Having their own playground in the garden is sure to be fun for the children, and probably for the handyman father too. A special challenge is the construction of a slide that works well and is also safe.

A simple metal slide is easy to build yourself

Where can I get the required material from?

You can build a slide according to your craftsmanship and/or your preferences with the help of a kit or, so to speak, freely. In any case, however, you should follow the construction instructions exactly and observe all safety regulations.

You can get most of the material for building a slide, such as slats, beams, drive-in sleeves and screws, from a well-stocked hardware store. A kit may also be available there. The slide surface, on the other hand, can be found as a module on the Internet. You have the choice between a straight surface, a wave slide or a slide with curve(s).

Can I combine the slide with other play equipment?

Rarely does a slide stand alone in the garden, usually several pieces of 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. The combination with one or more swings is also possible.

However, keep in mind that combined playground equipment is usually larger and will be subjected to greater loads. Such devices must therefore be particularly well anchored. In this case, we recommend setting the posts or drive-in sleeves in concrete.

Which tool do I need?

If you have bought a kit for the planned slide, then you may only need a well-stocked tool box. All wooden parts should already have been sawn to fit and maybe the wood was pre-drilled in the right places.

If you bought posts and slats by the meter, you should shorten them to the right length with a suitable saw. If you have a lot of parts to saw, it might be worth buying a circular table saw or a chop and miter saw.

A square is necessary to make sure you saw straight, don't rely on your eyesight under any circumstances. A grinding machine can also be very useful. If necessary, good old sandpaper will suffice. However, the work takes much longer.

Useful tips for building your own playground equipment:

  • follow the assembly 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 embed large playground equipment in concrete

tips

If you have enough space, build a slide with waves or curves for your children so that sliding is twice as much fun.

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Care tips