Assembling a swing set kit: step by step to your own garden swing

Box open, grass under your feet, keen to get building. Assembling a swing set kit is a great job to tackle together. You measure, dig, screw and adjust, and by the end the seats are ready for the first round of swooping, swinging and soaring.

 

Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide to assembling and anchoring an EXIT Toys garden swing. The order differs from model to model, so your swing’s manual always has the final say. Where the Silvi and the Ivy differ, we point it out.

 

Before you start: time, helping hands and the manual

You need at least two people to build a swing. The posts and the top beam are long and heavy, and when you’re adjusting things, you want someone holding the frame straight while you measure. Our user manuals assume the swing is assembled by adults.

 

Allow a few hours for assembly. Each swing’s product page lists the average assembly time with two people. On top of that, plan in time for digging the holes and for the concrete to set. A dry day with little wind makes the job a lot more pleasant.

 

Read the manual all the way through before you pick up the first bolt. That way you’ll see the order you work in and which parts belong together. If you’ve lost the manual, you can download it from your swing’s product page. Sometimes there’s an assembly video too: the manual for the EXIT Ivy swing set has a QR code that takes you to it.

 

Step 1. Choose the right spot

A good spot for a swing starts with the space around it, not with the frame. The seats swing a fair way back and forth, and children run around the swing too. So keep these points in mind:

• Choose a flat part of the garden so the frame can stand level.
• Keep your distance from walls, fences, gates and other playsets. The manual tells you how much clear space your swing needs.
• Look up as well: there shouldn’t be any branches or wires hanging above the swing.
• Pick a spot where you can dig, because the ground anchors go into the soil.
• Ideally, put the swing where you can see it clearly from the house or the patio.

 

Next, the surface underneath. Choose a surface that suits the specified fall height and installation instructions of your play equipment. Always check the manual for this. Materials used as impact-absorbing surfaces include wood chips and safety tiles, for example, but the required type and layer depth are given in the manual. Grass is not automatically impact-absorbing, and hard surfaces such as paving slabs and concrete are not.

 

Handy tip: the product pages for the Silvi and Ivy swings, among others, have a dimension drawing to download. Mark out the outer dimensions beforehand with string or a garden hose, and you’ll see straight away how much space the swing takes up. On the Silvi and the Ivy, the legs angle outwards. Include the full footprint when you measure up.

 

Step 2. Get your tools and materials ready

Nipping out to the DIY store halfway through is a waste of your build day. So check in advance what you need to have at home. You’ll come across these tools in the manuals:

• tape measure
• spirit level
• spade or shovel
• hammer
• (cordless) drill
• spanners

 

Small tools for the bolts are sometimes already in the box. The Silvi and the Ivy, for example, come with a small set among the parts. Check your swing’s parts list for this.

 

You buy the concrete for setting the ground anchors yourself. Get a tub or bucket and some water for mixing it as well. How much concrete you need varies a lot from swing to swing:

• EXIT Ivy swing set: 4 bags of 55.12 lb
• EXIT Silvi wooden swing set: 2 bags of 55.12 lb

 

If you have a different swing or version, you’ll find the right amount of concrete and any extra materials in the manual.

 

Step 3. Unpack and count everything

Lay all the parts out on a sheet or on the grass and sort them by number. At the front of the manual, you’ll find a parts list with numbers and quantities. Count everything before you start, including the small bolts, nuts and washers. That way, the job won’t grind to a halt halfway through.

 

If a part is missing, get in touch with the shop where you bought the swing. To find out how to order a single part from EXIT Toys, read our blog on ordering spare parts.

 

Children will want to watch, of course. Just keep the youngest ones away from the small parts. Let them unpack the swing seats instead: that way they already know where they’ll soon be sitting.

 

Step 4. Build the frame: the order depends on your swing

This is where the EXIT swings differ most. With one, you build the frame first and dig afterwards. With the other, the anchors are already in the concrete before the frame goes on. So always follow the order in your manual, and only fully tighten bolts and screws when the manual tells you to. Broadly speaking, this is how it works.

 

Silvi: frame first, then stand it up

The EXIT Silvi wooden swing set has a cypress wood A-frame. You assemble that frame on the ground: top beam, angled legs and connectors. Then the two of you stand it upright. Only then do you mark where the four anchors go, dig the holes and pour the concrete.

 

The EXIT Silvi wooden swing that grows with you has a low baby setting that can also stand indoors. If you set it up in the junior setting in the garden, you anchor it with concrete, just like the Silvi swing set.

 

Ivy: anchors first, then the metal frame

With the EXIT Ivy swing set, you reverse the order. First you dig four holes and position the anchors in the layout shown in the manual. Next, measure the two diagonals: if they’re the same length, everything is square. Also keep an eye on how deep the anchors sit, because the manual shows exactly how it should be. After that, you pour the concrete and build the galvanised, powder-coated frame onto the anchors.

In this example, you can see how a GetSet playset with swing is anchored below ground for stable play.

 

Step 5. Pour the concrete and let it set

Frame or anchors in the right place and level? Then it’s time for the concrete. Mix it following the instructions on the packaging and fill the holes as shown in the manual. Then check once more with the spirit level while the concrete is still wet.

 

Now comes the waiting. The packaging tells you how long the concrete needs to set. Only let the children swing once the concrete has fully hardened.

 

Why all that concrete? Swinging puts quite a bit of force on the frame. The user manual is clear about this: anchor the swing with the anchors supplied and follow the steps in the manual, because equipment that isn’t secured can tip over. You can read more about the how and why in our blog How do you safely anchor a swing or play equipment in the garden?

 

Step 6. Hang the seats at the right height

Now for the best bit: on go the seats. Hang them from the swing hooks as shown in the manual, and pay close attention to the height. For the Silvi swings, there must always be more than 13.78 in between the seat and the ground. Check the correct measurement for your swing in the manual.

 

On the Silvi and the Ivy, the seats are height-adjustable. That way, you can set them to suit your child and adjust them later as they grow.

 

Step 7. Final check, then swing time

Before the first swinger climbs on, go over everything one last time:

• All bolts, nuts and screws are tight.
• The frame is straight and level.
• The concrete has fully set.
• The seats hang securely and at the right height.
• The area around the swing is clear.

 

After that, check the swing regularly. The user manual recommends inspecting it before every use, tightening any loose fixings and replacing worn parts. The start of the outdoor season is a good time for a thorough check. Children should always swing under adult supervision, as the manual also points out.

 

All good? Then it’s time for the first swing session. Who gets to go first?

 

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to assemble a swing set?

According to the product pages, two people need around two hours on average for the EXIT Silvi wooden swing set. For the EXIT Ivy swing set, it’s an hour and a half. On top of that, allow time for digging and for the concrete to set.

 

Can you put up a swing without concrete?

The EXIT swings in this blog come with ground anchors that you set in concrete. Stick to the method in the manual. The anchoring helps keep the swing firmly in place, even when the swinging gets enthusiastic.

 

Do you need to treat a wooden swing after assembly?

Follow the maintenance advice in your swing’s manual. If you leave the Silvi’s cypress wood untreated, sun and rain can change its colour. That’s just what wood does.

 

Can you move the swing later?

Yes, you can. The Silvi and Ivy swings can be fully dismantled. In the new spot, anchor the swing again following the manual.

 

Still looking for the right swing?

The Silvi has a cypress wood A-frame, and the Ivy has a metal frame with a gym bar on each side. Take a look at the wooden swings and Ivy play sets, or first read which playground equipment suits your garden and your child’s age.

 

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