Have an old playset that is in need of some tender loving care? Well look no further, here is a step by step of how you can restore your playset to looking brand new! Ok maybe not brand new, but it will look pretty neat and clean. Best of all, after you’re done refurbishing it, you’ll have the peace of mind to know that it is safe for your kids to play on it.
How to refinish a playset?
- Take a look around the playset to determine what needs to be done.
- Remove any boards that are not safe and get new ones.
- Check all the joinery, replace any rusty ones and tighten any loose ones.
- Get all the supplies and tools that you will need to get the job done.
- You want to start by removing all the plastic and non-wood elements from the playset.
- Power wash everything.
- Sand over rough edges.
- Give it a good stain and sealant.
- Put it back together.
It’s pretty simple to do especially if you have everything you need beforehand. Here are the steps in detail.
Related: How to Stain a Playset
Step 1: Walk Through
Take Notes:
This is the time you really want to take a close look at the playset. You want take notes on exactly what it is that needs to be done. Take down measurements of any boards that need to be replaced, also note down if any fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws, brackets, etc.) are rusty and need replacing or tightening.
You can also take this time to take a look at the accessories and see if they need to be painted or replaced.
Research:
Once you have your notes, do your research. If the accessories need replacing, check to see if you can find them in stores or would you need to order them online.
Think about all the tools you’ll need; do you have the tools? If not, are you willing to buy them or would you rather rent them?
Tools:
The tools I suggest you get, to make your life easier, are a power washer, a sprayer and a sander, if you need one. A power washer will get all the nastiness out in a jiffy.
If your playset is a large multi-floor setup then getting a sprayer will help get the job done faster. Don’t get me wrong, if you don’t want to spend the extra cash to buy or rent a sprayer, you can still use a roller brush and a regular paint brush to get the job done, it’ll just take longer.
Is your playset pre-stained? If so, you might want to consider sanding it down for an even smoother finish. If so, then you might want to consider renting or buying a sanding machine.
Stain:
Do you know what color stain you want for your playset? Do you want an oil-based or water-based product? Do you want a stain and a sealant? Or Just a stain? There are also products these days that have a mixture of both in one.
Buying or Renting:
To put your mind at ease, most of the home improvement stores like Home Depot, Lowes, etc. have renting options for every cheap per day. So, you might want to start there.
Another good option is to look at your local neighborhood home improvement or handy man store. These places tend to have these machines and sometimes they can even offer service personnel that can come and take care of the project for you.
It’s all up to you, go the easy route and get someone else to get this done for you and you can then just relax or do it yourself and save some money. If you’re planning the later option, then read on.
Once you’re all set with your research and you’re ready to begin, the last important step before you begin is to check the weather. Try and find at least 3 to 4 consecutive sunny days. I know mother nature is unpredictable, but one can always hope!
Step 2: Take Apart the Playset
Now you’re ready to being doing the real work to get your playset transformed.
You want to start by removing all the boards that are rotten and cracked. Do not replace them with the new ones just yet. You’ll do this at the end, right before you get ready to stain the playset.
It’s important that you remove the old rotten boards because with them on the playset your structure is unstable and unsafe and you don’t want your kids playing on something that is not safe for them.
Step 3: Take Apart the Accessories
Take the time to remove the plastic and other non-wood components of the playset.
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of taking off everything and replacing it back, then you can just use plastic and painter’s tape to cover all the plastic components.
I highly suggest that you do this extra step for three reasons:
- By removing the accessories, you can clean them and wash them all individually. This way you can also make sure that there is nothing icky lurking inside or behind the accessories.
- You can make sure that the hardware holding it together is still strong and not rusty and loose. If they are, then you can replace them and make the accessories safer.
- You can refresh the look of the accessories with a quick coat of spray paint and sealer to give them a new look.
Doing this extra step with make sure everything looks cohesive. You don’t want the playset to look fresh and the accessories look old and dingy. It’ll take away from the overall result you’re trying to achieve.
