We’ve always said that our playsets are great for kids and adults alike. And we have had families tell us that their pets love them, too. So, we now plan to push the boundaries a bit further and see if stuffed animals are equally fond of CedarWorks.

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.

This time of year, as folks are headed out to the back yard and gathered ’round the BBQ, your CedarWorks swing set is likely getting a full workout!  Here are some handy tips to help you with some quick troubleshooting for common swing set use.

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.

Early last fall, CedarWorks embarked on a new mission.  A mission to adapt to an ever-changing media market and take a good hard look at how we interact with our customers and, most importantly, how our customers want to interact with us.   With things changing quickly thanks to the internet, it was time for CedarWorks to revamp the communications process including a heavy-duty effort on polishing up on our “social media” skills.  This translated to a need to be better listeners and communicators above and beyond the typical forms of media advertising.  Sure, you could see our ad in a magazine, or while browsing the web, but wouldn’t it be much more fun to “hang out” on Facebook? Or Twitter? Wouldn’t it be cool to read in detail about someone else’s CedarWorks experience before making your decision to purchase a CedarWorks set?  We thought so!  After all, someone’s personal endorsement (or lack thereof) for any product is far more powerful than even the prettiest advertisement.   As part of our CedarWorks customer engagement efforts, we are working diligently to create relationships with  well-regarded members of the online media to continue to provide you with opportunities to experience CedarWorks on your time.  Of course, we’d love for you to call and talk to us directly, but we  also understand that many  folks like to browse through the internet world of choices in peace and at their leisure.  Besides, if you are reading this blog post,  you probably already know that a helping hand or a question answered from CedarWorks is just a phone call away.    With all of that said, please enjoy this recent blog post from Ms. Stephanie Manner Wagner, a professional Mom Blogger of a well-attended blog entitled “And Twins Make 5″.  She describes in detail the process that she and her family experienced while shopping for their new family swing set. We are delighted that she and her family chose to work with  CedarWorks, and we are honored to be a part of her blog reviews.  And remember, we love to hear your feedback on how we’re doing.  If you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can enhance your communication with CedarWorks, please share below in the “comments” section.  Enjoy!

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

If you are shopping for a new swing set, you have probably noticed that swing sets can come in a variety of materials. I want to talk about wood species commonly used for swing set manufacturing because not all swing set wood is created equal!  It’s important to know the characteristics and origin of available species of swing set wood so that you can make the best choice for your family’s swing set investment.  After some online research, this is what I’ve found.

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.

Have you dreamed of owning a CedarWorks Swing Set? A fully customized Rhapsody Indoor Playset?  Or, perhaps you were captivated, as I was, of the amazing new Rhapsody Bunk and Loft Playbeds.  If ever there was  a time to act on that dream, it’s NOW!  We’ve got Spring Fever and the Design-And-Win contest is our way of beckoning you to get creative and possibly win the perfect CedarWorks set for your family.  Imagine how much fun July 4th will be with that fabulous new swing set!  Or, the look on your kids’ faces when the Rhapsody Indoor set arrives in time for the summer slumber party!  Oh, the fun!

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

Throughout the year,  CedarWorks looks for opportunities to help non profit organizations in a variety of ways.  In the past, we have worked with an organization out of Portland,  Maine called the Tanzanian Children’s Fund which operates an additional location in Tanzania.  The Rift Valley Children’s Village, and orphanage operating under the Children’s Fund, needed our  help again this year.

The Rift Valley Children’s Village provides housing and opportunities for displaced children from all around Tanzania.   With over 70 children in its care, the orphanage was running short of play space that could comfortably accommodate the wide age range of these kids.   They desperately needed an additional  playground that provided a variety of options for the kids.  Earlier this year, the team from the Children’s Fund approached CedarWorks about the project and the ball got rolling.

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Ok, so you’ve ordered your fabulous new Swing Set! Now what?  Well, if’ you’ve done your homework and given careful consideration to your site preparation, you are likely contemplating whether or not to choose a ground cover for your swing set area.  In today’s market, there are several options available for ground surfacing under your swing set.  In this blog post, I will report some of my findings on the pro’s and con’s of available options.

Grass usually comes to mind first, because in many locations grass already exists in the new swing set area.  Grass is good, but it does “wear” in high traffic areas such as under the swings,  and may not provide the highest level of cushion for fall zones.  However, grass looks nice, it is normally readily available if not already existing.  If you do not have grass in your new swing set space, experts encourage some other type of ground covering not only for safety, but aesthetics and maintenance of your swing set.

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As you begin to design and create your family’s new CedarWorks swing set, there are some things to consider in advance that will help ensure a smooth delivery and installation of your new swing set.   In our experience, there are five key points to consider as you begin to pick and choose the swing set of your dreams.  Time frame, budget, your motivation for purchasing a swing set,  your childrens ages and play needs, and the layout of the site that will house your new swing set.

When are you looking to purchase your swing set?  Many parts of the country can enjoy outdoor play year-round.  But for Northern climates, frozen ground and inclement weather will often play a role in the shipping and installation of your new CedarWorks swing set.   Being able to plan ahead will not only help you “beat the rush”, it will allow you maximum flexibility for available shipping dates and ensure that your swing set is up and ready for use in time for upcoming family gatherings and warm weather.

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No matter where you live, there is no doubt that the dynamic of “family time” has changed.  And yes, this is a shameless plug for one of the best sources of quality family entertainment that I can think of…a brand new swing set!  I recall my childhood swing set…a rickety metal clunker “out back”.  Its posts sinking unevenly into the ground, rusty parts and pieces, a slide that got too hot to use. It sufficed, but the chances of having my parents join me on the swing set were, well, I had a better chance of seeing an orange polka-dot armadillo cross the yard…

This is a great time of year at CedarWorks. Excited moms, dads, grandparents, aunties and uncles start coming out of the woodwork (no pun intended) to plan the summertime-fun gift of a lifetime. And it’s not just a gift for the kids, it’s something the whole family can enjoy.

The days are getting longer, warmer, and families are focusing on better quality time together.  No sitting at the Xbox this year!  At CedarWorks, the options for a new swing set are as exciting and unique as the families who purchase them. And, CedarWorks swing sets are designed with the whole family in mind, using the very best splinter-free Northern White Cedar. With consideration to your site, age of your children, and budget, CedarWorks can offer ideas and solutions. If you are considering a new swing set for your family this year, why not give us a call?  Helping you create the “most amazing swing set ever!” really makes our day.

We are excited to tell you about a new addition to the CedarWorks website.   Over the past couple of weeks, we have started construction on the new CedarWorks Press & Media “room”.   The CedarWorks Press & Media room will give interested readers a chance to catch up on CedarWorks news, and CedarWorks in the news.  In just a few weeks, there will be opportunities for bloggers and members of the media to easily access information about the CedarWorks company, photos and social media opportunities.   If you would like to keep up with the latest CedarWorks news and media, check it out at http://www.cedarworks.com/press and subscribe via RSS.  You will receive up- to- date company press releases, as well as news stories that feature CedarWorks products and company news.