The Most Ideal Time Of Year To Stain And Seal Your Wooden Swing Set (& Why It's A Must)
Playgrounds are a warm weather staple, providing fun, exercise, and fresh air for families at school, daycare, community centers, and, most conveniently, in their own backyards. To ensure that your backyard wood swing set lasts as long as possible in order to make all of those wonderful family memories, the key factor is regularly staining and sealing your set to prolong its lifespan. Spring is the ideal time for staining and sealing your wooden swing set, and this process is crucial to ensure that it continues looking its best and performing properly for years to come.
A swing set can be a substantial investment, so it is important to do your research up front in order to understand what to look for when purchasing a backyard playset so you can pick a material, budget, and setup that is best for your family. Wood playsets are sturdy, long-lasting, and easy on the eyes, blending in nicely with the natural surroundings of your backyard. However, as the set ages and the wood deteriorates, it is essential to follow some simple guidelines that include regular sealing and/or staining to prevent moisture and UV rays from penetrating the wood, which can lead to wood rot and damage. Regular maintenance of your swing set will prolong the appearance and integrity of the wood.
Guidelines for regular swing set maintenance
It is recommended that you stain and seal your wood playset once a year if it is in a sunny location. However, you could likely stretch that to every other year for a set in a primarily-shady area. Spring is the best time to tackle this annual or biannual process, as it is not yet too hot during the day to complete the work and the temperature does not drop as low during the night, meaning your stain and sealer have the opportunity to properly cure. In addition, taking care of this prior to the kids' summer vacation ensures that the playset will be safe and looking its best during the prime months of outdoor enjoyment.
Running through a basic maintenance checklist prior to staining and sealing is essential. A day before you plan to stain, thoroughly clean the set with wood soap and let it fully dry. While you are waiting for the set to dry, tighten up the screws and inspect the playground for splinters and rough spots, sanding as needed. Remove or tape off any playground components that will not be receiving stain and sealer such as swings, fabric canopies, or plastic slides. Once prepped and dry, use a paint brush or sprayer to apply stain if desired and then sealer to maximize the longevity of your playset.
Choosing the right stain and sealer
Sealer is available in transparent and semi-transparent options, which have varying levels of pigment added but preserve the wood's character. Just like when staining a fence, knowing whether a transparent or semi-transparent sealer is right for your swing set comes down to the level of color restoration and defect concealment that you are going for. The more damaged the wood or the sunnier the location, the higher level of pigment you should choose for color enhancement and UV protection. Alternatively, if your playground still has its nice cedar hue, opt for clear sealer, which will protect the wood but offers little color enhancement or correction of imperfections. On the other hand, if you want the color to be opaque, choose a dark stain and then use a clear sealer. As with deck stains, when determining whether oil- vs. water-based is the right option, it is recommended to go with an oil-based stain, as it will permeate into the wood for a longer lasting restoration.
Regardless of which stain and sealer option you go with, sealing your playset is crucial to restoring the protective layer. Untreated wood will absorb moisture leading it to rot and decay, deteriorate from UV sun exposure, and be more susceptible to insect damage. Further, despite regular sealing, wood inevitably ages over time when outdoors, so be sure to replace any wood components beyond repair to ensure the safety of your family.