Easy Playground Border Installation
Build your family a spacious, safe and attractive playground area, with ease. The patented Frame It All system makes installing a playground border a snap. You’ll only need a few tools and a little time and soon your kids will be enjoying hours of play.
What you’ll need:
In addition to your Frame It All Composite Timbers, Anchor Joints and Stacking Joints the only things you’ll need are a hammer, a tape measure and a screwdriver (electric or battery operated preferred).
Step 1: Find a space.
Find an open area, with at least a 6’ perimeter on all side. For swings, the perimeter should be a minimum of twice the height of the swing set in the front and back (see diagram at right). The area should be free of rocks, roots and other obstructions and relatively level. Be mindful of overhead coverage as animals and birds perched on tree limbs can create hazards (falling nuts, branches or animal droppings).
Step 2: Stake out the border.
Using stakes and string or other markers lay out your playground border and double check that you have a minimum 6’ perimeter around all elements, and a minimum twice the height to the front and back of any swing sets.
Measure your linear footage. Frame It All Composite Timbers measure 44” with the joints installed. Determine how many Timbers and Anchor Joints you’ll need to surround your playground perimeter. Composite Timbers can easily be trimmed with a saw and new screw holes made with a household drill.
A single-timber border will be 6” high. If you need more than 6” of ground cover, stack two timbers to 12” high and include Stacking Joints in an equal number to your Anchor Joints. Place an order based on your calculations.
Step 3: Assemble timbers and brackets.
Slide your Composite Timber into the channel end of one of the brackets until it is centered and flush on all sides. Use the supplied screws to fasten the Composite Timber to the bracket as shown in diagram 1. Repeat this process on the opposite end of the Composite Timbers flipping the bracket in the opposite direction as pictured in diagram 2 (this will save you time later when installing the Timbers). Repeat this process until all of your Composite Timbers are fully bracketed on both ends.
Step 4: Laying the frame.
Lay out the base level of design with stake fins facing up as shown in diagram 3. Design adjustments should now be done if needed. Once the desired position of base level is achieved, turn stake fins facing down and hammer stakes into ground see diagram 4 (Note: Do not fasten cap unless level is finished). Do not hammer stake in too deep.
Step 5: Stack your timbers.
If a multi-level border (for ground cover deeper than 6 inches) is desired, slide a second stake into all of the exposed tops of the in-ground level 1 stakes and put the level 2 Composite Timbers in place until level two is completed. See diagram 5 & 6 (Note: You can continue stacking additional levels until reaching your desired height).
Step 6: Finish.
To finish the appearance of each joint and to secure the brackets over the stake, push or tap the supplied caps into the tops of the stakes until they snap in place. See diagram 7.
Step 7: Fill with ground cover.
The best playground ground cover is engineered wood fiber or rubber mulch. Pea stone provides less protection and sand can be messy. Generally speaking, you’ll need 10 cu yards of safety material for a 24' x 24' x 6 inch playing area. Double that amount for 12 inches depth. Check with your mulch/pellet supplier for exact quantities.