Cheaper to buy a set of spanners and steal one from a local park.

I think people need to stop looking at this as just a box of cheap of timber for £200. The timber presumably will be all cut to the correct size, planed, with pilot holes drilled, along with all the correct screws, bolts and fixings to secure it all together. The structure would have been tested to hold the weight of kids and pass whatever health and safety regulations we have on garden structure, along with the noddy instructions on putting it all together.

The £200 tag includes something they can't list; convenience and time :laughing:

If you're a moderately experienced DIY'er with all the experience, power tools and knowledge then sure, it's worth designing one and building yourself :stuck_out_tongue:

Have some heat!

Why buy anything that you could build yourself!

oh hang on....

do you have the time, the tools, the knowledge, the transport?

maybe not.

This is a nice set, some people don't want or have the space for something too big.

have some heat.

I bought one of these previously, and whilst my sons enjoy it, not great value for money overall. Taking into account the timber used, you could probably build something much bigger for a similar cost yourself buying from a wood yard.

the selwood deal posted for 249 recently is much better than this.

Excellent work!! Such good shades of colour and no one will suspect that the raised sand pit was not original work!

P.S. Lovely green garden!

It was from the B&Q 'colours' range for exterior woodwork. I cannot remember the exact shades I'm afraid.

I bought one 15 months ago and painted it straight away. I also cut some extra planks of wood and increased the height of the sandpit (it's too shallow). It's sturdy and well built, I have zero concerns with this.

My 2 year old son loves it and uses it daily.

First weekend:




Last week (14 months of use/weather):

things in Argos need to be at least 80% off to be a deal lol ,

Cold, it p*ssing down outside :wink:

This looks good and I like the idea of the en suite for the neighbours cat.

My sis had this, I can confirm that it is quite flimsy and the wood degrades quickly in our damp winters. I think it lasted around 4 years then it was too wonk to be safe.

I agree that its cheap but much as I adore a bargain, cheap climbing frames and kids might just take money skimping too far even for me.

Cheaper to buy a set of spanners and steal one from a local park.

Agreed. I mean, we could say on just about any deal thread 'I can build this myself for much less' but this is an easy solution for the majority who don't have the necessary skills.

PS Forgot to say, like all timber that is going to be left outside you really do need to treat it with some sort of preservative.

Looks good for the price, Argos reviews show 4.6 out of 5. Usually accurate. Thanks for stating kids grow out of it quickly.

We have this, and its not too bad, but we have a fireman's pole attached that's not shown, where there's the gap in the wood. However until our son was old enough, I placed wood across this. I also added extra bits of wood to the ladder, as there is NO way he could have climbed using the ladder as it was.
Now he's 4, he now doesn't fit in it, so will be basically used by his younger brother.
We brought a trampoline as well, and now can't get him off as he just wants to jump.

Also the colouring in the wood has changed during the weathering, and has a slight shade of green now.

I think people need to stop looking at this as just a box of cheap of timber for £200. The timber presumably will be all cut to the correct size, planed, with pilot holes drilled, along with all the correct screws, bolts and fixings to secure it all together. The structure would have been tested to hold the weight of kids and pass whatever health and safety regulations we have on garden structure, along with the noddy instructions on putting it all together.

The £200 tag includes something they can't list; convenience and time :laughing:

If you're a moderately experienced DIY'er with all the experience, power tools and knowledge then sure, it's worth designing one and building yourself :stuck_out_tongue:

Have some heat!

i have one coming today..could some one please help me on what id need to buy and from where if building one?thanks

Seems a lot of money for something so basics!! Get out in the garden and give it a go and try build one. Great satisfaction doing so too!!!

ps, that kid inside in the picture is almost certainly photo shopped to make them smaller and the thing appear larger. stick the kid on the slide inside for comparison and you wouldn't even see his head.

I have one too and have to agree that it isn't amazing value for 200 quid. fairly flimsy and very basic design structure to save money. even the supports are not mitred into corners to save money in production and consequently don't fit great.
My lad is 3 now and pretty much too tall to be inside at the same time as he is just old enough to have mastered the ladder to get inside. (if you can call it a ladder! it's 3 straight planks way too far apart, again to save manufacturing costs)
I wish I had of built instead. I appreciate some may not have skills or time but you still have to build it anyway so basic skills are needed.
I think it could easily be built for no more than 80 quid and better quality too.

Why buy anything that you could build yourself!

oh hang on....

do you have the time, the tools, the knowledge, the transport?

maybe not.

This is a nice set, some people don't want or have the space for something too big.

have some heat.

I bought one of these previously, and whilst my sons enjoy it, not great value for money overall. Taking into account the timber used, you could probably build something much bigger for a similar cost yourself buying from a wood yard.

I have one off these in I have to say for the same price I did build my eldest child who's 17 now one off the ones from b&q were u buy the kit n wood n build yourself . This was twice the size n had more activities . Although building this can be some what challenging if no building experience .
Although heat added as this is outdoor fun which is always good .