Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is included in the "Pre-Built Kits"?
A. Each "Pre-Built Kit" comes ready made; everything is there for you; cut, drilled, sanded, and ready to
assemble, with easy to read, 3-D assembly instructions. Each kit comes with standard accessories that are listed
on the color brochure & on the written web page for each model. Additional components and accessories are sold
separately.
Q. If I purchase a "Pre-Built Kit", can I design my own play system by mixing & matching from the different kits
shown?
A. Yes, absolutely. All TimberTotsTM Clubhouses are designed to accept all of our components and accessories.
For example; The Penguin Palace is the only structure pictured with stairs, but the stairs
will easily attach to any one of our Play Systems. If you have an idea for the perfect play system in your back
yard, just let us know, the configurations are endless.
Q. How is the Play System anchored to the ground?
A. Each play system is completely free standing; no holes to dig or concrete to pour. All of our Clubhouse Kits
are ruggedly designed; constructed with heavy duty 4" x 4" lumber and weigh in excess of 500 lbs. They are
designed to free stand without tipping over, regardless of how many children wish to play. The swing extension
ends are secured using rebar anchor pins to eliminate sliding along the ground during the swinging motion,
guaranteeing stability.
Q. How difficult is it to assemble and how long does it take?
A. We spent as much time planning our instructions as we did designing our equipment. Detailed plans and
instructions along with 3-D illustrations make this project a snap, regardless of your carpentry experience, and if
you do get stuck at any step, we are just a phone call away to walk you through. "Pre-Built Kits" will take
approximately 4-6 hours to assemble, with some of the larger structures taking slightly longer.
Q. Do I have to prepare the ground?
A. A very good question and subject only to personal preference. The ideal situation would be to install a wood
perimeter constructed with 6" x 6" timbers around the area the play system is going to be installed, and have as
much resilient surfacing material as possible to protect from falls, and all on a very flat surface. Realistically,
however, this often times is not possible due to smaller allocated play areas. Unsupervised public play areas with
significantly larger equipment demand our attention to safe resilient surfacing materials, but the supervised safety
of our own back yards with the play system installed directly on the grass is perfectly acceptable. It is best to pick
an area that is as flat as possible and clear from obstructions that could interfere with safe play, and if space and
budget allow it, a perimeter with a resilient surfacing material are that much better to create a safe play
environment.
Q. Are there any weight restrictions on your equipment?
A. Always a key question to ask of any playground equipment manufacturer. When designing our play systems,
we referenced building code sources for patios and decks to ensure durability and achieved an average of 45 lbs
per square foot, which equals 720 lbs on our 4' x 4' platform and as much as 1350 lbs on our 5' x 6' platform. The
swing extensions didn't conform to typical construction procedures for building code sources so we tested them.
The double 4" x 4" swing beams secured together with solid maple dowels, and either a two position or three
position swing bay both tested to hold in excess of 500 lbs. The actual weight applied was just over 650 lbs with no
signs of fatigue. We are very confident when we say, No, there are no weight restrictions on our equipment.
Q. What kind of wood do you use to build your "Pre-Built Kits" with?
A. "Pre-Built Kits" are manufactured using select A.C.Q. treated Red Pine or appearance grade Western Red
Cedar, giving you a choice of material in which to have your new play system constructed with.
Q. What is the difference between Red Pine and Western Red Cedar?
A. Aside from being two different species of softwood, and one being treated and the other not treated, the biggest
difference you will notice right away is the cost. Dimensionally milled appearance grade Western Red Cedar is
more than double the retail price of A.C.Q. treated Red Pine, which impacts the overall cost of a new play system
significantly. A.C.Q. treated Red Pine is processed and treated to reject insect infestation and rot, especially
where it is in contact with the ground, and has a life expectancy of more than 50 years.
Western Red Cedar grows in coastal forests from Northern British Columbia down into California, and is also
found in parts of Washington, Montana and Idaho. It rarely grows in pure stands by itself and is almost always
found in areas that are rich in abundance with other species. Western Red Cedar forests are carefully managed
through reforestation programs with controlled cutting to ensure natural regeneration and a long lasting harvest.
This small growth range coupled with such careful forest management reflects a much higher price for this
beautiful species. Western Red Cedar is also one of very few species to produce its own natural oils to resist
insect infestation and decay, greatly increasing its self-contained ability to remain durable with minimal shrinkage
over time without using chemical treatments. With its dimensional stability, it lays flat, stays straight and remains
sturdy using a variety of different fasteners, making it exceptionally easy to work with. The visual beauty of Red
Cedar combined with its natural color tones and textures enhance any landscape, making it the preferred material
choice by many for all outdoor construction applications.
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"Designed to Meet or Exceed ASTM!"
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