We love questions and field many questions in a day’s time regarding our vinyl swing sets. Here are some of the most common questions about vinyl playsets and playhouses.
“What is a vinyl swing set?”
A vinyl swing set is simply a swing set that is made out of wood that is slipped into a vinyl sleeve. You get both the durability and flexibility of a wood playset and vinyl’s longevity and maintenance-free qualities!
For our vinyl swing sets, we slide pressure-treated Georgia yellow pine into our locally extruded vinyl sleeve. The combination creates a swing set that is durable, sturdy, and backed by a lifetime warranty against rot, decay, and insect damage.
“What are the benefits of adding vinyl to a swing set?”
There are three major advantages. 1) No splinters! 2) Longevity. 3) Resistance to nature. For a more in-depth look at these three benefits, click here: Vinyl Swing Set Advantages.
“Does a vinyl swing set squeak?”
Yes, you will hear a bit of squeaking when children swing on the swing beam. This squeaking is caused by the vinyl sleeves rubbing against each other. This is perfectly natural and normal. If the squeaking annoys you, you can use a bit of WD40 to minimize the squeaking.
“Does a vinyl playset crack in the cold?”
Short answer, no. The longer answer, it can if put under tremendous pressure and it is very cold out.
The perfect example of this is if you decided to install an accessory on your swing set during the dead of winter. The stress of pushing a lag through the cold vinyl could cause it to crack. It is best to wait for warmer weather to do any sort of modifications to your swing set. If you want to install it anyways, you can work around this problem by predrilling the holes in the vinyl. This relieves the pressure of the lag pushing through.
“Does vinyl stain?”
In general, no, vinyl doesn’t stain. If you weed whack around it, you will see grass “stains” on the vinyl, but you can clean those off. However, be careful spraying yard chemicals near the set, as some of those products can negatively affect vinyl.
While discussing staining, did you know that our Trex decking is also stain-resistant? That is great news, especially during summertime when grape popsicles and other various sticky, staining juices are prevalent.
“What do you use to clean the vinyl swing set?”
A simple cleaner such as, no pun intended, Simple Green is a great choice. Using a soaking agent like Wet&Forget (be sure to follow all directions on the label) is a great option if you have heavy algae build-up or deeper dirt. Also, gentle pressure washing should take care of most dirt.
“Can I weed whack against the vinyl playground?”
Assuming you are using a string weed whacker, whack away! You do need to be careful around the end caps on the swing beams. They had a tendency to crack. If you forget and crack one, reach out to us, and we can hook you up with a replacement.
“What color options do I have for the vinyl on my swing set?”
You can choose between white vinyl with gray decking or ivory vinyl with brown decking. Bright white really makes the set pop, while ivory is that classic look. Ivory also hides dirt a bit better.
“Does a vinyl swing set get hot in the sun?”
Let me speak out of both sides of my mouth. On the one hand, things like the slides get hot in direct sunlight. However, I have clambered all over these sets in some nasty hot weather and don’t remember the vinyl as hot. That could be because you really don’t come in contact with the vinyl very much during play. Regardless, if the vinyl is too hot, I can guarantee it is too hot to play outside safely.
Vinyl swing sets handle heat very well compared to metal swing sets. Some of us remember going down those metal slides on a summer day…
“What maintenance does a vinyl playground require?”
Not much. We suggest a walk around at the start of Spring to check for any loose hardware. You can clean it now and again, but that is up to you. That is about it for maintenance!
For comparison, a wood swing set should be resealed every 1 to 2 years and restrained every 3 to 4 years. Vinyl swing sets are a get-it-and-forget-it. No need to dedicate a few evenings to spending sweating, possibly swearing, and restaining your swing set. Just go inside and watch the game in your favorite chair with a cold drink.
“If I get a vinyl swing set now, can I add to it later?”
Yes, vinyl swing sets can be added on in the future. If you plan on building out your swing set in stages, leave empty sides on your tower for bridges, tunnels, or other fun items to help tie the new additions to the existing ones.
“How long do vinyl swing sets last?”
Vinyl swing sets last longer than wood swing sets. Again, there is a reason swing set companies offer a longer warranty on vinyl swing sets than wood swing sets. You can expect a King Swings vinyl swing set to last over 10 years.
“Are vinyl swing sets worth it?”
This question is all about money. I can’t make that decision for you, but vinyl swing sets last longer, are more pleasant to use, look great longer, and require virtually no maintenance. If it makes sense for your budget, I would say a hardy yes; vinyl swing sets are worth the extra cost.
Hopefully, we covered all the questions you could think up about our vinyl swing sets. But if we missed one, feel free to contact our swing set design team! They are standing by to help you with your swing set purchasing journey!
King Swings has been crafting vinyl swing sets for 30-plus years. We started in an Amish barn in Strasburg, PA, and now are continuing the family tradition of crafting high-quality swing sets from our new location in Parkesburg, PA.