Having your own playground in the garden is certainly a pleasure for the children, and probably also for the handyman father. A particular challenge is building a slide that works well and is also safe.
How do I build a slide for the garden myself?
To build a slide yourself, you need materials such as slats, beams, drive-in sleeves, screws and a sliding surface, which you can find in hardware stores or online. Follow construction instructions, adhere to safety regulations and anchor the slide securely in the ground.
Where do I get the materials I need?
You can build a slide according to your craftsmanship and/or your preferences using a kit or freely, so to speak. In any case, you should follow the construction instructions exactly and observe all safety regulations.
Most of the materials for building a slide, such as slats, beams, drive-in sleeves and screws, can be found in a well-stocked hardware store. A kit may also be available there. The sliding surface, however, can be found as a module on the Internet. You can choose between a straight surface, a wave slide or a slide with curve(s).
Can I combine the slide with other play equipment?
Rarely is there a slide alone in the garden, usually several play equipment, such as a sandpit or swing, or even an entire playground are built. Of course, you can also build a combined device such as a climbing tower with an integrated slide. A combination with one or more swings is also possible.
However, keep in mind that combined play equipment is usually larger and will be subject to greater strain. Therefore, such devices must be particularly well anchored. In this case, it is recommended to encase the posts or drive-in sleeves in concrete.
Which tool do I need?
If you have bought a kit for the slide you are planning, then you may only need a well-stocked toolbox. All wooden parts should already have been sawn to fit and perhaps the wood was pre-drilled in the right places.
If you have purchased posts and slats by the meter, you should shorten them to the correct length with a suitable saw. If there are a lot of parts to be sawn, then it might be worth purchasing a table saw (€139.00 on Amazon) or a cross-cut and miter saw.
A square measure is necessary so that you can actually saw straight. Under no circumstances should you rely on your eye. A grinder can also be very useful. However, if necessary, good old sandpaper will do. However, the work takes significantly longer.
Useful tips for building your own play equipment:
- follow the building instructions exactly
- Observe safety regulations
- always measure correctly
- never saw by eye
- Don’t forget to tighten the screws
- Anchor the slide well - risk of tipping over!
- It is best to encase large playground equipment in concrete
Tip
If you have enough space, then build a slide with waves or curves for your children, so sliding is twice as much fun.
