We are planning on purchasing a swing set (with a clubhouse or fort) for our 3.5 year old son. To me, it is a major investment, so I want to get something that will last through the years and the winters (we live in PA).

Any recommendations would be great! Thanks in advance.

Our swingset is 3 years old. We purchased it from Sams Club. It was $1000. It has a fort on top and a play area underneath w/sand box area and steering wheel. It came w/a small rock wall, 1 slide, 2 swings and a trapeze style swing. We added a double glider instead of the trapeze swing and an additional slide. It has held up very well. Weather permitting, they use it every day, sometimes twice a day. It was very hard to put together. I think it took about 10 hrs.

We built our own when our kids were small...Dh got plans from a work associate that had built his own and we adapted them to what we wanted. My Dh has a degree in Engineering and he's VERY handy. It came out great! People used to ask us where we bought it...LOL! If you Dh is handy, it might be something to consider. There is lots of information online, at the library etc I don't remember how much it cost us to build ours...maybe $500? It wasn't expensive at all and we could put everything on it that we wanted. Dh and his brothers worked on it for two weekends in a row and got it built. We live in Ohio and it lasted for more than 10 years...we left it behind when we moved but it was still sound.

We live in Pa. and have a 2 1/2 year old. We just purchased Disney Brookview II No-Cut Ready-To-Build Play Set Kit - PB 8234 at The Home Depot for $599 plus four more beams last weekend. I liked what I read in the product reviews.
Dh started to put it together, but we had other commitments this weekend and he didn't get to finish. He plans to finish by this weekend.
Our neighbors have a beautiful Cedar Works set. I think one tower of their set cost $700. That doesn't count the slide, swings, climbing wall, other tower, or beam to connect them. Out of our price range, but really nice.

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~Jeweled

We purchased ours at Toys R Us 2 yrs ago for $1100. It was a lot of work to put together! Ours is really sturdy and has withheld the winters well. My DH takes down the swings, sandbox, awning and accessories every winter to protect them from snow etc. This weekend he restained and sealed it, so it looks brand new. We also used playground mulch under ours, it works out well.
Good luck!

We got a wooden swingset with fort and slide for 1499 at lowes. I did a lot of research and real redwood is the only thing that will withstand the harsh weather here in wisconsin. It took 2 days to assemble with one guy watching two working and a case of beer. LOL. I do not like it! (dont tell DH) the slide is tooo fast and the swings are too short. Hmm. Well, live and learn. Good luck!

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MrsMom43 = Happily Married mom of three wonderful children!

we bought one of the kits from mendards ours cost $400 bucks at the time wich was 5 years ago it has weathered awesome still looks brand new. you would need some carpentary skills dh and fil had to cut the wood with saws and such but that thing can swing adults very sturdy. we did have to apply a sealant so it did not weather to bad in our iowa winters.

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'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

we got one from Menards they have the kits and you can pick and choose what you want!! I cannot remember how much but the cost was pretty good at thet ime!! and it has done well over the winters!!!

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Kelly mom to 2 gymmonkeys!!!

Not sure if this interests you or not, but you can find many newer sets on Craigs List at very reasonable prices. Sometimes kids ourgrow the fun before they wear out, so many people sell them. I have also seen them for sale from new home owners who don't want them from the old owners... just a frugal tip that might help!

I was going to suggest looking for a used one. Someone has one for sale right now - a sign in the breakroom here at work. It was something like $1500 and they are selling it for $250. My sister spent big bucks on one when my niece was little and about 5 years ago she sold it to my best friend for $200 and and it's still in great shape.

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