How to Assemble a Child's Play Structure Kit

From San Antonio, Ron headed up North to Troup, Texas. This town sits about two and half hours East of Dallas where Ron paid a visit to Dennis and Kim Stephens. The Stephens were hoping for a little help building an outdoor play set for their daughter Kaylee. Since Ron really is a little kid at heart, this house was right up his alley.

Click Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.

1. Play structure location:

• Before Ron arrived, the Stephens had already decided where they would like the play structure to be installed. The Stephens already had a safe play surface, in this case pea gravel, on the ground but they moved it aside to install the structure.

2. The kit:

• The Stephens had purchased a kit that included the plans, hardware and several accessories. The lumber and slide were purchased separately. The kit design was a two-story structure with a tube slide and other accessories connected to the upper level. All this required quite a bit of construction

• Before they got started, they familiarized themselves with the Swing-N-Slide® kit that they would be building.

• Ron suggested that they separate the hardware before they begin. Using a muffin tin for all the small pieces, they laid out the pieces that they would need so that everything would be easily accessible.

3. Cut wood:

• The kit included a cutting list for the lumber, which was the first thing they needed to do.

• Using the cut list as a guide, they measured and marked each piece of wood. They used a speed square to draw straight cutting lines.

• Dennis and Kim took turns with the circular saw. Running the base of the saw along the edge a speed square helped assure a straight cut.

4. Assemble frame:

• With all the lumber cut, it was time to begin with the assembly. The first step was to put together two nearly identical frames, which would act as the front and back of the play set.

• Ron featured adjustable self-closing hinge called the Tru-Close Multi-Adjust Hinge. To install these, first mount the base plates to the post and gate and then bolt the hinges to the plates first on the gate side and then on the post.

• They laid the boards out, one by one on top of the lines. Once all the pieces for the first frame were in position, they needed to temporarily attach them together

• First Ron drilled four pilot holes through the joints and then drove a stainless steel screw into each hole.

• They flipped the entire panel over to attach one more brace to the other side.

• They secured the joints with carriage bolts, washers and nuts. Finally, it was time to raise the frame to a vertical position so they could continue the assembly.

• Once plumb, they temporarily held the frames in place by clamping them to braces, which were then attached to stakes driven into the ground.