How to choose your woodplay playset
Two Playset Styles – PLAYHOUSE and OUTBACK
The Woodplay brand is based on two playset styles: the square base “Playhouse” and the “Outback” with a base of two “inclined ladders”. Choosing a Woodplay playset therefore usually begins with a choice of Playhouse or Outback.
PLAYHOUSE
SQUARE BASE = SANDBOX / PLAY AREA
Options beneath deck :
PICNIC TABLE
LEMONADE STAND
LOWER CABIN BONUS ROOM
NO 3-CHAIN TIRE SWING
OUTBACK
INCLINED LADDER BASE
ROCK-CLIMBING WALL
COMBO STEP-CHAIN LADDER
Options beneath deck :
3-CHAIN TIRE SWING
NO PICNIC TABLE
PRACTICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLAYHOUSE AND OUTBACK MODELS
What are the practical differences between the Playhouse and the Outback?
EXCLUSIVE PLAYHOUSE OPTIONS
The Playhouse offers three exclusive activity options that are not available on Outback models. These are: a natural Sandbox, a Picnic Table, Upper Cabin Panels, and the Lower Cabin Bonus Room.
THE PLAYHOUSE SANDBOX
The Playhouse has a square base ground-level bottom play area (5’ x 5’) that becomes a sandbox if you fill it with sand. The Outback does not offer a “natural” sandbox as part of the design. Instead, the Outback deck (the balcony) is set upon two inclined ladders – a Rock Climbing Wall and a Combo Step-Chain Ladder (one half stepladder, one half chain-ladder).
THE PLAYHOUSE PICNIC TABLE
The Playhouse offers a solid, sturdy four-piece Picnic Table option. The four picnic table pieces may be re-arranged on the playset as :
- a ground-level floor,
- a sandbox cover,
- a hiding place,
- a puppet theater,
- or a lemonade stand.
In addition to being an ideal get-together place for snacks and meals, this multi-purpose picnic table option facilitates a creative and social play environment. The multi-purpose picnic table option is not available in the Outback model.
PLAYHOUSE UPPER CABIN PANELS
With open-air windows on all sides, the Playhouse Upper Deck Cabin Panels are beautifully crafted to create the look and feel of a treehouse hide-out in the forest. With Cabin Panels the play area is transformed. The Upper Hide-out is a perfect place for small furniture and toy home appliances. For kids who enjoy the enclosed clubhouse experience, Upper Deck Cabin Panels add great value to the playground area.
PLAYHOUSE “BONUS ROOM” – LOWER CABIN PANELS
The Bonus Room Lower Cabin option includes a floor with the same grade and dimensions of lumber as the upper decks on all Woodplay models. Ceiling height in the Bonus Room is limited to the chosen Playhouse deck height of 5’ or 6’ (minus a few inches), but there is no weight restriction – everyone is welcome to enter. Just like the Upper Deck Cabin, the Lower Cabin Bonus Room is a perfect place for small furniture and toy appliances, and creates the same adventure of your own secret cabin in the woods but without the upper deck “treehouse” effect. With open air windows on three sides and a doorway entrance on the fourth side, the Lower Cabin Bonus Room actually has more enclosed panelling than the Upper Deck Cabin Panels (since the Upper Cabin has access-openings for the ladder, slide and climbing rock wall, whereas the Lower Cabin has only one access-opening – the doorway entrance to the cabin enclosure). For kids who enjoy the enclosed clubhouse experience, the Lower Cabin Bonus Room adds great recreational play value to the playground area.
EXCLUSIVE OUTBACK OPTIONS
The Outback offers two exclusive activity options that are not available on Playhouse models: the 3-Chain Swivel Tire Swing and the Combo Step-Chain Ladder.
OUTBACK 3-CHAIN SWIVEL SWINGS
The Bonus Room Lower Cabin option includes a floor with the same grade and dimensions of lumber as the upper decks on all Woodplay models. Ceiling height in the Bonus Room is limited to the chosen Playhouse deck height of 5’ or 6’ (minus a few inches), but there is no weight restriction – everyone is welcome to enter. Just like the Upper Deck Cabin, the Lower Cabin Bonus Room is a perfect place for small furniture and toy appliances, and creates the same adventure of your own secret cabin in the woods but without the upper deck “treehouse” effect. With open air windows on three sides and a doorway entrance on the fourth side, the Lower Cabin Bonus Room actually has more enclosed panelling than the Upper Deck Cabin Panels (since the Upper Cabin has access-openings for the ladder, slide and climbing rock wall, whereas the Lower Cabin has only one access-opening – the doorway entrance to the cabin enclosure). For kids who enjoy the enclosed clubhouse experience, the Lower Cabin Bonus Room adds great recreational play value to the playground area.
OUTBACK COMBO STEP-CHAIN LADDER
Just like the 3-Chain Swivel Tire Swing, the Combo Step-Chain Ladder also does what its name promises: it combines a step ladder (with big 2”x6” or 2”x8” steps) and a rubber-coated chain ladder; the rubber-coated chain ladder has a slight bounce. The stepladder with big thick 2”x6” or 2”x8” steps is the easiest way to get on deck, especially for adults. Most kids like the rubber-coated chain ladder for the secure, soft grip on the bars and its slight bounce. Younger, smaller kids will often follow the bigger kids onto the deck by way of the chain ladder because they like the soft rubber grip and because the bars are spaced in a way that makes it easier for them to climb onto the deck than to navigate the stepladder.
CONFIGURING YOUR PLAYSET & PLAYSET FOOTPRINT
The Playhouse and Outback have different footprints and different possible configurations. If your backyard space is limited, you should consider the playset footprint of your preferred model. On Outback models, the swingbeam and slide must be along the same line (i.e., 180 degrees), whereas on Playhouse models, the swingbeam and slide may be perpendicular (90 degrees). This difference between Playhouse and Outback models has no impact on the playset’s “play value”.
This is important. The Playhouse tower has a compact footprint of 5’ x 5’. The slide and ladder may be positioned on any side of the tower – front, back, left side or right side. Most families put the slide in the front. In terms of playset footprint in your backyard, placing the ladder beside the slide “saves space” because the ladder is not sticking out in back or from a side. With the slide and ladder in front, the swingbeam is usually placed on the left or right side (although it could be placed in the back). With the slide in front and the swingbeam on the left or right side of Playhouse tower, the swingbeam is therefore perpendicular to the slide (i.e., set at 90 degrees, or “L-shaped”). With Outback models, the swingbeam and the slide can ONLY be in a straight line (i.e., 180 degrees).
The practical difference is that your play area might be suitable for a Playhouse but not an Outback, or vice versa. Ask your MeubleA sales consultant to prepare and send you a diagram showing the footprint of your preferred playset.
This configurational difference between Playhouse and Outback models has no impact on the “play value” of the playset.
PLAYSET DECK HEIGHT
Playset deck height is very important – a key success factor – in choosing your playset because deck height determines:
- Swingbeam Height. Standard swingbeam height is determined by deck height.
- 5’ Deck Height – 8’ Swingbeam Height.
- 6’ Deck Height – 9’ Swingbeam Height.
- 7’ Deck Height – 10’ Swingbeam Height.
- Climbing Rock Wall length.
- Combo Step-Chain Ladder length (Outback only).
- Stepladder length (Playhouse only).
- Slides – Your selection of slides.
Both Playhouse and Outback models are available with deck heights at 5’ or 6’.
The Outback is also available with a 7-ft. deck height.