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Depending on your experience, assembly of our play sets can take as little as 6 hours up to 24 hours, depending on size, after
inventory of parts; therefore, we recommend you set aside a full two days for assembly.
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Identify all of the parts for your play set. Empty each box and lay out boards so you can see each part. Your instruction book will
have detailed drawings that will make it easy for you to recognize individual parts. Keep all hardware and metal parts separate
from wooden pieces.
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After everything is laid out, check carefully to ensure all parts are present. Make sure there are no broken boards.
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Find an area to sort your hardware. It is best to open the hardware on a solid surface so that you do not lose any pieces in the grass.
This will save time and familiarize you with all the different pieces in the hardware bag.
**Important note: Wood has some natural defects such as knots, surface cracks, etc... We reject parts that are structurally defective. We use
a high quality lumber in our structures; however, you should inspect each part for splinters or rough spots and sand them smooth to prevent
injury.**
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After familiarizing yourself with all of the components, read all instructions thoroughly. Reading instructions after you have
studied the parts will help you understand more clearly the installation process, and help to eliminate unnecessary mistakes.
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Pay close attention to the diameter and length of each bolt and screw.
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Never tighten hardware completely at first. It helps to have some adjustment for bolt alignment while you are attaching parts
together. After everything is square, tighten each joint.
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After the main unit is assembled it is critical that the floor is level and square. If the main frame is not level, the walls and floor
will be out of square.
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After you complete installation, make sure every bolt, screw, and nut is tight, and every board is secure. Wood will expand and
contract with the seasons.
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Place the set on level ground, not less than 6ft from any structure or obstruction such as a fence, garage, house, overhanging
branches, laundry lines, or electrical wires.
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All 1/4” and 3/8” lag bolts must have pre-drilled holes 1-1/2” to 2” deep. Use a 1/8” drill bit for the 1/4” lag bolts and 1/4” drill bit
for 3/8” lag bolts. Use pre-drilled holes in facias as a reference for placing lag bolt pilot holes.
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If a board lifts or rises causing a gap between boards when running in lag bolts or screws, back out the screw or lag bolt and press
or apply pressure (but not enough to crack or break board) while re¬running in the lag bolt or screw in the same hole.
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Do not over tighten bolts, lag bolts or screws. You can damage boards, break hardware, and/or strip out the hardware.
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When using hammer do not beat on the hardware, but gently tap it in. Never beat on the wood as it will leave marks.
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Complete the steps which will be the basic frame of the fort {i.e. four corner posts with base (sand box boards) and deck supports}
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Position in the most level area chosen for the play set, keeping in mind the location and size of the swing beam, ladder, slides, etc. that extend off the fort.
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Once the frame is in the final position, check for vertical and horizontal levelness to determine which side(s) will need to be dug into the ground to level the play set.
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With a shovel, score the ground around the outside edges of the sandbox boards on the ‘high’ side of the fort. This is the area that
will be dug in. Make sure to score deep enough; the scored lines will be your digging template.
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Push the frame off and away from the scored area, far enough to dig and remove dirt to reach the appropriate depth.
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Dig a channel along the scored line(s) for the base of the fort (corner post and sandbox boards) to rest into. Dig the channel(s) to the same level
depth. The bottom of the channel(s) should be level to each other so your frame doesn’t teeter or rock because the channel(s) are uneven.
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Once you have removed enough grass and dirt, slide/push the frame into the channel(s). Place a level on the vertical and horizontal
boards of the frame to determine if enough soil, or too much, was removed.
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Repeat this process until the basic frame is plumb and level and in its final position before completing the rest of the assembly.
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Measure to make sure fort is square.
** Important: if you require a channel depth of more than 6”,
then we recommend you have your play set area professionally graded before completing assembly. **
