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cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 45
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 5:25 pm: | 
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My husband and I want to get one of those playsets that the kids can climb up into and also use the swings. Walmart has them for $398. I have 2 questions...1) If it wouldn't be too expensive, I would rather have someone build it to our specs (nothing elaborate certainly but maybe a little larger area to sit in when you climb up into the shaded area so our 8year old will get use as well as our 2yr old and 2)if we simply buy it from Walmart, who can we get to put it together and for how much?? I'm guessing we'd have to level an area and put down wood chips or something? . . . |
NYC to Maplewood
Citizen
Username: Nyctomwood
Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 8:07 pm: |
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I've not used them myself, but I've often seen Two Guys from Newstead recommended for various handyman type tasks - maybe they could help you with this. I believe the advertise in the business section of MOL. |
Earlster
Supporter
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 1451
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 11:47 pm: |
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I don't think you will be able to get anything custom even close to $400. I would also check out the quality first, that just sounds way to cheap to me.
We bought one last year at Costco, it's larger then the one on your picture, and it took me and some neigbors a full weekend to put it up. Great fun, if you're so inclined. Not, otherwise. Not sure who you could hire, but I've heard the going rate for assembly is in the 3-6 hundreds.
Companies like Rainbow have many modular options that allow you to build something quite custom, and are of great quality (so that your 2yr old can have his first beer in the little house ). However you are looking at quite a lot more money. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 46
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:16 pm: |
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Thanks. I saw the one at Costco, but didn't want to spend $1000 on top of the money we'd have to pay to have someone put it up. It does seem mighty inexpensive but I've seen these types in other ppls yards and they serve their purpose. You get what you pay for. It's safe and the kids can use it and it will be fun, but as big as my boys are NOW at ages 8 and 2, they won't be having their first ANYTHING on the Walmart playset!
Thanks for the good ideas. |
New to Maplewood
Citizen
Username: Newtomaplewood
Post Number: 26
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 2:43 pm: |
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This might sound like an odd question, but does the Walmart set come with the lumber? We did a huge amount of shopping around and anything close to that price was merely the hardware. If so, you have to purchase the lumber yourself + installation. We found it impossible to get anything decent for under $1000. |
Ace789nj
Citizen
Username: Ace789nj
Post Number: 212
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 3:25 pm: |
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We spent a good amount of time looking at swingsets before buying one, the best we found was the one at sams club. It was a 1000 bucks and was a great deal for the money, comparable models from other makers were over 3 grand!! I'm pretty handy so I was able to put it together in just a couple days. Double check what you're getting for your $$ at wal mart, I'm not to fond of their stuff. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 49
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 1:11 pm: |
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Jeez, now I'm getting worried!!! I'll call and ask what the set comes with. I've been pleased with all of my walmart purchases and I think that if chosen carefully they offer pretty decent quality. But if everyone is paying $1000 then maybe I'm missing something here?
I'll get back to everyone on what I uncover. Thanks for the feedback. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10418
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 2:27 pm: |
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cwalk, one of the keys here is the type of wood the set is made with. At the least it should be pressure treated. Cedar or redwood is better, but much more expensive.
We put up a relatively inexpensive pressure treated swing set when our kids were four and two. They outgrew long before it became ratty. I don't think either of them even looked at it after they were six or seven.
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Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 140
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 4:30 pm: |
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Beware: "At the least it should be pressure treated."
Such woods leach toxins, and are not good for kiddies. Go with cedar or redwood for toxin-free play. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10421
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 5:36 pm: |
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Shanabana, pressure treated wood has been reformulated to remove arsenic, which is what caused people concern. There are no confirmed incidents where even the old wood injured anyone. |
EllenP
Citizen
Username: Ellenp
Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 5:08 pm: |
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cwalk, we had a Costco swingset put up in our yard 5 years ago. Great quality, kids loved it, but they out grew it. Are you interested in a used (but in great shape) model? |
Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 356
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 9:22 pm: |
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That picture you posted looks exactly like the unit we got last year from Rainbow Systems. It was their kit not a custom set - smaller than the one at Cosco. I can't remember what price we paid but we did pay about $300.00 for Rainbow to install. The wood on our set was redwood. We did have some issues with some damaged lumber that needed to be replaced. Rainbow was a little difficult to deal with as their customer service department is tiny and was inundated with complaints. It seems that at least with the kit they were having some quality problems and didn't have spare pieces readily available. Any replacement parts had to be special ordered from their factory.
I wouldn't be surprised if Rainbow factory is making the units for Walmart or perhaps selling all their kit stock to them. I would check the specs about what kind of lumber is being used as that does make a difference.
We definitely paid more than 398.00 Probably in the 600-650 range.
Hope this helps. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 55
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 11:58 am: |
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Ellen P-- Hell yes! That's the best news we've had. Can you tell me when we can come by to see it? We are on the tip of West Orange (about 2 blocks from South Orange). Please email me to let me know and thanks. I hope this will be the solution for us.
Part of the reason we didn't want to go "whole hog" on the swingset is because one of my sons is 2 yrs old but the other is 8 already and these boys are gigantic!!!! With everything else that an old house needs, it didn't seem very practical to spend that much on a temporary plaything. |
EllenP
Citizen
Username: Ellenp
Post Number: 2
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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CWALK - you can come by and take a look anytime. We live at 3 Cottage Court, Maplewood. It's off Ridgewood, on the Millburn border. Just walk around back. If you are interested, leave us a note in our front vestibule and we'll give you a call. I think it could be taken apart in a few pieces and put back together without too much hassle (we still have the directions). You probably would need a truck or van. |
EllenP
Citizen
Username: Ellenp
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 11:35 am: |
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CWALK - should have mentioned that we would like $300 for it and you have to get it off our site. Let me know what you think. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 58
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
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Sounds great. I will tell my husband about it and see if we can't stop by in the next few days or so. You said its in great shape and you still have the directions so if my husband likes it then its a deal! I guess we'd just take apart only what we absolutely HAVE to in order to carry it away (those things seem SOOO difficult to put together). Thanks again for the info and I hope to meet you soon. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 59
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 2:46 pm: |
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Just spoke to my husband and he thought we'd come take a look on Saturday. We're going to a hockey game with the kids in the early afternoon, so maybe we stop by in the morning. If you'd like us to just walk back to your yard to take a look, just note, that it will be me, my husband, our 2 boys and my nephew (therefore if you see anyone in a black catsuit and a ski mask in your backyard, I would say its safe to assume that they are NOT us and are likely armed and dangerous! |
EllenP
Citizen
Username: Ellenp
Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 3:29 pm: |
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We should be around, but just go on back, let the kids test it out. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 60
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 8:55 pm: |
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What a great idea--thanks.  |
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