Backyard Discovery Skyfort Ii Stores

Backyard Discovery Skyfort Ii Swing Set

• Raised clubhouse with wood roof, windows, covered entry way, and bay windows
• Front porch with sun balcony
• Crow’s nest with telescope
• Lower deck with snack stand and picnic table
• Two belt swings and a trapeze
• Rock climbing wall and flat step entry ladder
• 10ft. Speedy slide and Monkey Bars
• Easy Assembly Supported by the step-by-step interactive BILT® app
• Stain saturation may vary
• 5-Yr Limited Warranty
• Engineered to meet or exceed ASTM standards . This product is intended for RESIDENTIAL USE ONLY.

Age Range: Your Kids Will Grow With This Set

The manufacturers recommended age for the Backyard Discovery Skyfort II is from 3 to 10 years. Our tester noticed that it was definitely better suited for her 5-year-old than her toddler, especially since there isnt a baby swingwhich she thought would make a nice addition. That being said, there are many aspects of the set that arent restrictive of age, such as the shaded sandbox or the picnic table. On the other hand, the monkey bars offer a challenge ideal for older kids.

The monkey bars are particularly high, making it hard for our 5-year-old to navigate, explained our tester. The drop down is probably around 10 feet, way higher than the standard monkey bars at playgrounds. But with imagination in mind, the clubhouse and swing set can provide endless fun for children for years.

Take a look at other product reviews and shop for the best toddler learning toys you can buy.

The older kids love the clubhouse and monkey bars, while the younger ones love climbing the small rock wall and using the swings and sandbox.

Ladder May Not Be Good For Young Children

Unlike a swing set with stairs, the ladder on this swing set may be hard for young children to climb up. A swing set with stairs makes climbing up and down easier on little children. Besides it being difficult to climb, the large gap in between each step may lead to injuries. One customer explains why the ladder may not be safe, After we finished I watched my 2 year old climb up to the crows nest and then climb back down the hand rail ladders. Immediately images of his foot slipping through the gap and him falling, dangling by his led upside down came to mind. It seemed like a MAJOR safety concern to me. So I ripped a couple of boards down and mitered the angles so the boards would fit on the inside of the steps and prevent my sons feet from slipping through. Screwed it in with the left over lag screws and I went back to watching my son love his new fort.

Pros

• plus Great design with lots of places for kids to play on this

• close Ladder can be dangerous for young kids
• close Takes a lot of time to put together
• close Needs stained

You May Like: Best Fire Pits On Amazon

Design: Innovative And Fun

The material is all top-notch and high quality, reported our tester, who was a fan of the construction from both a safety and visual standpoint. Not only is it fun for the kids but its a gorgeous structure we dont mind seeing out our windows. The green trim on the playset is a really nice touch and elevates it from the standard swing set, she explained. Our tester did wish for additional color options, like a lighter brown or grey.

Another important aspect of a playset is how it will stand up over time, and our tester thought highly of this ones construction. The materials feel incredibly durable, she said. Made from 100 percent cedar, the playset is designed to be rot-resistant as well as highly resistant to natural decay. All of its plastic components are also UV-resistant. Backyard Discovery ensures its products meet or exceed the toughest ASTM playground safety standards. We love that the set feels safe and sturdy, our tester noted. Nothing sways when the kids are on the swings or climbing into the clubhouse.

Beneath the upper clubhouse sits a picnic table for four. Specifically, our tester was impressed with the sandbox: The sandbox underneath the structure is a really neat addition to the playset. It is nice that it isnt too big and is also shaded, she said.

Not only is it fun for the kids, but its a gorgeous structure we dont mind seeing out our windows.

Read Also: Wood Bathroom Vanity 48 Inch

Competition: More Fun For Your Buck

Backyard Discovery is a big-time name when it comes to playsets. Check out our list of the best swing sets, and youll see the brand has several popular options in a variety of sizes and price ranges. Compared to the Backyard Discovery Prestige Wooden Swing Set, the Discovery Skyfort is quite a bit more expensive, but on close examination, the extras seem worth it. The more budget-friendly option has the same quality build and durability, but its main feature seems to be the swingswhich limits the entertainment value considerably.

