The 10 Considerations when Buying a Climbing Frame or Tree House (Part I)

1.How will it be used?

The decision to buy a climbing frame is one of the most important considerations – how are your children going to be using it? What type of play are you hoping that they’ll indulge in? Here are a few types of play to whet the appetite with some of the structures and accessories to take into consideration when ordering:

bonding play: nest swings/ tandem swings etc
physical play: climbing walls and cargo nets
imaginative play (their own space): tree house, fort etc.
exhilarating play: zip wire or suspended rope bridge etc

How they use the tree house or tower will largely be determined by the age and gender of your children; so ideally, if the equipment covers all the play types outlined above, you can be confident that this equipment will be used throughout their entire childhood.

2. How big do you want to go?

This question is linked to Question 3: how much space do you have. It’s useful to have a good idea of the size of climbing frame you are after. A large garden doesn’t necessarily mean you have to acquire a large frame.

You may also have neighbours who value their privacy, or perhaps you don’t want too imposing a structure aesthetically. Generally, it will depend as much on the space you want to use in your garden as well as the size of your wallet or purse.

However, as they say, size isn’t everything and you will be surprised with today’s modern climbing frames just how much kit and equipment you can purchase which will still fit into a relatively modest space.

3. How much space do you have?

A core consideration will be what the available space is like: Some small gardens can accommodate more than larger ones if the layout is favourable.
So within this consideration, ask yourself the following:

• Is the ground you are considering level?
• How close to the boundary will it be?
• Is there close proximity to elderly neighbours or neighbours who particularly value their privacy?

Or on a more positive note:

• Are their spectacular views from where a raised platform like a climbing frame is able to take advantage?
• Maybe there’s an abundance of wildlife where you live and a platform is just the ticket for getting ‘close up and personal’ with nature?
• Do you want to offer the full range of fun that only a double tower or more can offer?

4. Who’s going to fit it?

Those of us blessed with impressive DIY skills would probably relish the challenge of using up our precious weekends to fit and install a climbing frame. If that’s not your strength, you don’t need to worry about making a major and potentially costly mistake; just leave it to the experts to fit your frame speedily and efficiently.

The question is – which experts? Gardenatics have many years of experience fitting all types of climbing frames and are able to offer a no quibble 10 year anti rot and infestation guarantee on all the installs we do. And, as we’re doing all the hard work, you know it’s going to be fitted correctly. By experts who care, to give you peace of mind, and a free weekend!

5. What does you child/children like doing?

This consideration has some overlap with #1, but it’s more about the personality of the end users. Are they into rough and tough activities? Or do they prefer to get away from it all? Perhaps they want to have their own space to curl up with a good book? Or maybe they want to have an all-out afternoon water-fight?
Naturally, a zip wire ticks all the boxes for the kids who like speed and fun, but for more gentle interests, a well enclosed den with doors and windows is much more to their particular tastes.

In the next blog, we’ll outline the remaining 5 considerations, which covers amongst other things, sustainability and budgets

Please get in touch and let us bring your dream climbing frame or tree house to reality however grandiose or modest the vision. Just call the team on 01962 600626.