1.) How level does my yard need to be? It is recommended that the area in which your play structure is to be installed be fairly level & free of debris. The fort can be dug into the ground for leveling up to 6". Another option is to use wood leveling blocks. Any leveling that requires more than 0.5 man hours will result in additional charges.

2.) How much does an A-frame bracket adjust? This unique bracket will adjust to uneven land. Each leg can be adjusted to go in, or out while the swing beam stays straight. The adjustment can change height up to 12". However, if you have a larger drop we can supply you with longer legs for a small cost. In most cases the swing beam can be on any side of the fort. If the swing beam is put on the back of the fort, it needs to be noted on the order so a special panel can be made.

3.) Can I have a 4-position swing beam? The Reck Shop does not make a 4-position swing beam because it requires a 16ft beam. The Reck Shop uses a 12ft swing beam which reduces the chance of the beam twisting and warping. We accommodate the 4th position by adding an extra 4" x 4" or 4" x 6" arm to the play set accommodating a trapeze, baby seat, or other items. This also separates the play activities and makes for a safer play area.

4.) My yard is small; can I have a 2-position swing beam? How long is it? Yes, we can make a 2-position swing beam. This will bring the normal 12ft beam down to 9ft. See also the Royal Palace Space Saver.

5.) I want my swings higher. Can you do that? Yes we can. Standard height on a swing beam is approximately 7.5ft from the bottom of the beam to the ground. A swing beam extension package adds 1 foot to the inside height of the fort, 1 foot to the swing beam height, and 1 ft chain extensions to the swings.

6.) Can I add a rope ladder to any set? Yes, they usually go on the opposite side of the swing beam and attach to the bottom of the safety ladder. It can also go off the back and attach to an extended sandbox board.

7.) Can a swing beam be taken off a set or put in another area (when it does not fit in one spot? Yes, all of our products are somewhat modular so we can make a 2-position or 3-position swing beam that will be free standing, or eliminate the swing beam all together.

8.) Can I get a taller roof? Some units already come with extended height; the larger sets have 6 1/2 foot peak. The Palace, Royal Palace, and Royal Palace Space Saver come with a 5 1/2 foot peak standard and these can be raised to 6 1/2 feet.

9.) Can I put a slide off to the side? The slide can be attached to any side of the fort. We must know ahead of time so we can make the wall panels accordingly.

10.) Can a slide go off the side porch of Mt. Lodge? Yes, again, make sure you note this request on order.

11.) Can a climbing ramp be put on any set? All sets with a 5ft. platform can have a climbing ramp. The width of the climbing ramp will vary with the width of the opening on each set.

12.) Can a fireman's pole be put on any set? The fireman's pole can be put on virtually any set. The fireman's pole comes out at an angle that allows it to be attached to the left corner of the play set, and still easily reached by children.

13.) What is the weight limit for the play sets? The platforms on our sets are stronger than most decks on a home, so it will handle several adults. The chains are rated at 800lbs per link holding 250 lbs swinging.

14.) What is the weight limit on the slides? The wave slide has a 250lb weight limit. The newer Super Slides have a double wall thickness made to take heavier weight.

15.) What sets can have a wood roof? All of our sets have a wood roof except for the Lookout, Fortress, Kingdom and Chases Retreat.

16.) Can I put a tire swing under the Explorer or Palace? The tire swing can only be put under a 6' x 6' or larger deck. The smaller deck sizes do not allow clearance between the corner posts.

17.) Can a wave slide be put on a plantation? No. The 10ft. wave slide can only go off a 5ft high deck. The plantation is 6ft to give kids more headroom in the playhouse under the upper deck. The plantation instead comes standard with a spiral tube slide. As an option you can put a 12ft super scoop slide on this set.

18.) Why do we use flat safety steps instead of round wood or metal rungs? The flat safety steps were developed to accommodate younger children. When round rungs are used children often slip hurting themselves, so we developed a safer step to allow for better footing. We have found older children & adults prefer our flat safety steps as well.

19.) Can I make the sandbox under the fort deeper? Yes. We can add four extra 2 x 6 boards, making the sandbox 6" deeper. We can also add sandbox seats in the four corners.

20.) Can side panels on the fort be made into walls? You can use extra slats to fill in the gaps on each panel. The closed slat panel will remain the same height as the panel currently on the set.

21.) Can we enclose the bottom of the fort? It is not practical to totally enclose the bottom because the resulting playhouse under the fort would only be about 4 ft in height. For this reason, we designed the Royal Clubhouse Deluxe, the Plantation, the Outpost and the Hunter's Hideaway. We can however install bottom play walls and/or floor as shown on the Hideout to any set except the Kingdom.

22.) Can we attach a fun ride deluxe to a play system? Due to safety reasons we strongly oppose this. This in effect will void any warranty. We suggest mounting the fun ride between two immobile items such as trees according to installation & safety guidelines provided with this product.

23.) How many years will my children play on the system? Children's interests vary, but we have found with the larger sets with more options, your children will continue to grow into, not out of, your new set. In fact, many parents & grandparents have as much fun as the kids.

24.) Why are the bolts counter sunk? It’s one more safety issue. This prevents any bolts from being exposed to children.

25.) Can a Mt. Lodge have a turbo slide with a second deck level? Yes. We can put the slide off the back right panel only. It will have a 2ft step-up inside the main fort.

26.) Can a super slide be added to any set? All sets with a 5ft deck height can have either the upgraded 10ft super wave or 10ft super scoop slide. The 12ft super scoop can be put on a 6ft deck and the 14 ft super scoop can be put on a 7ft deck height.

