A swing set is perfect for most backyards. Whether you’re planning to have kids, or if you want to surprise the children you have, there are plenty of swing set plans that can be found online. These swing set plans DIY give you the opportunity to build the perfect swing set for your home and family.
efore you take on the opportunity to build your own swing set, you may want to decide between a metal swing set and a wood swing set first. Both are great DIY projects for those who know what they’re doing, but each one carries with it various pros and cons.
You’ll cut down on the time you spend searching for swing set plans considerably, if you take the time to think about these pros and cons beforehand.
Metal Swings vs. Wooden Swings
How to build swing set plans are easy to come by. The trouble can be in deciding which plans are right for your backyard and children.
Before you build your own swing set, consider some of these pros of having a wooden swing set:
- Provided you’ve anchored the legs of the swing set properly, a wooden swing set tends to be much more stable.
- A wooden swing set tends to be stronger, so you don’t have to worry as much about things like a person’s weighs, or how heavy the swing itself should be.
- A wooden swing set is better built to handle whatever the weather might throw at it.
And here are some of the cons:
- Wooden swing sets are often more expensive than their metal counterparts. A DIY wooden swing set can also potentially be a more difficult DIY venture than building a metal one.
- Splinters can become a problem, although you can offset this by refinishing the wood regularly.
A metal swing set comes with its own pros and cons.
Some of the benefits of having a metal swing set include:
- A metal swing set is almost always cheaper than the wooden version. This also means you can potentially get more for your dollar.
- Rotting wood and splinters obviously won’t be a problem.
But metal swing sets certainly aren’t perfect:
- Metal swing sets aren’t as heavy as the wooden ones, which makes them prone to potentially toppling over. You may need to plant your swing set in concrete.
- A metal swing set isn’t as strong as a wooden set. Your metal swing set can become susceptible to bending and other types of wear and tear over time.
- Rust can easily become an issue.
- A metal swing set might be cheaper, but that also means that it probably won’t last as long as a wooden one.
Picking The Right Swing Set Plans
A swing set is such a great addition to the backyard. Make sure you choose one that’s ideal for your home and family. You’ll be able to find just the right swing set plans once you choose metal or wooden.
