I’ve been reading a lot online about games lately. There are many discussion forums across the country where many moms are asking each other about cedar outdoor sets. They ask about specific brands and share information based on their consumer discoveries and why they bought the one they ended up buying.
I saw so much bad information coming and going. Many bought based on price, sales pitch, or what they could see in their area. Many still made bad decisions.
Nobody knows who to ask! A retailer or manufacturer will naturally try to convince you that their game is the best or best deal. Consumers have very limited knowledge based on any limited comparison they were able to make. None of these sources know much about a wide selection of games.
So who do you ask??? Not only should you ask the most knowledgeable of anyone in the country on a wide range of outfits, you should also ask someone who doesn’t have an ax to grind and who won’t lose or gain much from whatever decision you make. You ask the seasoned and knowledgeable installer of these kits who assemble and install just about every brand out there, from the best to the worst… ME!
There are dozens of game manufacturers, foreign and domestic. I can assemble them all, bolt by bolt, screw by screw, board by board, from top to bottom. Not only that, but I have six children and three grandchildren, so I keep the parents’ perspective and their safety in mind.
#1
After all of that, I can tell you that the best quality joint in this country is CedarWorks. Although they are expensive, if you can afford the best, that is where you should go. You can customize your set exactly how you want it, and it will be shipped directly to you.
CedarWorks uses northern white cedar in the construction of their set. This is a heavy, solid wood that is naturally resistant to insect infestation and rot. Each piece is sanded smooth, providing a very safe and attractive set that will last.
Additionally, CedarWorks games are not limited to children ages 2-12 like most games sold today. Adults of all ages can enjoy it along with their children.
#2
If CedarWorks just isn’t in your budget, but you like the solid, rugged look of unfinished Northern White Cedar, then the Triumph Playset Systems is the way to go. Good people and a great product. These aren’t as ornate overall as the CedarWorks sets, but they are sturdy and of high quality. I am not only an experienced installer, but I am also an experienced carpenter. I really appreciated the quality, safety, and durability of these games.
You’ll also appreciate that more sections come pre-assembled than any other set you’ve seen, including those from CedarWorks. Assembly time is much less, practically half the time. So if you use an installer like me, you can end up with a better quality set than most “Play-Sets-In-A-Box” (which are time consuming to assemble), for the same price. Triumph Playset Systems also uses Northern White Cedar in the construction of all of their playsets.
NOTE: I highly recommend you get the wood ceiling upgrade.
MADE IN CHINA
Most “Play-Set-In-A-Box” games sold at Costco, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, Lowe’s, WalMart, BJ’s and others are made in China. These are mass marketed and sold in large numbers due to a much lower price than the much higher quality American made sets. They are attractive sets, and the average consumer buys “nice” over quality as a general rule.
These Chinese games are often said to be made of cedar. What is advertised as “Chinese cedar” and sometimes called “Chinese fir” is actually a type of “cypress” (Cunninghamia lanceolata). Don’t just take my word for it, read this article on Building-Products.com on ‘A Closer Look at China Cedar’ and then there is this informative article on ‘Chinese Cedar’.
I know when a set is made from this Chinese cypress as soon as I open the box. It is very aromatic and the smell is usually strong at first, because it is enclosed in cardboard boxes. My general observations of the wood are: 1.) It looks like spruce. 2.) It is light in weight. 3.) It is not very dense. 4.) Splits relatively easily. 5.) It is usually very dry.
It is advisable to pre-drill smaller or thinner pieces to prevent splitting when attached with the provided wood screws. This is done by the manufacturer on some assemblies or on some components, but very often not.
Because china games are so lightweight, they must be anchored to the ground. Anchors are included with many of the China-made sets. But as with all sets, be sure to keep all of the wood above ground. Both cedar and cypress will rot over time if buried below grade. Sometimes when a location is not level, games are placed below ground level on one side or the other to level the set. Don’t do it, or let an installer do it. You must ensure that the ground is level before installation. Make sure all included anchors are used in the proper or recommended locations.
THE BEST OF CHINESE
If you decide to buy one of those MADE-IN-CHINA “Play-Sets-In-A-Box” because you have a small budget, but are still looking for safety and maximum return on your investment, then go with Gorilla. Games.
Gorilla Playsets are much better made than most of the “Play-Sets-In-A-Box” from China sold by most big box retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, WalMart, etc. We have collected many Gorilla Playsets. They’re fully-featured sets of games that won’t break the bank, and are generally safe enough that even I can climb all over the place. If this is your choice, I recommend you buy one with a wood roof, and not the canvas roofs that don’t last.
Some of the Chinese games are flimsy and scare me. If they shake and move easily under my 180lbs what are they going to do with a bunch of kids climbing all over the place? The Gorilla Playset is a better game than most of its Chinese counterparts. My favorite feature of the Gorilla Playsets is that the decks are thicker with 5/4″ material instead of the 3/4″ material that most of these Chinese games have.
As with all known games that are from China, its use is generally limited to children ages 2-12. They are too light and not well built enough for adult use.
IMPORTANT NOTE
There is another benefit to buying the best quality like CedarWorks or Triumph Playset Systems… Less expensive sets are generally more expensive to assemble professionally. In fact, I charge the same price for assembling the CedarWorks Frolic 2, which is currently $4,995, as I am for assembling the Highlander Deluxe Cedar Playset, which is currently $899 at Sam’s Club. In my opinion, the least expensive sets to assemble and the best quality for the dollar spent are the Triumph Playset Systems.