http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/07/behind_a_church_opens_a_sanctuary/?s_campaign=8315

I have little doubt of the outcome.

In the next few weeks, a Rhapsody playset festooned with stuffed animals will grace the display window at Planet Toys, a rockin’ great place for kids stuff right next door to us in Rockland, Maine. And, inside the store, there will be a second Rhapsody playset ready for kids to climb, slide, hoot, and holler.

If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out.

http://goesgreen.momcentral.com/2010/06/make-playtime-green-ecofriendly-play-structures.html

En mi vida he visto variedad de camas literas para niños, pero como éstas, jamás. Son camas que más que invitar a descansar, invitan a jugar sin parar.

1.  Squeaky Swings! Swing set hangers can often dry out in the sun.  A quick dose of silicone spray (like WD40) should do the trick.

2.  Unwanted Visitors!  Squirrels, racoons, bees, and other little visitors may enjoy your swing set as much as you do!   A little vinegar spray around nest areas can often encourage them to shack up elsewhere.

3.  Keeping up Appearances!  You may wish to freshen up  your swing set.  A light power wash can usually do the trick.    A power wash delivers water under pressure. To clean the wood without marring it requires both the proper technique and an appropriate water pressure. We have used a power washer at approximately 2,000 psi (pounds per square inch) with clear water and 40 degree tip on the end of the washer.
Start the water with the wand pointed away from the playset. Then, maintaining a distance of about 3 inches, start moving the wand across the playset along the grain of the wood. Adjust distance as needed to achieve the best result. Constant motion will prevent the creation of ridges on the wood. A light sanding after the wood has dried will remove any “fuzz” that may be left after the power washing.  CAUTION: It is important to experiment to determine the proper pressure and technique. We recommend first trying it on the ground stabilizers or on the most hidden side where any accidental marring would be less obvious.  For more info on power washing  your CedarWorks swing set, please call our customer service at 800-462-3327.

4.  Organics!   Sometimes, you may notice small areas of mold where your swing set has come in contact with grass, leaves, mulch, etc.  This is an easy fix.  If you don’t want to power wash the whole set, try washing the area with a one part bleach and two parts water solution.

If you have questions about your swing set, please don’t hesitate to call CedarWorks customer service at 800-462-3327.  We are happy to help!  Or, if you have a handy tip that you’ve discovered, please share it in the comments section below this post.

http://andtwinsmake5.blogspot.com/2010/05/buying-swing-or-playset-cedarworks.html

http://www.andtwinsmake5.blogspot.com/2010/05/buying-swing-or-playset-cedarworks.html

China Fir, China Cedar, or Cunninghamia (sounds like a scary skin irritation!) is a tree species native to China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam.  Although it is often seen used in the production of swing sets by American-based companies, and has only moderate rot resistance and is not a true Cedar species.

Pine is another wood associated with swing set manufacturing, but is not the best choice for longevity and low maintenance.  Pine is highly susceptible to rot and insects, and will deteriorate rapidly once exposed.  Pine also requires a good amount of maintenance, staining, and treatments to prevent rot and insect attack.

The swing set industry is moving away from traditional pressure treated lumber due to concerns related to the excessive chemicals used in the process, including arsenic which is highly toxic.  New pressure treatments are becoming available, but thorough research should be done on the process and chemicals used  prior to purchasing a swing set made of pressure treated lumber.  Nobody wants a toxic playground!

Redwood is a strong species.  Its naturally strong and rot resistant and weathers well.  The downfall to the Redwood species is that it can have excessive knotting which will weaken the wood, and eventually weaken the structure making it unsafe.   Red & Yellow Cedars are not as dense as Redwood, but are naturally rot and pest resistant.  Yellow Cedar is not as strong a species for swing set structures and can be hard to come by.

Finally, we come to the Northern White Cedar, which is CedarWorks’ swing set wood of choice.   With all of these other options available, why did we choose the Northern White species?  When it comes to quality, safety, and low-to-no maintenance, the others just don’t stack up to the mighty Northern White Cedar!  Since little hands and feet are climbing all over the swing set, the Northern White’s splinter-free characteristic is a huge plus.  Northern White Cedar is naturally insect and rot resistant and can last up to 20 years untreated.  It offers long life and needs no chemicals to keep it strong and safe.  For CedarWorks, it was the obvious choice for manufacturing the very best swing sets using the very best wood.  And, we take that extra step towards keeping the Northern White Cedar species alive and well with our ReCedaring program.  We are very pleased to pass this quality along to your family for years to come, and I hope this information helps you in your quest to find the perfect swing set this year.

But, there is only one week to play.  So follow this link, create your perfect design, request a quote, and be entered to win your CedarWorks this year! Your kids will thank you for it.

http://www.cedarworks.com/design/win