My in laws bought our kids one from Academy last Christmas and it was basically done after 15 months. My parents just replaced it with one from Treefrogs, and we complained because they originally botched our customization, but did make it right by making 4 additional trips and giving us a 3 foot longer cross beam for free.
I was just thinking about getting one today for my 3 year old but now that I see the prices I think we’ll continue making the walk to the park.
Do you imagine them playing out there in the rain? I guess it would be cool to play out in the snow. Kids will make a "house" or "fort" out of almost anything, so if it's a big sum of money, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think raccoons would be an issue, but spiders and things would. Easy enough to keep a little broom in there though and teach the kids to do a quick sweep up.
Fortunately, we are about a 45-second walk from a large neighborhood playground, so we don't need a backyard playset. But based on what I've heard discussed on this topic, I would recommend one that you can later disassemble and sell to someone else because the kids will only get a few years of play on it before it just becomes something that takes up space and kills grass.
We're about a 10 minute walk, but having one in the backyard is so much more convenient... and private, which is important because my 4yo seems to have developed a habit to randomly put on his birthday suit in public.
I am not debating that the entire endeavor would cost 10,000 and I am in Texas as well and it should be cheaper than a lot of other places. If you are comfortable spending that who am I to say any different, I am just amazed at the prices of some things I have not been keeping up with those materials are probably not worth a 1000 on their own and even cheaper since they are mass marketed. I would think you could get somebody to custom build one for lesser using a YouTube video.
I say this for two reasons: 1) I think I would've loved having that as a kid and 2) We went to a friend's house last week whom had this exact thing and it was a huge hit I think you're right that it doesn't have to be 100% enclosed to be that "fort/playhouse" we're thinking of, but hey, if I can make it work reasonably I'll go for it.
You can find used playsets on secondary markets for dirt cheap. Good ones too. Literally since I created this thread I had someone message me on facebook offering a used Amish playset for free. Otherwise you can score something good new for under 2K.
They are awesome, but they hardly get used, and after 3-4 years they will outgrow them and you will be looking to move it. We bought a nice one, for our two boys, they used it when they were little, then outgrew it, and we traded it to a craftsman for a new fence, he came and disassembled it. Outdoor playscapes are the Pool tables of back yards. Pretty close to what ours was, had a fire pole too. We built a small gravel rock bed under it too. IIRC, we were around 6k all in. DD
I've got a 3.5 year old and a negative 4 month old. I'm hoping to get at least 10 years use out of it. I did some surveying of the space I have available and it looks like the best fit for the area (which would also minimize the number of trees i need to remove) is this: https://www.costco.com/backyard-dis...layset--do-it-yourself.product.100497357.html The trick is I need someone to handle setup. I'm hoping I can find a guy who specializes in this type of thing. I'm really worried about the wood giving out, but I'm a little limited in options. This is the best alternative at the moment: https://www.lifetime.com/lifetime-90630-adventure-tower-deluxe-playset-earthtone#
My experience Rainbow wood - overpriced. Last forever (at least 25 years since it's still there at the old house). Pressure wash from time to time to refresh it. Non-rainbow wood (unfair, since I only got one wooden set from Costco). Can remember the brand. Maybe Gorilla. It didn't last more than 1 year. Costco came and took it back. Somewhat of a pain to disassemble it. I replaced that with another set from Costco (liftetime). I think it's that one. Holding up well after 5 years. I do like that it's open. My non-rainbow wood set has a closed playhouse that was a safe haven for spiders and others. Watch age/size limits. Said up to 12, but probably realistically 10. My 8 is already mostly done with it. They still swing but that's one expensive swing.
This is the exact type of experienced read-out I've been looking for. Major thank you. How did the Costco set crap out? Wood break, warping, rot?
My plan is to introduce Nerf wars to my little guys (4 and almost 7) when they're a little older so the playsets can get some use as forts. Wargames were an integral part of my childhood, and all we had was toy guns and 'pew pew' and 'I shot you!' 'you did not!' and I want my kids to experience that. Oh, that and chinaberries. Those things stung when someone knew how to throw them properly. We have several Nerf guns from my oldest' s collection and two of these just sitting in a closet, waiting to be unleashed:
There was some rot but nothing major. The support frame developed large splits and cracks. Might be a defective unit.
My neighbors have this exact one. It's kind of annoying because it's right up near the fence, and the little boy and girl can basically see into our house. Their dog one time was up the balcony part, checking us out (I thought that was funny, took a picture). But, when they're out there playing, we really get no privacy. Like, I'm working on the garden or lawn, and they want to talk my ear off. Not a big deal, they're little kids so I humor them, but it is slightly annoying. Something to keep in mind if you're building close to a fence.
We live on the Green belt, so put it at the back of our house, overlooking the forest at least the back of it, and it was facing our house..... They did use it, but I think around 9 or 10, they were busy with Baseball, basketball, flag football, riding their bikes....etc....they rarely used it. DD
