How To Cement In A Swing Set

Download Article

When installing whatsoever swing set, you lot should anchor the equipment into the footing to prevent it from flipping over while in use. Concrete anchors are the most secure. Conversely, if you're anchoring a swing set to hard ground, you can also use a 1-slice or ii-piece twist-in anchor. Fortunately, whichever method you use, anchoring a swing set is a relatively straightforward process.

1
Position the swing ready and mark the location of each leg with a shovel. Place the swing set where you intend to permanently install it. Make a small mark in the ground where each leg is with the blade of a shovel. Make this mark on the very border of each leg and then that information technology is as accurately located as possible.^[one]
- Be sure you're confident with the location for your swing set. One time you pour in your physical anchoring, it will exist very difficult to motion the set.
- Nearly any blazon of soft ground (such equally dirt or sand) will piece of work for this method, and y'all tin can use this method with wooden and metal swing sets.
two
Dig holes at each point where you marked the basis with your shovel. Move the swing set out of the way so yous tin have direct access to each anchor point. Dig each hole to be roughly 12 inches (30 cm) deep and eight inches (20 cm) in diameter.^[ii]
- For maximum safe, always apply 4 anchors to secure all 4 legs of the swing set up.
Advertisement
three
Drill holes into the sides of each leg of the swing ready. Use a ³⁄₈ inch (9.5 mm) drill bit to drill a pigsty on either side of each leg, oriented horizontally. Drill each hole at least ane inch (ii.5 cm) above the bottom of the leg.^[3]
- This is technically optional if your swing ready has wooden legs, since you lot may exist able to screw in the anchors without pre-drilling a hole. Still, it'south a much easier process if the legs already accept holes in them, especially if they're made of metallic.
4
Place the plate of a concrete anchor at the bottom side of each leg. Use the materials that came with your anchoring kit for best results.^[4] Screw two large bolts or screws through each anchoring plate to attach it to its respective leg. Slide the bolts into the screw holes of the plate, and so use a drill to twist each i into the leg material.^[5]
- Y'all tin purchase an anchoring kit at virtually home improvement stores and whatsoever store that sells supplies for swing sets.
- Typically, you'll need to use ii large bolts or screws to adhere each anchoring plate to the corresponding leg.
five
Mix a batch of concrete and pour some into each hole. ^[6] Look to mix your physical until merely before yous're gear up to pour it into the basis. Fill each pigsty nearly total with concrete, so that there is 1 inch (2.5 cm) between the concrete and the peak of the hole.^[7]
- When mixing the concrete, follow the manufacturer'southward instructions regarding the correct ratio of concrete mix to h2o. The ideal texture of the finished concrete should exist consistent and very thick.
- Continue to the side by side pace while the poured physical remains moisture.
6
Identify each ballast in the anchoring hole. Carefully position the swing set over each filled anchoring pigsty and printing the lesser of each anchor plate into the concrete.^[8] Insert the bottom of the ballast plate deep enough into the hole so that the unabridged lesser half of the anchor rests below the concrete.^[ix]
- Be sure that this bottom portion does not stick out of the footing; it could present a safety hazard if information technology does.
- For best results, have 1 person hold each leg of the swing set as y'all lower them into the holes to keep the swing at an even level.
7
Let the physical dry, then cover the area below the swing. Permit 24 hours for the concrete to fully harden. And then, pack the previously removed soil effectually the base of each leg and cover the ground area below the swing with soft material.^[x]
- Notation that the total amount of fourth dimension may vary depending on the concrete formula and current weather weather. Tap on the concrete to test its hardness before use.
- If you're using wood mulch or shredded bawl mulch, cover the basis below the fix with at to the lowest degree nine inches (23 cm) of material. If you're using uniform wood chips, fine sand, or fine gravel, cover the ground with at least 12 inches (thirty cm).
- For maximum prophylactic, check the swing set once more later on covering the area beneath it. Firmly push on each leg of the set. If you lot anchored the set properly, the pressure should not be enough to cause whatever leg movement.
Alert: Adequate ground roofing is important, particularly effectually the base of each anchored leg, since it could cushion the affect if a child accidentally falls into the area while playing.

