Every child and every family can enjoy the wonders of a jungle gym – but most have to visit a park or playground facility. If you have the outdoor space to install a climbing frame for your kids at home, you might be wondering if a DIY climbing frame is worth it.
There’s a lot to consider when building your own climbing frame from scratch – not least the money, time, and effort involved. Designing and planning, making sure everything is safe, sourcing materials and parts, putting it all together… if you don’t have the relevant skills and tools, completing such a complicated job is going to be very difficult.
That’s why modular climbing frames are a popular alternative for parents who want to build a climbing frame for their children, but don’t have the time or resources for an actual DIY job.
Here’s what you should know about these convenient climbing frames, and how they can help you to achieve your dream outdoor climbing frame with far less stress.
What are modular climbing frames?
A modular system involves a carefully designed selection of individual pieces, or modules, which can be fitted together in a variety of ways to create a more personalised final product. You might be familiar with this concept if you’ve ever bought flat-pack furniture from certain popular brands!
The same applies to modular climbing frames. Leading brands in this industry have created climbing frame ranges with a wide selection of core structures and additional parts, allowing you to decide which style and features you want for your outdoor climbing frame. You simply order the pieces you’ve selected, then assemble them onsite when the sections are delivered.
There are so many combinations available that you can truly personalise your climbing frame to suit your child, your garden, and your budget. No two children or two spaces are exactly the same, so choosing the right combination for you allows you to get creative finding the best fit.
Depending on the brand and collection, modular climbing frame systems can include:
- Towers and playhouses
- Lower floors and walls
- Roofs and bubble panels
- Seating areas (e.g. picnic tables)
- Swings (standard, bucket, nest, glider, tyre, trapeze, buoy ball, etc.)
- Slides (straight, wave, rocket, enclosed, tube, etc.)
- Ropes and rope ladders
- Climbing walls and cargo nets
- Monkey bars and sliding poles
- Sandpits or ball pits
- Crawl tubes and bridges
- Play accessories (handles, wheels, binoculars, etc.)
Of course, you must make sure that the pieces you select belong to the same collection by the same brand, as parts from other manufacturers are unlikely to fit together properly.
The best part is that you can make changes to your climbing frame as the kids get older, removing features they’ve outgrown and replacing them with more challenging play equipment.
Ready-to-assemble climbing frame delivery
When you order a modular climbing frame online, it will typically be delivered to your address in flat-packed boxes, with everything you need for home assembly. This includes all timber pieces – often premium pressure-treated wood – plus all the hardware you’ll need to put it together.
Of course, each product should also arrive with a detailed manufacturer’s manual explaining how to construct the climbing frame safely, step by step. As most pieces should be pre-prepared, you shouldn’t need any specialist tools to build the structure, making it a relatively simple process.
When you order climbing frame parts from a reputable manufacturer, you have the reassurance that the materials and design have been safety-tested, so all you have to worry about is assembling the pieces as instructed. You’ll still have the experience of building a climbing frame, but it’ll be much easier and faster – no measuring and cutting timber, drilling holes, or figuring out fixtures required!
If the assembly experience isn’t that important, and you don’t mind paying an extra fee, you might even be able to order your modular climbing frame with a professional installation service. You could be Parent of the Year without even lifting a finger!
