I am constructing a bed for my three year old, and I need to build a ladder.  As I was exploring how to build a ladder, I realized that the basic concept of ladder is remarkably similar to building a set of monkey bars for the jungle gym that I am going to build my children. I know that I am getting a little bit carried away with everything that I plan on building with my children, but it is good to have plans.

The concept is very easy.  You use a thick wooden dowel, I am going to use 1½”, but I know other guys who use 1″ or 1¼”, and some 2x4s.  Drill a hole through two 2x4s with the same diameter as the dowel every 14′.  Laminate a second 2×4 to one side of each 2×4 that you have drilled a hole.  Insert your dowel into the holes in the 2x4s to create the rungs. As you can see from the picture, you wind up with what almost looks like a ladder.  Now that you have the monkey bars, you need to suspend them off of the ground.  Use a similar technique to build a short ladder.  For the ladder, you want the rungs closer together, I would recommend 12″ spacing.  You do not need the ladder to go up very far, 3 – 4 rungs should suffice, but you do need the 2x4s for the ladder to go much higher than the rungs.  When you climb to the top of the rungs, you should be able to reach the monkey bars.  To attach the monkey bars to the ladders, what you do is make the outer 2x4s on the ladder longer than the inner 2x4s, and on the monkey bars, you make the inner 2x4s longer than the outer.  This way, when you go to assemble your full structure, the inner 2x4s from the monkey bars rest on the inner 2x4s from the ladder, and the ladder’s outer 2x4s overlap the monkey bar’s inner 2x4s.  I would send some thick carriage bolts right through to hold the structure together.  This will give you a basic set of monkey bars; you are going to need to secure them from tipping over, but that would depend upon to which structure you were attaching them.  If you want them free standing, I would recommend cementing them into the ground.

Building an outdoor play-system

As life in the suburbs has gone to bigger and better things .. more square footage in the home with bigger yardspace … the play area for children have grown and gone in the direction of bigger is better as well. It was not so long ago that if your friend down the street had a simple swing – they were the envy of the neighbourhood. Today, kids become the subject of envy when their family builds a new “Play – System. ”

Terminology such as Play-systems, Jungle Gyms, Forts and Swing Sets are virtually interchangeable. Many stores selling outdoor play equipment like to call a swing a play “system” because it means that they can increase the price. For many people, seeing the price of these systems reminds us of how much we paid for our first car.  However, there is another way to make your child the envy of the neighbourhood and does not have to be very expensive.

With some very basic carpentry skills coupled with time and a little effort, a Do-It-Yourself Swing Set or Fort is easily attainable. Today’s swing DIY kits are basic and easy to understand.

These kits come with a fully illustrated manual that will take you step by step through the process of buying wood, cutting, drilling, assembling and adding the finishing touches.

The savvy parent makes the kit a Christmas gift, because you can then delay the cost of buying the wood until all of the planning and preparations  are complete (ie Spring), when it is finally time to build the system.  This wait will undoubtedly add to the child’s anticipation.

Some of the common questions that get asked are:

How much do I have to budget?

A small DIY Play Set can be as low as $295. ** BUDGET SAVINGS ** Many play sets have to charge a hefty fee for sending the slide. Indeed, this is the only element that must be boxed and cargo shipped. A good way to save money is to buy your slide locally. Check with your local hardware store first.

You should be able to purchase your wood locally for approximately $175 for a small system. Which means the total price for a basic play system would be approximately $470. On average (Including the cost of wood) a basic package can be built for less than $ 600, a medium sized system less than $900, and larger models $1,200. (which usually includes the cost of the slide)

How long do these projects take to assemble?

Most DIY mid-size swing set, jungle gym, and forts can be completed in a weekend (12-16 hours).

Good system kit plans try to avoid pre-drilling and angle cuts whenever possible. In addition, they design their frames and beams without compromising overall strength.

Do I have the necessary tools?

All DIY plans will include a “list of tools required.” Believe it or not .. The only power tools that 90% of the available plans require are a circular saw and an electric or cordless drill. Only commonly found tools and basic carpentry skills are required to assemble these kits. The plans, swings, accessories, hardware, etc is all included in the kit. The wood is purchased by you locally and typically consists of 2×4, the 2×6, and 4×4.

Here is a simple guide for buying your play system.

1. Research! Start by determining the system that you want. Determine whether a slide for your kit is available locally. This will save about $100 in the cost of shipping a slide from the manufacturer! Kits without slides typically include: brackets / bolts / swing seats / channels / canvas roof (if included) and plans. Take note of what tools are required.

2. Purchase your swing kit. A standard kit with a 5 ‘x 5′ Fort and a three-system system will typically cost about $300

3. Once you have purchased your kit, identify and budget for the purchase of wood. One way to save a few extra dollars in the price of wood is to contact your local lumber store. Do not always assume that the local big-box hardware store is the cheapest wood available. Taking the time to compare the price of your wood between stores can save you up to 25% in the total cost of your system. The cost of wood for a system like the one mentioned should run about $250.

4. The final step before building is to determine if you want to prepare the land where you intend to build your system. Do you want to level the ground, or add mulch or padding of any kind? While this will add to the cost of the final project, it will save bumps and bruises in the future.

By using a DIY kit, and your own efforts, you will have built a play-system that your children will love you for. Note that the above is assuming you are looking for a basic Fort / Slide / Swing Set system. There are many more elaborate designs available, which can dramatically increase your costs.