A model by another brand, the Lifetime Adventure Playset, has similar features as the Skyfort II, but its missing the monkey bars, sandbox, and fort-like clubhouse. More compact options like the Big Backyard Magnolia Wooden Play Set are great if space is at a premium, but because of the lack of climbing wall and monkey bars, as well as the elementary design, kids will most likely outgrow this set more quickly than the Skyfort II.

Still cant decide on what you want? Our round-up of the best outdoor toys for kids can help you find what youre looking for.

If youre looking to purchase a long-lasting piece of playground equipment for your yard, the Backyard Discovery Skyfort II pretty much has it all. Yes, its an expensive item that requires a good deal of space and time to install, but its quality design, usability for a variety of ages, and entertainment value are well worth it.

Recommended Reading: How To Level Ground For Patio Pavers

Backyarddiscovery Kids Skyfort Swing Set Woo

The Skyfort swing set by BackyardDiscovery will elevate your childrens imagi…The Skyfort swing set by Backyard Discovery will elevate your childrens imaginations while providing countless hours of fun on its many outdoor play options. With over 12 different features, this cedar two-toned wooden playset is packed with…more

Can These Swingsets Compete With More Expensive Brands

If you buy a play set as big as the Skyfort from a brand like Rainbow play systems or backyard adventure youd be looking at paying twice or three times the price at least. The main difference between the Skyfort and more expensive brands is that usually the more expensive brands offer better wood treatment on their cedar wood, a longer lasting build quality, more permanent concrete supports, professional installation and after care maintenance packages.

One other difference between backyard discovery and other brands is that you have to assemble this swing set yourself. This might seem straightforward enough but this is a big kit with a lot of wood and screws. To make this task easier Backyard discovery give you a 3D mapping app that is a really innovative and easy way to put this structure together.

Recommended Reading: Outdoor Fire Pit Covers Round

Backyard Discovery Playsets Are They As Amazing As They Look

There are a lot of different play set models that backyard discovery sell, including the Skyfort, beach front and Woodridge II. Youll be amazed at how big and beautiful the cedar wood designs are. Beautiful in the sense that its really great if you can find a wooden play set that blends in with your garden or surrounding trees, none of us want an eyesore in the yard.

The size of the larger models can be a little bit off putting too if you dont have much space and we need to talk about how long these playsets might last. We would say, think of the larger playgrounds as a long term investment. If your kids are still young, youll potentially get many years of value out of this play equipment. If you are looking for a smaller or less serious commitment to play, then the playhouses below are a good choice or you can try some backyard monkey bars.

Expect To Do A Lot Of Your Own Organizing Before Putting This Together

This is a very large project. Plan to do a lot of organizing before you even attempt to put it together. Here is some good advice from a customer who successfully put it together, Very first step? Print the PDF version of the manual, page by page. I just printed the actual steps pages, and not all the rest. So, use your print pages option to save yourself a few trees. Next, I purchased fold top, cheap sandwich bags and had a couple sharpies handy. Then we opened the boxes, and pulled the packing slips out . There is no rhyme or reason for how this all is packed, other than it fits perfectly, into 3 boxes, like a puzzle.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Gnats In Backyard

Entertainment Value: Hours Upon Hours Of Fun

The many different areas of the playset are what make it such a valuable investment. In fact, our tester reported that her children enjoyed playing on it multiple times a daythe clubhouse was the biggest hit. Our 5-year-old loves the little balcony with the play telescope! the tester raved.

Another important element is the fact that it can entertain multiple kids and a variety of ages simultaneously. The older kids love the clubhouse and monkey bars, while the younger ones love climbing the small rock wall and using the swings and sandbox, our reviewer revealed. The slide is crafted to be speedy, and the monkey bars are challenging to help your child build strength.

