For more information on lumber and wood treatments & preservatives: 

Southern Pine Council		http://www.southernpine.com
Chemical Specialties ACQ Preserve(tm)		http://www.treatedwood.com/products/preserve
Wolmanized NaturalSelect(tm)		http://www.naturalselect.com/
Osmose NatureWood(tm)		http://www.osmose.com/wood/usa/preserved/naturewood/product/
Trex(tm) Wood Polymer Lumber		http://www.trex.com

Lumber Size & Marketing Positions - Things to Look Out For - The New "BLK" Playgrounds: 

We've all heard and read alot in catalogs about the use of redwood vs. pine in the play industry. Redwood is lighter to freight, easier to mill, and less expensive to manufacture in large quantities. It is a naturally preserved lumber species, but it is lighter softer not as dense as pine and we've heard from a pesticides expert that carpenter bees happen to love it, if that is an alternate concern to parents. Some of the redwood designs found at ready made playground stores and in catalogs utilize smaller/thinner dimensional redwood lumber as well, so the finished product is not as strong or stable as it could be. Do these safety & longevity concerns more than than offset the suggested concern of using pine? Pine offers the most strength, longevity, & affordability at retail of all the lumber options, and treatment processes are different today than they were some 15yrs ago when lumber marketing positions such as these began. It can be stained to look like redwood if the appearance of redwood but the strength of pine is desirable. There are benefits to building with full-dimension heavier pine vs. getting the scaled down lighter redwood contained in the newer category of "Boxed Lumber Kit" (BLK) offerings. BLK's are designed to fit a cost target - the low cost instant purchase gratification available at retail store chains, home centers and warehouse clubs. The final installed cost of a BLK is still more expensive than the DPS Build@Home approach. Using the best full-size lumber available is clearly a higher quality lower cost option, especially when comparing to a BLK that includes light-weight lumber and low-end hardware. Full-size stronger cedars or redwoods can still be used with DPS designs if the budget is not a top priority for your playground purchase. Compare our low cost installed solution with the cost of full-size "Real McCoy" versions of these manufacturer's playsets, not to the "Boxed Lumber Kits" - the finished quality is not comparable. Purchase and installation of a lower end, pre-cut and -drilled playset such as a BLK may increase the buyers risk of earlier failure & obsolescence due to non-expandable design, lumber & fastener hardware deterioration, and thus can cost even more in non-monetary ways over time.

Lumber Purchase: 

Any lumber used must be suitable for outdoor use. We recommend purchasing lumber from a local lumber yard that supplies ACQ Preserve, Osmose NatureWood, or Wolmanized NaturalSelect lumber brands of treated pine or equivalents and specializes in the lumber business. Additionally, most home improvement stores should also be able to supply suitable lumber.

Lumber Cost Estimates (Pine):

Jungle Fort	$175.00 and up *	(Fort and Ladder only)
Jungle Fort Swingset	$275.00 and up *	(Fort, Ladder with Swingset)
Jungle Fort Tower	$150.00 and up *	(Tower only)

 

* The exact cost of the lumber for your new backyard playground depends upon (a) the options you choose to build, (b) the type of lumber product you select, and (c) the price charged for the lumber at your local lumber supply.  Please print the table above or our Lumber Purchase Form download for exact quote on the lumber cost for your Jungle Fort playground.

 

Get clear and easy to follow MATERIALS LIST,  PARTS LIST, DRILL LIST and PULL-OUT CHECKLISTs to organize the building of your backyard play system using our Detailed Plans. See how easy we make it to purchase the required lumber materials - download the form above, circle the desired options, then phone or fax to your local lumber supply for quote or purchase!