Adding slides, ladders, rock walls, and more are all great DIY playgroundideas for your backyard.
This design appeals to kids of all ages.
Best of all, this playground is entirely flexible.
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you’re free to build the central two-level climbing structure in about a week.
Below, find DIY playground plans, features, and important considerations to help you get started.
Alternatively, it costs between $800 and $1,500 to build your own playground.
The central climbing structure, ladder, and sandbox alone are in the lower range of this cost estimate.
Permits and Codes
Municipalities have different approaches to permitting for backyard play structures.
Some communities allow one- or two-story structures, such as playground sets, under certain size and height limits.
Sizes may range from 120 to 200 square feet.
Maximum height limits may range up to 12 feet.
Check with your localpermitting officefor guidance, and check any HOA regulations, if applicable.
Safety Considerations
Observe all safety precautions for working with power tools.
Take care when working on the playground’s upper level.
The upper level is 5 feet above ground level, or as high as you better accommodate a slide.
Provide a 16-foot buffer zone around the playground.
No obstructions such as bushes, rocks, trees, or the house should be in the buffer zone.
Do not locate the playhouse under trees with low-hanging limbs.
To ensure that it is truly square, measure the two opposing diagonals.
If the measurements match, the layout is a true square.
Grade the surface until it is level.
Check level by placing the bubble level on a two-by-four in different directions on the ground.
Add Gravel
Pour gravel into the bottoms of the post holes.
Measure out about 4 inches of gravel per hole.
Plumb and Set Posts
Set the four-by-fours in the post holes.
Support each post individually with scrap two-by-fours set up as braces.
Screw one end of the two-by-four to the four-by-four.
Stake the other end into the ground.
Addconcreteat this point to help stabilize the posts.
The concrete should be added dry and brought to about 3 inches below ground level.
Use the bubble level to get each post perfectly plumb.
Attach them at the 5-foot-high mark (or your desired upper-level floor height).
Allow a day for the concrete to fully cure.
Add Joists
Install ten joist hangers, five on each side of the upper level bracing.
Space them 16 inches apart.
Insert five of the two-by-tens into the hangers.
Secure the joists into the hangers with nails designed for use with joist hangers.
Install Flooring
Install thecomposite wood flooringon top of the joists, spacing each board by 1/8 inch.
Build Ladder
Cut two of the two-by-fours to 5 feet long.
Cut the scrap wood into two 2-foot pieces and use another, fresh two-by-four to cut two more pieces.
Screw the pieces together to make a four-rung ladder.
Screw the ladder into the upper level bracing and the lower sandbox wall.
Build Rock Wall
Cut two of the two-by-fours to 6 feet long.
Cut nine of the two-by-fours in half.
fire off the resulting 18 pieces of wood across the 6-foot-long pieces to form a ladder-like structure.
Space the rungs 1/4-inch apart.
Screw the two hinges to the back of the rock wall, at the top.
Screw the other side of the hinges to the upper level bracing.
Screw rock holds across the rungs in a random fashion.
Create cut-out spaces for the ladder, slide, and any other feature attached to the upper level.
Add Swing
Attach aswingto the side of the DIY playground.
it’s possible for you to use a purchased swing set, eliminating one of the side legs.
The side of the playground would replace the leg.
Pre-made playgroundsare more expensive than DIY playgrounds due to the many parts they require for a finished assembly.
Having the playground assembled by the seller also increases the overall price by adding labor costs.
