Guest post: Wood vs. Metal Swing Sets by Kara Taylor

Wood vs. Metal Swing Sets: Pros and Cons

Planning to build or buy a swing set? There are many decisions you will need to make, and the first one that typically comes to mind is whether you want your swing set made out of wood or metal.

It's hard to say that one is better than the other, but there are many pros and cons for both wood and metal swing sets. Here are some things to consider when choosing between them.

Wood Swing Sets

Wood swing sets have strong wooden frames, and often a wooden playhouse, tire swing, and/or climbing wall as well. Deluxe swing sets, the large ones with lots of options, tend to be made of wood.

Pros:

• Wooden swing sets tend to be sturdier, so you don't have to worry about the structure tipping if you haven't anchored the legs well enough to withstand lots of high swinging.
• Wood swing sets are stronger, so they can hold more weight for their size, not to mention heavier duty swings such as tire swings.
• Wood swing sets last longer, because they aren't as susceptible to weather: For instance, rust is not generally a problem, and when it is, it's usually smaller parts that can be replaced.

Cons:

• The biggest downside to wood swing sets is that they can be more expensive. They cost more for their size when compared to their metal counterparts.
• Splinters are a minor concern in the grand scheme of things, but it is something to keep in mind with wooden swing sets. However, buying properly treated wood will make splinters less likely.

Metal Swing Sets

Metal swing sets are typically made with metal pipe for their frames. Slides and other components of these swing sets are often metal as well.

Pros:

• The biggest advantage, and the reason why metal swing sets continue to be popular is the difference in price. Metal swing sets are considerably cheaper than comparable wooden swing sets, meaning families can afford more swing set for their money than they could if they bought a wooden play structure.
• The best metal swing sets will be made of galvanized steel, making rust less of a problem than those made of cheaper metals. You also won't have to worry about splinters and rotting wood.

Cons:

• Metal swing sets just aren't as heavy as wooden ones, which mean they are more susceptible to tipping with enthusiastic swinging. In order to stop this from happening and protect your kids, you will need to anchor the swing set in some fashion, usually by planting the legs in poured concrete in the ground. Bolting used tires to the bottom of the legs can also provide some weight to keep the swing set anchored.
• Metal swing sets also aren't as strong as their wooden counterparts, which is why anchoring the legs is such a crucial part of putting up a metal set. If you don't, the repeated rocking or tipping of the play set can actually cause the metal to bend or twist over time, compromising the structural integrity and making it unsafe for continued play.
• Rust is a huge problem for metal swing sets, since they are out in the elements year after year. Some sets are made of galvanized steel, but this only slows the progression of rust down, rather than stopping it entirely.
• Metal swing sets don't tend to last as long, since they are more economically made and less sturdy than wooden ones.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a swing set. Think carefully about the ramifications before making a final decision. Your circumstances dictate which one is the best decision for you. If you want to save money and don't necessarily care if the swing set is there long term, a metal one is clearly the right decision. However, if you want it to last a long time, and be sturdy enough that your kids can swing on it even when they are bigger, you are probably best off springing for a wooden set.


Freelance writer Kara Taylor is passionate about helping new moms with all of their questions through blog posts, like this one about Swing Set Hardware.