Oscar Wilde defined a cynic as a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing. What has this got to do with climbing frames? Well, it’s an important reminder that, as with many purchases, you need to look beyond the price when you’re making your choice. A climbing frame will be a part of your garden, you hope for many years. There’s no point spending more money than you need to, but before you commit yourself to a purchase check that you’re really getting what you want.
Put yourself for a moment in the position of a climbing frame manufacturer looking to cut costs – what could you do to make your product cheaper?
Size – The climbing frame might look as though it’s exactly what you want, and be much cheaper than one that looks very similar. Check the dimensions carefully! It could be perfectly formed, but small. Think about how much space your children will need. How high is the roof of the tower? How high is the swing. Think about their size not just now, but next summer, and maybe five summers later. What’s the area of the platform? Is there enough room to invite friends up there, or will they be cramped into an uncomfortable space. You might look at the Spud climbing frame from Play Crazy and think it looks expensive compared to products that look very similar. But this manufacturer has chosen to build a premium product, and you will find that it has the edge in dimensions compared to designs offered at a cheaper price
Strength and durability – Again, when you look at the pictures on your browser the thickness of the wood used for the framing, the cladding and the roof, but a manufacturer aiming for a low selling price will use smaller section wood, so the climbing frame will never be as sturdy and probably won’t last as long.
Wood treatment – Thinner wood won’t last as long when exposed to the weather, and even less so if it hasn’t been thoroughly treated. Less adequate preservation treatment is a way of saving money and the effect isn’t immediately obvious, so check the standards carefully with any manufacturer you’re considering.
Joints – Some manufacturers go to great lengths to reinforce the joints in the framework with heavy gauge metal. Frames get a lot of repeated load – imagine how many times a swing will pull the frame from side to side. Without reinforcement joints will loosen and the frame will move, or maybe worse. So that neat looking low-cost frame might not look quite so good in a few months. Look closely, compare the products and ask questions.
