Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Wooden Playground Equipment

Playgrounds a source of fun and recreation for all kids. An ideal playground should contain proper equipment that would not only entertain children but also provide a place for parents to relax. Besides being fun, playground equipment also develops kids' physical strength, dexterity, agility and concentration. And the playground is a place for kids to make friends.

Wooden equipment is very common in most playgrounds. This is because of the strength, sturdiness, and durability of wood. These days, wooden playground equipment is being made from conditioned wood that is pre-treated to provide lasting durability and strength. Wood is also non-polluting easily bio-degradable. Wooden playground equipment last for 20-30 years and do not need much maintenance. Wood treated with copper azole lasts even longer as it deteriorates slowly. It is also more resistant to adverse weather conditions like sun, rain or snow. Wooden playground equipment also have a natural look to them. Since wood is a renewable resource, wooden equipment is also a great benefit to the environment as compared to plastic equipment. Wooden playground equipment should meet industry standards set by the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) as well as the AWPA.

Wooden playground equipment is generally made from pine lumber, solid California Redwood or recycled plastic lumber. However, the smaller and accessories may be made of steel, aluminum or plastic.

Wooden playground equipment should be checked for unsafe conditions such as objects protruding that might poke, or hanging ropes that can strangle or cause a child to trip or fall. For the most part, wood is easy to maintain and durable enough even for harsh outdoor weather conditions.

There are many providers of wooden playground equipment. Information about these companies can be accessed online. The Internet is also a good way to shop for wooden playground equipment since the range is greater than that in a conventional store. Besides, some websites also allow interactive designing of the products online. You can also know about the latest offers of prices, discounts and warranties and compare them with other companies' stock.