Buying a playset is a daunting task just based on the price and the number of different playsets on the market. It can be tedious and overwhelming to research which playset is of great quality and best suited for your family’s needs. Below, I have summarized what Gorilla playsets have to offer.
Are Gorilla Playsets good quality? Yes, Gorilla Playsets are good quality playsets that come in a variety of models that can be customized to suit your family’s needs. Their playsets are made with Cedarwood which is naturally resistant to rot and decay as well as a natural insect repellant. Additionally, 4×6 swing beams and 4×4 support beams are standard for all their playsets.
Not only are Gorilla playsets made with the safety of your kids in mind, but they’re also made with the intention of providing your kids as much entertainment and fun play as you can afford. They have many features available so that you can customize the playset based on your child’s or your preference.
Related: How Long Do Swing Sets Last?
Why are Gorilla Playsets Good Quality?
Gorilla playsets are good quality because not only do they put the safety of the kids first, they also make durable long-lasting products that will last you for years to come. Here are some of the reason why you should choose Gorilla playsets:
1. Quality of Wood Used
Their playsets are made with Cedar, which is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect damage. Cedarwood is known to last long because of these qualities making it the lumber of choice for outdoor projects.
2. Swing Beams Made with 4x4s
Their swing beams are made with 4×6 wood. This means that it can hold up quite a bit of weight safely with cracking or breaking. Rest assured your kids can swing on the swings for a long time.
3. Beams are reinforced
The support beams and the frame of the playsets are made with 4x4s. These dimensions allow for a strong playset that can hold up to the test of time. Additionally, it can support quite a bit of weight.
As per their website, up to 800lbs.
4. Commercial Grade Hardware
They also advertise the use of commercial-grade hardware. This means that the “nuts and bolts” that hold together the playset are made to last long because they are similar to the ones used in places that have high people traffic, like a school or office building, etc.
5. Swing Chain is Coated
Lastly – and this is one of my favorite features because, ouch, I’ve had a few strands of hair ripped off by swing chains back in my day – they coat their swing chain with a plastic covering which helps prevent hair from getting stuck in it as well as prevents your fingers and palm from getting pinched by the chain.
It helps avoid any clothing from getting stuck between links or open loops and getting any unnecessary scratches.
Gorilla Playset Customization
Currently, Gorilla has 33 playsets on their website from which to choose. Some of these can be customized, while others are sold as is. The features you can customize are the roof, slides, monkey bars and framing style.
- Roof: They have multiple options for you to choose from, if you don’t want to go with the standard roof style that comes with the playset. Keep in mind that each option comes with its own price tag. Some of these options are:
- Canopy roof: This is a tarp or cloth-like material that is used to make the roof. There are a few different types and colors of canopy roof you can choose from depending on the playset.
- Standard Roof: If you want a sturdier roof option then you can go with their standard roof option. This is a basic option and a lot of their playsets come with this option.
- Standard roof with treehouse: This is your standard roof with working shutters. These shutters act as windows in the top part of the playset and kids love that feeling of opening the window to talk to someone on the ground, or even when playing make believe, they can use this shutter option to their advantage.
- Standard roof with fort: Same as above but changes the look of the top floor. Instead of it having a balcony look, where the boards are a few inches apart from each other, here it becomes a wall and enclosed hence the name fort. Let’s face it even I can come up with so many games with that kind of a playset.
- Malibu roof: This roof is just a fancy roof with all the bells and whistles to make it look pretty and expensive.
- Slides: The slide comes in two colors, either yellow or green. You can pick your preference once you’re ready to order. Whether your playset comes with a wave slide or a tube slide, green and yellow are your only color options for the most part.
Recently, they have introduced one or two playsets with a navy-blue tunnel slide. However, you can’t choose that color with any other playset.
Also, you cannot choose which kind of slide you want. That would have been a nice option to have. You can, however, buy the slide that you would like separately and install it once it arrives.
- Frame: The framing options available to you are either the Natural Cedar which is basically the material the swing set is made from, or Timber Shield protection. This is a green, almost plastic, covering that they wrap around the main structural frame to give it extra protection against nature.
- Monkey Bars: Last option I saw, which was very rare and for very limited playsets, was the monkey bar option. You either want monkey bars with your playset or you don’t.
Play Features
Gorilla offers quite a few playing features. Some of these come with the playset and some you can buy individually.
These items include, but are not limited to, flags, telescopes, binoculars, steering wheel, ship’s wheel, basket ball hoop, and different kinds of swing seats to include bucket and infant swing.
Some of the Additional Features Offered
Other things that make this an attractive investment are below. Some of these come standard and others come for a small fee (I mean, you’re purchasing something for a minimum of $1,000 so what’s a few additional dollars for your peace of mind).
1. Installation
All their playsets come ready-to-assemble which means that they are pre-drilled and all their wood pieces are sanded. This eliminates additional work for you. They do it this way so that anyone can install it. You don’t need any special tools or equipment to assemble the playsets.
However – if you don’t have a handy bone in your body – fear not, they offer an installation service for a small fee. Once your item is delivered, you can call an agent in your area to schedule an appointment for installation.
2. Finishing
Their Cedarwood comes pre-stained in either Amber or Redwood finish. Depending on which model you buy, you might be able to pick which finish you want. This option is not valid on all models.
Gorilla also provides Timber Shield, which is a green polyethylene coating that they apply to the swing beam and the 4×4 support beams. This coating reinforces the protection of the main structure against rot and decay.
3. Warranty
Finally, they give you 30 days to report any missing or damaged hardware or lumber. They also provide a 10-year warranty on all their wood and 1-year warranty on everything else. Of course, the warranty is limited and applies under certain conditions so make sure you read the fine print.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. I can only advise you to look into the Gorilla playsets as they have the options available for you to choose from that can enhance your child’s play.
They give you the freedom to customize the playset, even though it’s at an additional cost. Sometimes that little amount is worth it in order to get something that’s aesthetically pleasing and will provide a great many hours of fun play for your child/ren. Lastly, their safety options are priceless. The amount of thought that they have put into this is amazing. They really have thought of how to keep your child safe and at the same time give you peace of mind when they’re playing.