it may first appear.
Safety considerations
Safety should be the top priority for any swing set. Here are key factors to ensure a safe DIY build:
– Use thick, rot-resistant wood. Cedar and redwood are ideal.
– Follow ASTM safety standards for heights, distances, hardware, and more.
– Check that all hardware meets standards for weight loads.
– Use metal braces to reinforce joinery.
– Anchor into the ground properly based on soil type.
– Check for sturdiness and stability when assembled.
– Use smooth, splinter-free woods around high-traffic areas.
– Follow age recommendations for play accessories like slides.
– Install protective surfacing like mulch or mats.
Don’t take shortcuts on safety even if it raises costs. It will be worthwhile to have peace of mind knowing your DIY swing set is built as safely as any store-bought set. Consult your local building codes as well.
Conclusion
Building your own swing set certainly requires more effort, but offers customization and potential cost savings in return. While a DIY set may not save quite as much as hoped compared to pre-made sets once all costs are factored in, you can likely still achieve around 25-50% savings if you’re a capable DIYer.
Make sure to design for safety first and build in extra reinforcement. Understanding your skills and time commitment is key before deciding to construct your own swing set. For many handy homeowners, the ability to design their ideal playset for their kids makes the effort of DIY worthwhile. Just be ready to put in considerable work!