4 Easy Ways to Restore Your Old Play Set
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Author: Austin Stanfel
A durable play set is key for any backyard. A stable play set will offer your child a safe place to experience healthy recreational activity. However, without appropriate maintenance, even the best play sets can deteriorate as they get old.
Play sets are usually made of wood, plastic, and metals. If adequately inspected, it can avoid getting damaged with time. Canopies can get damaged by constant sunlight, metal hinges and screws can get rusted, and wood can become dried out or even crack into tiny fragments.
How To Restore An Old Play Set?
A restored play set provides a safe environment for your child. It can also be aesthetically pleasing in your backyard, making it more than a source of innovative leisure.
The best way to avoid the deterioration of your play set is to inspect the play area regularly. Maintenance is the key over here when examining outdoor play sets.
Regular preservation is far easier than performing a complete restoration, but if the case is of total restoration, here are some key points to guide you:
1. Having the Right Tools
In every profession, you got to have the correct instruments to make your job easy. The tools do not have to be the most expensive, but they must be sufficient for the job. Play sets needing remodeling consist of rusted hinges, bolts, splintered wood, and paint blister.
For the restoration of play sets, you should have the following tools
- Hammer
- Lubricant spray/oil
- Drill machine
- Adjustable wrenches
- Safety goggles
- Pressure washer
- Replacements bolts and nuts
- Bench grinder
- Spray can
- Paint spray gun
Make sure to take snaps of the current play set before you dismantle them, as it will help you later if you forget how things go back together. Also, after dismantling all the hardware and accessories, place them in small labeled bags because it will also help when the time for reassembly comes.
2. Inspection of Hardware
After assembling the right tools, you need to go out and survey your play set area. Inspect the play set and decide what parts need restoration and what needs a whole replacement. Remember that your play set should be rock solid, so make sure it is safe and re-established when in need.
Some common problems in play sets are splintering of paint due to environmental factors, rotting wood, and rusty metal parts especially swing hooks. Make sure you take photo snaps of the worn parts to view them after restoration.
3. Using a Pressure Washer and Repainting
A pressure washer is the correct tool to clean wooden play sets. Mix some multi-purpose cleaners to help get rid of grime. Remember to wear safety goggles while performing pressure wash.
Work your way down to the bottom. It may take several coats of paint to achieve desired aesthetics. Note that each coat will take time to dry out. It is advisable to paint on a bright sunny day.
Another important thing is to use strain and sealant. These will prevent your play set from water damage and mold.
4. Reassembling
After restoration, it is time to start reassembling all the hardware. As stated earlier, labeled bags and packages will help you reorganize the hardware. Furthermore, before snaps also give you an idea of how the play set looked at first.