27.) Why doesn't the Chalet have a door? Can one be added? The Chalet was developed for customers that wanted a walled unit on a lower budget than the Mountain Lodge. As with all our products, things can be added to the set including a door.

28.) Why is the trapeze chain not coated The trapeze is made for the kids to hang from the bar or plastic handles so only the bar itself is coated.

29.) Why do we coat the chain and what is the coating made of? The chain is coated with a marine grade plastisol so it won't come off. The chain is heated at 300 degrees and double dipped in plastisol. The purpose for the coating is to keep little fingers from being pinched and hair from being caught. It also helps keep the chain from getting hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

30.) Can you leave an opening to the fort when you add monkey bars, rope ladders or fireman's pole to a set? We can put an opening in the fort to allow for a child to climb into or out of the fort from such items, but extra caution needs to be heeded due to an additional opening posing a potential hazard, especially for younger children.

31.) Why do you use spring clips on the swing hangers? Spring clips make it easier to change out accessories and to adjust the height of the accessories. Also, it provides an added safety feature not allowing swings to come off when swinging.

32.) What is a site visit? A visit to a customer’s yard to make sure a desired play set will fit. If the customer shows good faith with a deposit on a set there is no charge. If they do not want to put a deposit on the set we charge $45.00 (additional charge beyond 30 miles may apply). This charge is refundable with Playset Purchase.

33.) Where can the safety steps attach to a play set? The safety steps have to be attached to two 4 x 4 uprights, so in most sets they can be put on the front or the back of the set, to the right or left. Custom modifications can be done to meet special needs at an additional charge.

34.) What is the most popular set and why? Whatever set fits your family's needs should be the most popular. However, the Royal Palace or Royal Palace Space Saver with the 6' x 6' play deck is the most versatile play sets we have. You can add more upgrades to the set as your child gets older allowing the play set to grow with the needs of your children. The larger deck size is also big enough for mom & dad to join in the fun with the kids.

35.) Can I design my own set? Yes, the sets are very modular. You can add an extra swing beam, climbing ramp, rock wall, monkey bars, additional slides, or you can link towers together with a clatter bridge to make the most ultimate play set in the neighborhood.

36.) Which wood is better, Southern Yellow Pine, Redwood or other? Redwood has been used for decades in outdoor furniture, decks, and play sets because it is attractive and naturally rot and insect resistant without the need of additional chemical pressure treating. Redwood tends to shrink, warp, and check or crack less than other woods in their natural state. However, these conditions still occur. Redwood, cedar and cypress are softer woods that will show more wear (nicks and dings) from normal use and from such things as weed whips. These woods also turn gray or even black, fairly rapidly, especially if left unsealed or unstained. Although these woods are naturally rot resistant, they will still rot, especially at ground level much faster than pressure treated pine. This is why most decks made of these softer woods (redwood, cedar, etc) still rely on the strength and durability of pressure treated pine for the in-ground posts and under carriage.

Southern Yellow Pine is much more attractive and durable than White Pine that you see at your typical lumber yard, such as Lowe's or Home Depot. The Southern Yellow Pine we use is pressure treated with ACQ, arsenic and chromium free process and also injected into the core of the wood with a water repellent to help resist the elements from the inside out. The wood is then double kiln dried to help eliminate further shrinking, warping, checking or cracking, although these conditions can and do still occur.

Redwood, Cedar, Cypress and Southern Yellow Pine are all suitable for play structures. So the choice is yours. We've found that Southern Yellow Pine with the ACQ pressure treatment is the most popular because of its durability lower maintenance and ability to be left natural or stained to any color you would like, including redwood & cedar tones.

37.) How difficult is it to install the play system myself? If you decide to tackle the job yourself, step-by-step instructions are included. Having the proper tools, and a bit of patience, the sets go together well and can be a fun family project. (The Warranty does not cover improperly installed play systems).

38.) How long does it take to install my new play system? It varies depending on the size of the set and amount of options. For the average homeowner it's a two day project if you stick with it. If you choose to have us install your set, our experienced installers will have most of the sets installed within one day, ready for your children to play on that same day.

39.) What happens to my play system if I move? The sets add value and can be sold with your home, or dismantled and reset up at your new home (this is a service we also provide).

40.) Once I order my set, how long does it take before it can be installed? If it is in stock, normally 1-3 weeks to be installed. If it needs to be ordered in, then it would normally be 3-5 weeks. (Sometimes we can work miracles).

41.) Can I add or delete items to my play system? Yes, you can add, delete, or exchange items. You even have a variety of colors to choose from.

42.) Will my children get splinters? Sometimes manufacturers promote "splinter free wood" but have you ever seen a "splinter free tree"? We sand and round the corners on all wood components to reduce splinters to a bare minimum. We do recommend light sanding where needed and periodic stain/sealer if desired to maintain your set as splinter free as possible.

43.) Do I need to put something under and around my play system such as wood chips? While it is not necessary, it is recommended. Most injuries occur due to falls and a shock absorbing surface is far less likely to cause a serious injury. Surface materials that can be used would include sand, fine gravel, wood chips, bark or mulch & recycled rubber. We can assist you with any of these products including a variety of recycled rubber surfaces which have been shown to be more trouble free resilient and safe.

44.) How is the play system fastened to the ground? With the design and weight of our play systems there is no need to fasten them into the ground. Since they are not cemented into the ground, there is no permit required.

45.) What do the initials CCA and ACQ stand for? CCA - Copper Chromium Arsenate (Chromium and Arsenic are dangerous chemicals). ACQ - Alkaline Copper Quaternary, Note: These are chemicals used in the pressure-treating process of wood.