Playset for kiddos!

[sookie]

I want to buy my kids a wooden playset. Where is the best place to get a deal? I would need it put together because my husband and I are both clueless about this stuff - and honestly we don't have the TIME.
I was looking at Rainbow brand sets, but they look kind of overpriced. What about Sam's? I saw that Lowe's had some out in the past but I don't know about the quality.
Thanks in advance!

 

[AllesonWonderland]

We got ours at Sam's and have been very happy with it.

 

[stsomewhere]

we bought ours from lowes 12 yrs ago. It is still standing. We found a design we liked and built it using the directions we got at lowes.

 

[mjkacmom]

We spent about $3500 on our Rainbow 9 years ago, and it's still used almost daily, solid as a rock. Best investment ever. We initially spend about $500 on a wooden set from Toys R Us that the oldest 2 outgrew in a couple of years.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

We love http://www.cedarworks.com/
Although a little pricier than some companies, nothing beats the amazing quality! We have had them install an outdoor set, bedrooms for the kids as well as an indoor playset in our basement.
Always amazing work.

 

[WeLuvDCL]

I recommend looking on Craigslist first. We were able to get a $1300 playset that Sams still sells (http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=198829&navAction=push) for $600 AND we didn't have to put all the little pieces together! The people we bought it from were moving and the swingset was only 2 years old. He even took it apart for us so when we got there, we just loaded it on the truck and trailer and my DH and DFIL were able to have it put all back together the same day. Then my DH stained it the next day and it looked brand new. My DH and I swing on it with our daughter all the time. It is very sturdy and durable.

 

[Ginny Favers]

We spent about $3500 on our Rainbow 9 years ago, and it's still used almost daily, solid as a rock. Best investment ever. We initially spend about $500 on a wooden set from Toys R Us that the oldest 2 outgrew in a couple of years.

I agree with this. I had a 2 year old when I decided to look for a swingset. All the neighbors had the small ones you can get at Sam's or whatever that retail for about $1-2k. I'd just come into a large amount of money from a book advance, so I decided to splurge on a $5000 playset at Rainbow. It has a big clubhouse that even I can go into, and a few swings, slide, tire swing, and rope swing.

Spend a little more on the set and get one that even big kids will use. My kids are now 5 and 2, and I already see my older daughter's friends don't want to play on the neighbor's sets. They only got a couple year's use out of them, and they are falling apart! Mine is SOLID, and will last the kids for many more years. Even my 10 year old nephew plays on it and has a good time. Now, I really don't see it as a splurge considering the kids use it every day, and will have it for over 10 years... I see it as a sound investment...

No, I understand this is the budget board so you don't have to spend $5k.... but do put out a little more money and get a good one that will last. The $2 and $3k Rainbow sets are really good quality. The elements can be hell on wooden sets so they do tend to fall apart if they're cheap and not well-maintained.

 

[Jenn4615]

We have a rainbow... It was worth every penny... I fought my husband on it I thought we could get something a lot cheaper... But I look at my neighbor who bought hers the same time and look at mine... Ours looks brand new.. hers is falling apart... they are both 5 years old.. Best money ever spent... the kids seem to be more attracted to the rainbow as well...

 

[ceecee]

We looked at Rainbow and they are the best. We only had one child and she was 5 so we went with the Sam's playset and DH did upgrades to it (rockwall, wooden roof, and a little house at the bottom with a deck). If we would have had several kids we would have paid the difference and gotten the Rainbow.
When we sold our house three years ago, it was one of the things the new owner loved!

 

[ltl engine]

I do not have the website but we found it thru a google search after we saw them at a local pumpkin patch. We bought a castle playset made by the Amish in Indiana. They delivered it and had a list of local people who could put it together. It was cheaper than Rainbow. Everyone loves it! We have people drive by who stop to ask about it. It has 4 swings, tube slide, fire pole, etc. The kids use it a ton. My older son & friends use it as a fort and the younger enjoys the swings. It also takes us less space than a Rainbow. They had lots of different styles--pirate ships, monster trucks, etc. Good luck!

 

[sam_gordon]

We got ours at Lowe's. I think your biggest issue is going to be find someone to put it together.

We picked out the set we wanted at Lowe's, it had a list of all the parts, Lowe's delivered and I put it together. Ours will be 9 years old this summer. We've had to replace the tarp covering the deck a couple times. Our oldest is now 13, she doesn't do much on it. The youngest two occasionally swing & slide, but that will probably only last another 3-4 years.

I think we spent ~$1K on it. I'd say we got our money's worth.