Step 4: Gather Your Supplies
By gathering all the supplies, I simply mean, just keep everything you need handy. From all the replacement boards, fasteners and accessories to all the tools and chemicals you will need to get this done.
You also want to take this time to get friendly with your power washer. This is imperative because using the wrong setting can cause damage to the wood of your playset. So, consult the manual if you’re not sure.
Alternatively, if you’ve rented your power washer, you can speak with a representative from the store who has experience and ask them what the correct settings are for what you’re trying to do.
Same thing applies to your sprayer. Make sure you know how to use it so you don’t end up messing up when you start spraying. Most non-commercial sprayers are pretty user friendly.
Step 5: Check Joinery and Fasteners
This step should not be missed. This is crucial in order for you to be able to move around the playset freely. If it’s not structurally sound, then it might be unsafe for you first before your kids can even get on it.
You’ll be climbing on the structure to wash it, stain it, remove and replace the accessories and boards. So, you want to make sure that the structure will hold your weight and not break.
This is the time you check for rusty fasteners and remove them and replace them with new ones. Also check every joinery to make sure it is tight. If not, then tighten it.
It’s similarly a good time to check the fasteners that hold the swings and monkey bars (if you have them) and maybe give them a good coat of some silver spray paint so they look brand new. If they need replacing, then replace them as well.
Step 6: Power Wash
Power washing is important because it is the easiest way to clean up all the dust, mold and mildew buildup, any bird poop, cobwebs, any insect homes, etc. No scrubbing or using any harsh chemicals to get the stuff off.
Cleaning Solution
All you need is a simple bleach and water solution to take care of this for you. It will wash off years of grim right in front of your eyes. It’s kind of satisfying to see.
Power Washer Settings
Like I mentioned above, you have to make sure that you use the correct settings on your power washer. If you don’t use the correct settings, you will most likely cause more damage to the wood and that’s something you want to avoid.
Drying Time
Once you’ve washed off everything, give it a good 24 hours of sunny weather to dry off. If it rains after you’ve done this, then wait to continue with the next step until the playset is completely dry. Otherwise you will not get good results.
Step 7: Sanding
Once you have finished power washing your playset, let it dry completely. Then, give it a once over and follow these steps, below:
Check for Damage
Since all the grime will be off the playset, this is a great opportunity to look around the whole playset again and see if there are any other damages (cracks, holes, splinters, etc.) that went unnoticed before.
Also, check to see if any damage was done during the power washing. See if the damage can be fixed with a simple sanding or using wood putty. If it’s extensive, you may need to replace the boards.
Fill in Damage with Wood Putty
If you find any holes, cracks and crevices; you want to first, check to see if they are made by insects. If so, then make sure there aren’t any more hiding in the playset.
Sometimes, these spaces are an indication of rot in the wood. So, check to see if the wood is rotten, replace it if it is, otherwise, seal the holes with wood putty.
Once all the wood putty is dry, you can go ahead and sand over it to make it smooth. The thing I like about using wood putty is that you can stain over it because once it dries, it resembles wood.
Remove Old Stain
If your playset has been stained before, then you may want to sand the entire playset. This will remove the old stain and prepare the wood to take the new stain beautifully.
If your wooden playset wasn’t pre-stained, you don’t have to sand the whole playset. But doing so, will give
a smoother, cleaner finish to your playset,
Which Sandpaper to Use
Whether you have to sand the whole playset, (if you choose to do so) or just a few places here and there, deciding what kind of sandpaper to use can be a bit daunting. The thing you want to remember is that for most projects, medium grit sandpaper works well.
The grit of the sandpaper indicates the number of sand particles on the paper. The lower the number, the coarse the sandpaper, the higher the number the finer the paper. Finer sandpaper is used when you want a really smooth finish before you stain. Whereas medium sandpaper is used to remove a previous stain and to smooth out any dents, scratches, splinters, etc. in the wood.
