We developed our swingset base design after seeing regular mulch swing set areas deteriorate due to poor drainage. With our experience installing gravel shed pads, we thought a crushed stone foundation would also work well as a swingset base. Crushed stone is an excellent option because it provides structural support while still allowing great drainage. Additionally, turf under your playset is crucial to a safe and durable play area. Leveling a swingset on an artificial turf foundation is a great option (see our artificial turf installation services here).
Drainage is important for swingset pads because excess moisture can speed the deterioration of play equipment, especially if the equipment is constructed from wood. Additionally, a playset on an artificial turf or wood chip foundation is key in preventing play equipment from sagging or sinking over time.
With our crushed stone + wood chip or turf swingset bases, your play equipment gets the structural foundation it needs, with a low-cost, low-maintenance surfacing material. It’s the perfect combination to creating affordable residential swingset bases! Plus, the task of leveling the ground for your playset is already completed! Keep your kids safe by putting your playset on an artificial turf or woodchip foundation!
Our Swingset Base Options
Our wood chip swingset base adds a color pop to any backyard. It’s also affordable and offers great impact protection while also leveling your swingset, even on uneven ground. We typically add a wood chip/mulch layer of about 3″-4″ deep across the entire pad. A wood chip foundation under your playset keeps your kids safe and happy.
Our turf swingset base offers a soft, yet clean look to any backyard. Just like our wood chip base, our turf playset foundations offer great drainage, allowing for a sturdy and stable playset area for years to come. Additionally, a turf under your playset combined with a gravel sub-foundation, provides for a sturdy swingset base.
Concrete vs. Gravel Shed Foundations
If you’re looking for an affordable option for your shed foundation, gravel is an excellent choice. It s a simple way to provide your shed with additional support, making it last longer and requiring less main- tenance. On the other hand, concrete foundations require a higher initial cost, but they are long-lasting, easy to maintain, and provide your shed with an extra strong base.
Considerations
Here are some other things to keep in mind as you make your choice of our concrete and gravel foundations:
- Purpose and use for the shed
- Budget
- Climate Conditions
- Time to Install
- Local regulations and codes
- Soil type and conditions
How Our Swingset Bases are Installed
1. Excavate and Install
Perimeter
We typically remove the top 6”-8” of grass and dirt. We may remove more if needed to level the ground for your playset. We install a pressure-treated wood perimeter to contain the stone.
2. Add Crushed Stone
(Gravel)
We add a 2″-4” layer of crushed limestone (gravel); we generally use “¾” clean” stone. We compact the stone to create a strong structural foundation for the swingset base.
3. Add a Stabilization
Fabric
We add a stabilization fabric to give extra support, suppress weed growth, but still allow for good drainage across the entire base. This improves pad durability and allows for a longer-lasting base.
4. Add Surface Material (Turf or Mulch)
For wood chip bases, we add about 3″-4” of wood chips/mulch on top of the stabilization fabric. For our turf bases, we lay down a layer of artificial turf under the playset and fasten it to the base.
Where We Install Our Swingset Bases
Our service area covers the majority of the Mid-Atlantic USA. We install swingset bases in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and beyond. Our swingset base installation services are available in rural and metropolitan areas, including greater New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, and beyond.
They Look Amazing!
Recently Completed Swingset Bases and Playset Foundations
FAQs
Not all swingsets require a base, however, they should include some support or anchoring to ensure they don’t tip over. This can include concrete footings, gravel or mulch bases, and more.
The cost of a swingset base will depend on the size and scope of your project and the material you choose for your base. Request a price sheet for more detailed information about the costs of different bases.
It can be cheaper to build your own swingset rather than buying a pre-built one. However, whether it’s cheaper depends on the materials you choose, the complexity of the project, if you have the necessary tools it takes, and how much time it will take to build.
We understand that safety is the most important consideration when choosing a base for your children’s swing set. That’s why we recommend a rubber mulch pad, wood chip pads, artificial turf pads, or pea gravel pads. While all these options have different benefits and drawbacks, they’re all made for shock absorption, reducing the risk of injury.
The time it takes to build a base for a playset will depend on the type of base you choose. A pea gravel pad typically takes us a day to complete. Contact us to find out how long it will take to install our other bases.
