Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 18, 2008 08:52pm | #1

   Sorry it took awhile to get back to you but this wasn't a question that anyone here had a lot of expertise with.

   For wood there is pressure treated, which is relatively inexpensive and available everywhere, and then there is everything else, all of which are harder to find and can be very expensive.

   Any wood used for decking, redwood and cedar from North America, and many tropicals like teak and ipe, are usable, but the tropicals are often only available as floor board stock and you'll be needing 2 by 4's and 2 by 6's and 4 by 4's for framing. You can get redwood in structural dimensions but the last time I checked, on the east coast, it was special order only and immensely expensive for heart redwood which is what is needed for weather resistance.

   Most home centers carry supplies, like slides and swings, for making play sets or even kits with the wood precut. Home Depot carries the Timberbilt brand and there are others. To find plans google "playset plans" and you'll find a lot of sources but you'll have to look through them to find the better ones. Also look up "Timberbilt" to see what is available as supplies and kits.

   John White

   
   

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   Edited 4/18/2008 1:54 pm ET by JohnWW