By far the most cost-effective and quickest way to do this is to sprat the wood with something like ROPEL, rub the wood down with a bar of hand soap, or coat it with chili spray. If you’re worried about the sprays harming the wood then you’ll need to seal the wood with an outdoor varnish.

How do you protect wooden swings?

How to Maintain and Protect Your Wooden Swing Set

  1. Conduct regular inspections. …
  2. Stain and seal the wood. …
  3. Keep it clean. …
  4. Seal the hardware components with caulking and spray for bugs. …
  5. Follow weight recommendations. …
  6. Remove detachable parts before winter.





How do you seal a wooden playset?

How to Stain or Seal a Swing Set

  1. To avoid any mishaps, remove everything but the wood! …
  2. Clean the swing set. …
  3. After cleaning, allow the swing set 24 hours to dry.
  4. Inspect the swing set and look for rough spots or places where the grain is lifting. …
  5. Apply stain or sealer.

How do you protect a playset?

Use a large tarp to cover the entire playset for the winter months. Attach the tarp securely with rope, bungee cords or other fasteners to prevent it from blowing off in the cold winter winds. Covering the entire playset protects all components, including the wood structure.

Should you seal a cedar swing set?

Once the wood surface is clean and dry, it’s time to seal it. The average single clubhouse swing set requires about a gallon of sealant or stain. You’ll need several gallons for decks and other large projects. Using a paintbrush, roller, or paint sprayer, apply a thin, even layer of sealant to every inch of the wood.

How do I protect my outdoor wood playground?





If your wood playground equipment is fading from the sun, weather, or use, opt for a stain to hide the age and wear. If it’s a fairly new set, you can stick with sealant instead. You can buy either one at your local hardware store.

Should I seal my swing set?

If they are not pre-sealed it is recommended that you seal the wood within 60-90 days after construction. A waterproof sealant will prolong the life of your swing set by limiting the moisture that can seep into the wood and protecting it from UV rays as well.

How do I protect my outdoor swing?


Quote from Youtube video: Now as far as application goes this is really easy all you're gonna do is apply a thin coat with a high-quality brush or a paint roller or some spray equipment.

Can you use Thompson’s water Seal on wood?

Yes, you can use Thompsons Water Seal on pressure treated wood. You just need to be sure the treated wood is dry enough to take the sealer. Some, such as Thompson’s WaterSeal Waterproofing Wood Protector, advocate waiting 30 days before applying on new pressure-treated wood.

Is it better to paint or stain a swing set?



Anytime you have an outdoor wooden playset, deck or furniture you must protect it. Either staining or painting the wood will provide protection, however, we recommend staining. Stain contains UV stabilizers which help protect the wood from the bleaching effects of the sun as well as mold inhibitors.

What is the best sealer for cedar wood?

Best Sealer for Cedar Wood

  • 100% Pure Tung Oil Finish Stain & Sealer – Best Overall Cedar Sealer.
  • #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent – Best Semitransparent Wood Sealer.
  • THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16 – Best wood preservative for cedar.
  • Ready Seal 512 5-Gall43on Pail Natural – Best stain and sealer in one.

What kind of stain do you use on a swing set?

We recommend and use Superdeck, Semi Transparent (Transparent is good too), Oil Base (goes on easier and lasts longer than waterbase) Stain. You can get it at Sherwin Williams. It’s a one coat application. We use Redwood pigment color but there are other colors to choose from if you don’t like that color.

How long should a wooden swing set last?



20 years

A swing set made of strong, durable wood should last 20 years or longer — some even last for generations. As with any material, the life expectancy of a wooden swing set depends on proper care and maintenance. Generally, however, you can expect a wooden swing set to outlive other playset materials.

How do you protect a wooden playhouse?

If your playhouse has not been pre-painted with colour stains, you can apply a coat of wood stain in a colour of your choice and then once it’s dry apply a transparent wood preserver. Alternatively you can choose to use a 2-in-1 coloured wood preserver, although this can prove more costly.

How do you reinforce a wooden swing set?

Use steel mending plates and L-brackets to reinforce weak joints. Place them underneath cross-members, like the top bar and horizontal bars in the A-frame ends of the swing set. Use galvanized hardware and heavy-duty treated deck screws to attach the brackets to ensure the braces will last.

Do wooden swing sets need to be anchored?



When installing any swing set, you should anchor the equipment into the ground to prevent it from flipping over while in use. Concrete anchors are the most secure.

How do you anchor a wooden swing?

If the ground underneath your swingset is hard enough, you can use wooden stakes as anchors to hold it in place. Wooden swing set anchors can work well if you want to keep the entire set wooden and not use any metal or plastic. If the stakes are driven far enough into the ground, they can be an effective anchor.

What is the best way to anchor a swing set?

Here’s how:

  1. Place swing set evenly and clear from obstruction.
  2. Mark location of legs.
  3. Insert screw type ground anchor either by hand, hammer, or metal rod.
  4. Attach swing set legs to anchors.
  5. Cover hardware with bolt caps or other cushioned materials.


How do you stake down a playset?



Wooden Stakes



At each of the posts you would like to anchor to the ground, drive one stake into the ground directly beside the post. It should go down at least 12 inches into the ground. Use at least 4 nails per post to secure the stake to the playset.

Can you put a swing set on grass?

All that said, grass is still the most popular choice for backyard swing sets and playsets, and may work out just fine for your family.