Advert

1
Position the fix, then hammer stakes into the basis under each leg. Choose the best location for your swing ready and temporarily position the set in identify. And so, use a hammer to insert a wooden stake into the basis where each leg is positioned. Y'all'll need to hammer each stake in 1 of two means, depending on if you're using a 1-piece anchor or a 2-piece anchor:^[11]
- If you're using a i-piece anchor, simply hammer each stake straight in front end of each leg.
- If you lot're using a 2-piece anchor, insert the wooden stakes into the ground exactly where each leg of the swing fix will be. This volition require you to have someone movement the leg out of the fashion while y'all're hammering.
2
Remove the stakes and twist each anchor into the holes in the basis. Carefully shift the legs of the gear up to the sides of each marked hole. Then, twist each ground anchor while applying downward pressure to insert information technology into the soil at each marked position. Exist certain to keep the anchor vertical as you twist it into the ground.^[12]
- Brand sure that you lot insert the anchors into solid ground. Packed soils are ameliorate than loose soil or sand, while soils containing clay or covered in dumbo grass are even meliorate.
- If you are unable to twist the anchor with your hands, slide a metal bar through the eye of the anchor and use it as a lever to assistance rotate the anchor down.
Tip: If you're using 1-piece anchors, you can technically secure the swing set with simply 2 anchors located at diagonal corners. However, if you lot're using 2-piece anchors, yous must use 4, placing 1 at each corner.
3
Attach each leg of the swing set to its corresponding anchor. ^[13] If you used 1-piece anchors, slide a screw or bolt into the eye of each anchor, then drill the screw direct into the side of the leg near the bottom. If you used ii-piece anchors, place 1 4-by-4 leg attachment at the bottom of each leg. So, drill this attachment to the leg using ii ³⁄₈ inch (nine.five mm) bolts, drilling each commodities into the side of the leg.^[14]
- The screws or bolts you'll need should come with the anchoring kit.
- You may need to drill the holes with an appropriately sized drill bit earlier fitting the bolts into the legs, especially when working with metallic sets.
- Position the swing set back in place so that the legs sit straight side by side to each ballast. Use a drill to carefully insert each spiral through the middle of the anchor and into the bottom side of each leg.
- Exist sure to cover any exposed screws with appropriately sized bolt caps.
4
Fit the upper ballast over the ground anchor, if applicable. Line up each leg with each ground anchor, and then push the leg attachments onto the revealed ground anchors. Finally, slide a bolt into the corresponding sets of holes on each anchor to secure them to each other. This is only necessary to do if you're using two-piece anchors.^[15]
- Match upwards the screw holes, when applicable. Drill another bolt through each overlapping pair of holes to secure each leg attachment to its respective ground ballast.
5
Lay ground covering over the area. Encompass the base of each leg with soil or mulch. For added safe, cover the ground beneath the fix with boosted mulch. Later covering the basis, check the swing set past pushing on each leg. If the ready does not budge when you utilise pressure level, you've anchored information technology successfully.^[16]
- Apply roughly 9 inches (23 cm) of wood mulch or 12 inches (xxx cm) of fine sand or fine gravel as your footing roofing.
Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

What is the best way to anchor a swing set?

Ryaan Tuttle is a Dwelling house Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman Boston. With over xv years of experience, Ryaan specializes in home improvement and holding maintenance by leveraging technology and craftsmanship. Ryaan holds his Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses. Unlike well-nigh handyman contractors, Best Handyman Boston is licensed and insured. Boston Mag and LocalBest.com take named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston.

Habitation Improvement Specialist

Practiced Respond

You tin't become wrong with concrete footings and metal fasteners or eye hooks! You can easily attach and ballast your swing gear up to that.
Question

Can I apply a metal swing?

Mayhap, simply that sounds uncomfortable. You will probably be better off using something more flexible.
Question

I got a disabled kid and would like a swing for him. We don't have grass in the garden, only bricks. Is in that location a safety mode to make a swing at that place?

Yous could get some interlocking EVA foam tiles.They are relatively cheap and fit together like puzzle pieces.
Question

Practise y'all make anchors for round legs

Samuel C. King

Community Answer

Yep, in fact about standard anchors work equally well on both round and square legs. The virtually normally used ballast is the one½" ten 27" standard Hellanker anchor.
Question

Where can I buy these ballast kits from?

Samuel C. King

Community Answer

Generally, you can purchase them at whatever domicile improvement or hardware store. You lot should as well look to notice them at any shop that sells swing sets.
Question

How do I anchor a swing set that's in rocks?

Samuel C. King

Community Answer

In general, you'll have a lot of difficulty safely anchoring a swing set in rocks. Your best bet is to move the swing set so that information technology's positioned over soil instead. You tin then employ concrete or ground anchoring to anchor the swing ready at that place.
Question

How should I anchor a swing on artificial grass?

Samuel C. King

Customs Answer

This depends on what type of soil is underneath the artificial grass (since this is what the anchors will ultimately be inserted into). As long every bit there's soil or sand underneath the grass, anchor the swing prepare the same way you would over natural grass.
Question

What's the best style to remove metal that'southward anchored in concrete?

Samuel C. Male monarch

Community Answer

This is exceedingly hard to practise without dissentious the physical around the anchor. If you've poured in a small-scale amount of physical to ballast a swing set, your best bet may exist to remove the unabridged concrete slab from the basis, and so employ a hammer to chip away the concrete surrounding the ballast.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your electronic mail accost to become a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertising

Things You'll Demand

Shovel
Power drill
³⁄₈ inch (0.95 cm) drill bit
Anchoring kit
Standard concrete
Ground covering

Hammer
Wooden stakes
1-slice or 2-slice anchors
Power drill
³⁄₈ inch (0.95 cm) drill bit
Ground covering

Well-nigh This Article

Article Summary X

If yous want to anchor a swing gear up and so it won't flip over, start past digging holes at each of the anchor points where the swing'south legs touch the ground. Once the holes are about 22 inches deep and 16 inches in diameter, fix your ballast to the bottom of each leg and pour physical into each hole. And then, advisedly position the swing set over each filled anchoring hole and press the bottom of each anchor plate into the moisture physical. After nearly 24 hours, the concrete will be fully hardened and dry, so you tin starting time to cover the expanse with a soft layer of the previously removed soil, a trivial forest mulch, or fifty-fifty fine sand. For more than advice, like how to anchor a swing set using a one-piece or 2-piece solid ground anchor, coil downwards!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 218,217 times.

Did this article aid you?