Beachfront Cedar Wood Swingset

The beachfront swingset is a little bit more compact than the Skyfort and the design is a lot more open, with woden slats and open window sections at the top of the lookout tower. The sky fort is more of a hideaway and this is designed more for use in a location where you want to be able to look out and enjoy the view and warm weather, just like you would at the beach. Not only is the design very open but there is also a colourful fabric roof, just like you find on windbreakers or beach huts.

What I like most about the beachfront swingset is the beautiful layout, with blue and yellow coloured features throughout the design, making it look smart and contrasting the cedar wood colour nicely. What makes this swingset great for imaginative play is the snack window downstairs where children can pretend to serve food in the beachside cafe.

While two or three children play at the cafe, there is room for 3 children to swing together on the three swing attachments. One child can climb the climbing wall while another slides down the slide. The top deck is quite wide, leaving room for a few children to be on the lookout tower, or swinging across the monkey bars. So many children can play together that even if all your children have their friends round or you are hosting a small party, everyone can having fun at the same time.

Lets take a look at the assembly process for these 2 swingset models.

Recommended Reading: How To Clean Bird Poop Off Brick Patio

Backyard Discovery Skyfort Ii Play Centre

Item #105559

Description

Does The Wood Come Pre

No. It comes with a red tinted, water-resistant wood stain, but it does NOT come pre-treated .

As with all wooden structures, the sooner you add a layer of waterproofing sealant to the wood, the longer it will look new and the longer the wood will retain its luster.

Some owners recommended sealing all the wood prior to assembly as the easiest method that first year, but several gave a loud heads up to use a clear sealer so as not to cover up the identifying stamps on the pieces !

Don’t Miss: What Is A Pergola Canopy

Is This Swing Set Durable What Do Owners Say

Many owners arent all that happy about the durability of this swing set. The main factor seems to be the wood Chinese Cedar wood isnt as high quality as Western Red Cedar. It is both weaker and more susceptible to rot and wear and tear.

Here are a few comments from owners:

• Unless you do ALL of the annual upkeep AND initially waterproof it, it can look and feel pretty run down, pretty quickly.
• The wood is soft and cheap, and splits easily if you accidentally screw the pieces in too tightly.
• The slide is lightweight just a few thin pieces of plastic that you attach together. Most better quality backyard slides are one solid piece.

Is the swing set durable? Overall, the answer is yes. Yes, IF you do the regular maintenance required, according to the manual. And theres a fair bit of it.

Backyard Discovery Skyfort Ii All Cedar Wood Swing Set Conclusion

The Backyard Discovery Skyfort II All Cedar Wood Swing Set is one of the higher end swing sets on the market. However, with that being said, for what you get, this is a great valued slide. This swing set includes a a clubhouse, a lower playdeck, 2 belt swings, a glider swing, a slide, a sandbox, monkey bars, a standard playset ladder, a picnic table, and a rock wall. It will take a lot of time to assemble which is normal since its a large swing set. Some customers suggested spending time first to lay everything out and label the parts including the hardware. You may want to add stain before you put it together, or right after its together. This will preserve the whole swingset.

You May Like: How To Clean Cement Patio Floor

Price: A Significant Investment In A Product Thats Built To Last

While there are plenty of less expensive playsets on the market, the Backyard Discovery Skyfort II isnt the priciest option, either. Depending on the size of your yard, the number of kids you expect to be playing on it at any given time, and the number of years you hope to use it, the high price tag is easily justified. Essentially, youre getting a premium playset built to lastand the price reflects that.

Reviews For Backyard Discovery Skyfort Ii All Cedar Swingset

Don’t Miss: Do It Yourself Patio Awnings

Backyarddiscovery Kids Scenic Heights Outdoo

For the little tikes who cant wait to grow up and want a house with a view of…For the little tikes who cant wait to grow up and want a house with a view of their very own, the Scenic Heights cedar playhouse will do the trick. Just like their real homes, this miniature wooden version has all the essentials for endless hours of…more