Using a Rotary Sander
If you’re sanding the whole playset, then you may want to consider using a rotary sander. There are some lightweight options that you can buy or rent. This will make the sanding go really fast. Alternatively, you can use the sandpaper and just sand using your hand or even attach it to a wooden block. It’s all about your preference and convenience.
Interesting fact about why we sand is so that the pores in the wood open up and it can absorb the stain better and in turn makes the final look more even.
Step 8: Stain
This is the last and final step in this whole process.
Before we get into the how to, let’s talk about the variety of stains that are available for purchase. The kind of stain you use depends on your preference. I have explained all the difference below so you can make an informed choice.
Types of Stain
There are several different types of stains. These include the different colors and chemical composition; meaning if they are oil-based or water-based, if you are just using a stain or if you want to use a sealant or you want to use a kind that has both a stain and a sealant.
· Oil-based
The differences between the two is that oil-based stain is a bit thicker when it’s applied and this helps it last a little bit longer. It also produces strong fumes because of the minerals and oils that are used to make the stain.
So, if you use oil-based stain then you want to make sure that you work in a well-ventilated area and give it a couple of days to dry off. This way the fumes to evaporate before you let your kids play on it.
· Water-based
On the other hand, water-based stain has a thinner consistency. Hence, if you want to achieve the same look as an oil-based stain then you can apply two coats of stain.
This type of stain does not have any harmful fumes but you still want to work in a well-ventilated area just to be safe.
When using either of the products, just make sure that you give it a good stir as soon as you open the can of stain. This will help all the ingredients that have settled at the bottom to get mixed in with the stain.
Another good tip is to get a painter’s tray or if you are working with a spray painter than you can pour some into the spray painter’s container and work from there this way you don’t contaminate the remaining stain in case you don’t use the whole thing.
Color
When deciding the color, you want for your playset, you have options that range from clear all the way to dark.
The choice of color is really your preference. If you don’t find a particular shade then you can mix two different shades to produce the color you want. Just make sure that you keep the recipe of the mix, this way you can replicate it if need be.
One thing you will notice is that water-based stains come in more colors than oil-based stains.
Sealant vs. Stain
The last thing that we want to speak about is the sealant versus stain versus a mixture of sealant and stain. Again, this is a personal preference. I would highly suggest that you get a product that has both a stain and a sealant in one. This will cut your painting time in half since you won’t be doing the spraying twice.
A stain gives the wood color and a bit of protection from mother nature. While a sealant really protects the wood from all the water in the form of rain and snow that mother nature throws its way. Hence, it’s really important to get both.
If you plan on buying both separately, then make sure you stain the wood first before you seal it. If you do it the other way around, the playset will not take the stain.
Let’s start staining!
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, you are ready to start spraying your playset. Before you start, go ahead and attach all the replacement boards. This way you can stain everything together.
Start at the very top, from the roof, and work your way down. If you’re using a foam roller brush, make sure you also have a good quality paint brush with you. This way you can smooth out any drips before they pool at the bottom. If you let it go, then it’ll be hard to clean it up at the end. And you won’t get a smooth finish.
Make sure you’re spraying an even coat across the playset. This will be especially visible if you’re using a colored stain. If you’re using a clear stain then you have more leeway of not being precise.
Step 9: Put it all together
This is the final step. All you have to do to finish up your project is put back all the accessories once everything has had enough time to dry.
Then you can let you kids have at their new looking playset.
But before we end, let’s rewind a bit. We haven’t talked about the accessories at all. So, I want to take this opportunity to talk about that.
With the accessories, those that are in good shape, just give them a good cleaning and a good coat or two of spray paint in their original color, or you can change the color up to suit your fancy. Let them dry before attaching them back. For those that have been broken, just get replacements and attach them. This should help everything look cohesive. And voila! We’re done.