With two trees gone, the space has been opened up dramatically. Now it's time to build the play structure (figure A), which will include a railed deck area, a climbing ramp, a slide and a swing system. Marking paint is used to identify the key spots for the play area (marking paint, which is available at home-improvement and garden centers, is temporary and typically washes away with rain.) For the structure, Hill has chosen termite- and rot-resistant pressure-treated (PT) lumber from Wolmanized® Select. Guest Huck DeVenzio explains that the nonarsenic process used by the company is safe for children and suggests consumers research the issue online and in the product literature. Pressure-treated wood is often used on outdoor structures because it has been treated to be weather resistant. It is more costly than untreated lumber.
Here are the basic steps that the team will be following for this phase of the project:1. Dig a hole for the tower column. 2. Build and set the tower column in concrete. 3. Build the climbing ramp. 4. Frame and attach the deck area. 5. Build and attach the railing. 6. Attach play features. 7. Construct the swing system. 8. Build the play area. Materials
(4) 6x6x14 PT timbers
60 square feet of decking boards
(8) 2x4x8 PT railing
(18) 2x8x8 PT joists
700 square feet of weed barrier
(24) 5/16" x 4" galvanized lag bolts with washers
(42) 3' rebar
Climbing wall holds (a package of six to eight handholds with T-nuts and bolts will cost about $20)
(2) 2x8x19 PT for frame
(1) 2x6x10 PT swing brace
(4) 4x4x10 PT ramp back
(5) 4x4x8 PT railing posts
5# box 2" galvanized decking screws
(24) 5/16"x6" galvanized carriage bolts with (2) washers, lock washer and nut per
5# box 6" pole barn nails
1 child swing w/hardware
(10) 2x6x8 PT for ramp
(3) 4x6x12 PT swing supports
(49) 2x2x42 PT balusters
(14) 6x6x8 PT timbers for border
5# box 3" galvanized decking screws
(10) 80# bags Quick-Crete
(1) prefab slide
1 kid swing with hardware
Tower ColumnFirst the center column must be built; it will be the main support for the whole structure. Holly DeFranco and Dean Hill mark the area that was opened up by the tree removal, measuring a 16' area that will surround the space. She indicates where she wants the play structure, basing her decision on many factors, including her view from the kitchen window so she can watch the kids. Keep lifestyle habits in mind when choosing play areas for kids: it's a good way to make certain you're not inconvenienced and your little ones can play safely. Next they find the center point, where the column's hole will be. The hole will be 3' long on each side and 3' deep (figure B). All hands will be needed for this project because the center column is such a substantial support mechanism. Typically, building a play set requires additional labor. The center post is the backbone of Hill's design. He makes the column from four 6x6 timbers secured together by two collars, then predrills holes through the collar pieces and into the timbers. Finally he connects them using four lag bolts and washers in each side of the collar for maximum strength (figure C).
With the help of the whole team, Hill secures the column in quick-drying concrete in the 3' hole. Then he screws supports to the column and with a sledgehammer, drives the supports into the ground to keep the column level while the concrete sets overnight.Attaching the Deck 1. Hill marks the deck height (5') on the column. 2. Holly uses decking screws to secure the first board to the column, then adds four lag bolts and washers for strength. 3. Once the first board is secure, she attaches the remaining three in the same manner (figure D). 4. With the horizontal supports in place (figure E) to act as the joists for the deck, the team can move quickly around the column, using galvanized decking screws, lag bolts and washers to attach the remaining frame pieces.
5. The team adds the inside support braces (figure F) and 4x4 support posts, which are set on top of the ground and will be connected to the deck's railings.
Figure F
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The team completes the frame for the deck.
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Climbing RampMeanwhile, in another area of the yard, other team members are assembling the climbing ramp, which will be brought over to the framed deck to be attached. 1. They use decking screws to attach several 3' 2x4s to 4x4 beams, running them all the way up like train tracks (figure G) and leaving a small expansion gap between each board to account for changes in humidity. To keep them straight, the guys check periodically to make sure that each board hangs over exactly 3" on each side. 2. With a drill and paddle bit, they drill recessed holes in the back of the ramp. Then they hammer in T-nuts to act as claws to hold tightly to the plywood. 3. After flipping the ramp right side up, they screw a hex bolt into each handhold, through one of the holes they drilled into the wood and into the T-nut on the other side (figure H).
Slide and Swings1. The 10' plastic slide is fixed in place directly in the decking boards with three decking screws (figure I). 2. The helpers use a reciprocating saw to cut a notch on the end of two 4x4 beams (figure J). The beams will meet at an angle, and a separate, horizontal timber will jut out from the play structure and rest in that opening.
3. Chris connects the two beams using a 1x4 brace (figure K). Together the three pieces form the swing set's V-shaped support system (figure L).4. The crew assembles the swing set (figure M).
5. They dig two holes so the legs can rest securely in the soil.6. Once the legs are in the ground and the joint is together, they predrill a hole and hammer a carriage bolt through the three pieces (figure N). 7. They hook on the swing chains and attach the components, and the swing set is finished. Railing The railing is constructed using 4x4 railing posts and 2x4s as the hand railing. Balusters are screwed in at 3" apart (Important: For child safety, gaps between posts should never exceed 3"). When attaching a railing to a play structure, it's very important to check with local codes to make sure the spacing and height are correct. 1. Chris DeFranco and Dean Hill nail a 2x4 railing to the deck support post. 2. They mark 3' above that point and nail the top rail parallel to the bottom one, using a level to make sure it's straight. 3. With the top and bottom rails in place, they then nail on vertical posts, each 3" apart (figure O), using a block as separator to ensure even distribution.
RESOURCES :
QUIKRETE® Information
To obtain expert advice on Do-It-Yourself concrete projects, to inquire about specific QUIKRETE® products, to find out where to buy the products or to order product literature, please call 1-800-282-5828.
To easily calculate how much concrete you'll need for a job, click here.
The QUIKRETE® Companies
Website: www.quikrete.com
Wolmanized® Natural Select Wood
Wolmanized® Wood
Website: www.wolmanizedwood.com
Mountain Master Shoes
Blundstone Shoes
Website: blundstoneusa.com
Ames True Temper Tools
Ames-True Temper
Website: www.ames-truetemper.com
Tools
Porter-Cable Corporation
Website: www.porter-cable.com
Sealants
OSI Sealants, Inc.
Website: www.osisealants.com
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