Please help - before I strangle my husband - swingset advice

[Chloe'sMom]

Okay - we bought a wooden swing set and my husband has the main part of it constructed - for the last 2 hours he has been dragging it from one end of the yard to the other trying to find the spot where it will be "level" - our yard is rather bumpy/hilly/a mess - he can't seem to find the right spot and he is getting crabby about it. I'm getting crabby because I've been entertaining our 1 1/2 year old by myself for the last 2 hours while she's been crying she wants to go outside because Daddy is outside - it is chilly here today.

So - please help - does the swing set need to be perfectly level or is my husband just being overly anal?

~Amanda

 

[PurpleDucky]

Well, maybe you can both figure it out once you lay your little girl down for a nap?
It's probably best to keep it level though. You might have to do a little yard work though.

 

[CathrynRose]

So - please help - does the swing set need to be perfectly level or is my husband just being overly anal?

~Amanda

It has to be level. I trust my husband with things like that because he knows what he's doing.

I cant imagine if the swingset toppled over, you'd be very happy with him.

Why cant you take her outside to watch Daddy, or take her for a walk?

 

[Chloe'sMom]

It has to be level. I trust my husband with things like that because he knows what he's doing.

I cant imagine if the swingset toppled over, you'd be very happy with him.

Why cant you take her outside to watch Daddy, or take her for a walk?

1. My husband and I are on even playing field when it comes to knowledge on this particular subject. Thanks.

2. No I wouldn't be happy - which is why I'm coming here to find out if it has to be perfect - if yes then advice on how to level the land would be much appreciated.

3. It's COLD, and she already has a runny nose. Not to mention I do actually have things to do inside my house.

~Amanda

 

[CathrynRose]

1. My husband and I are on even playing field when it comes to knowledge on this particular subject. Thanks.

2. No I wouldn't be happy - which is why I'm coming here to find out if it has to be perfect - if yes then advice on how to level the land would be much appreciated.

3. It's COLD, and she already has a runny nose. Not to mention I do actually have things to do inside my house.

~Amanda

Maybe you should Google it?

I thought it was chilly? If she's sick, put her down for a nap - then you can do what you need to do around the house.

HTH.

 

[CathrynRose]

Um, did I say this was a "teach me to parent" thread. Um, no.

~Amanda

Hmph.

Just offering suggestions. You said she was cranky. I believe someone else also suggested nappy time.

Ill let you to Google now.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I would think it would "settle" anyways with the spring weather and wet lawn....so I wouldn't be overly anal about it...but I wouldn't want it to be too far off either because God forbid its enough off balance she's able to flip it

 

[CathrynRose]

I would think it would "settle" anyways with the spring weather and wet lawn....so I wouldn't be overly anal about it...but I wouldn't want it to be too far off either because God forbid its enough off balance she's able to flip it

This is a perfect example of where Google could come in handy, though. Ive heard many complaints from posters regarding Googlable Questions. If neither her husband or herself know.... I'd Google.

Thankfully, my husband knows stuff like that!

 

[Loubon]

Strangle him while you still have probable cause.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

1. My husband and I are on even playing field when it comes to knowledge on this particular subject. Thanks.

2. No I wouldn't be happy - which is why I'm coming here to find out if it has to be perfect - if yes then advice on how to level the land would be much appreciated.

3. It's COLD, and she already has a runny nose. Not to mention I do actually have things to do inside my house.

~Amanda

do you have a level? stick it on the cross bar over the top and dig one side accordingly until its level....

would that work?

me= being no expert on this subject and sticks to plastic Little Tykes play structures because my husband cannot hammer a nail.

 

[imabrat]

Yes the land has to be level. My dad put our wooden swingset on unlevel land and it rocks back and forth whenever we swing too high. Almost fell over once.
I don't think there is anyway to level out the land without digging some land out,but I'm not a landscaper. I'd have no idea.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

do you have a level? stick it on the cross bar over the top and dig one side accordingly until its level....

would that work?

me= being no expert on this subject and sticks to plastic Little Tykes play structures because my husband cannot hammer a nail.

Dude - that was totally what I wanted to buy too. But Mr. Handy wanted the big wood thing.

Your digging technique - THAT IS WHAT I TOLD HIM TO DO, AND WHAT GOOGLE SAID - but no he wants to drag it from one end of the yard to the other first.

~Amanda

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Yes the land has to be level. My dad put our wooden swingset on unlevel land and it rocks back and forth whenever we swing too high. Almost fell over once.
I don't think there is anyway to level out the land without digging some land out,but I'm not a landscaper. I'd have no idea.

Did your dad have it anchored? We've got anchors to hold it to the ground - which is why I'm questioning the "perfectly level" situation. Everyone around us has these swing sets - you can't tell me our yard is the only one unlevel.

~Amanda

 

[CathrynRose]

Did your dad have it anchored? We've got anchors to hold it to the ground - which is why I'm questioning the "perfectly level" situation. Everyone around us has these swing sets - you can't tell me our yard is the only one unlevel.

~Amanda

Perhaps you should speak with your neighbors and your husband about this? Maybe they had something special they had to do - which you could implement.

It seems he might be pulling it back and forth across the yard all day, at this rate. Seems like this whole situation might have your feathers all ruffled.

A call to the customer care line of the company you purchased said swingset from might come in handy as well!

 

[lindalinda]

You've got to dig. Then anchor. It may not have to be perfect, but it has to be somewhat level. I assume you spent some money on this, you need to do it right.

That being said, it sounds like he aint gonna listen.

Any way you can twist it around to make it seem like its his idea? That sometimes works with those "Y" chromosome types.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

maybe this will help.

http://www.backyardcity.com/articles/Playing-It-Safe-Part1.htm

 

[DISUNC]

It will be easier if you pack all your stuf, sell your house and move closer to a park!

 

[luvmy3]

DH put up one of those wooden swingsets a few years ago. Our yard is like yours, bumpy so he had to dig out a section in the back corner of the yard to make it all level. He anchored it with the stakes that come with it. This is our third year with it and it does need some shoring up, but I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the ground or the fact that we got a cheaper set
I remember the day he put ours up, I wanted to strangle him too. He is very meticulous about everything, the swingset was no different.

 

[breezy1077]

We had ours installed because my husband knew he'd be ready to strangle himself if he had to put together that monster that's in our backyard .

But, to hopefully help you (maybe you've already figured it out - I didn't read pg 2 ) The folks that set ours up actually dug and buried as much of the posts that would level the thing out.(I'm not sure if that makes sense or not, but that's how they leveled ours) Hope that helps

 

[kaw1218]

I am so thankful we had ours installed. All I had to do was bring out glasses of ice water.

I say talk to the neighbors, see what they did.