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Depending on your experience, assembly of our play sets can take as little as 6 hours up to 24 hours, depending on size, after
inventoryofparts;therefore,werecommendyousetasideafulltwodaysforassembly.
● Identifyallofthepartsforyourplayset.Emptyeachboxandlayoutboardssoyoucanseeeachpart.Yourinstructionbookwill
have detailed drawings that will make it easy for you to recognize individual parts. Keep all hardware and metal parts separate
from wooden pieces.
● Aftereverythingislaidout,checkcarefullytoensureallpartsarepresent.Makesuretherearenobrokenboards.
● Findanareatosortyourhardware.Itisbesttoopenthehardwareonasolidsurfacesothatyoudonotloseanypiecesinthegrass.
This will save time and familiarize you with all the different pieces in the hardware bag.
**Important note: Wood has some natural defects such as knots, surface cracks, etc... We reject parts that are structurally defective. We use
ahighqualitylumberinourstructures;however,youshouldinspecteachpartforsplintersorroughspotsandsandthemsmoothtoprevent
injury.**
● Afterfamiliarizingyourselfwithallofthecomponents,readallinstructionsthoroughly.Readinginstructionsafteryouhave
studied the parts will help you understand more clearly the installation process, and help to eliminate unnecessary mistakes.
● Paycloseattentiontothediameterandlengthofeachboltandscrew.
● Nevertightenhardwarecompletelyatrst.Ithelpstohavesomeadjustmentforboltalignmentwhileyouareattachingparts
together. After everything is square, tighten each joint.
● Afterthemainunitisassembleditiscriticalthattheoorislevelandsquare.Ifthemainframeisnotlevel,thewallsandoor
will be out of square.
● Afteryoucompleteinstallation,makesureeverybolt,screw,andnutistight,andeveryboardissecure.Woodwillexpandand
contract with the seasons.
● Placethesetonlevelground,notlessthan6ftfromanystructureorobstructionsuchasafence,garage,house,overhanging
branches, laundry lines, or electrical wires.
● All1/4”and3/8”lagboltsmusthavepre-drilledholes1-1/2”to2”deep.Usea1/8”drillbitforthe1/4”lagboltsand1/4”drillbit
for3/8”lagbolts.Usepre-drilledholesinfaciasasareferenceforplacinglagboltpilotholes.
● Ifaboardliftsorrisescausingagapbetweenboardswhenrunninginlagboltsorscrews,backoutthescreworlagboltandpress
or apply pressure (but not enough to crack or break board) while re¬running in the lag bolt or screw in the same hole.
● Donotovertightenbolts,lagboltsorscrews.Youcandamageboards,breakhardware,and/orstripoutthehardware.
● Whenusinghammerdonotbeatonthehardware,butgentlytapitin.Neverbeatonthewoodasitwillleavemarks.
● Completethestepswhichwillbethebasicframeofthefort{i.e.fourcornerpostswithbase(sandboxboards)anddecksupports}
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Position in the most level area chosen for the play set, keeping in mind the location and size of the swing beam, ladder, slides, etc. that extend off the fort.
●
Oncetheframeisinthenalposition,checkforverticalandhorizontallevelnesstodeterminewhichside(s)willneedtobedugintothegroundtoleveltheplayset.
● Withashovel,scorethegroundaroundtheoutsideedgesofthesandboxboardsonthe‘high’sideofthefort.Thisistheareathat
willbedugin.Makesuretoscoredeepenough;thescoredlineswillbeyourdiggingtemplate.
● Pushtheframeoffandawayfromthescoredarea,farenoughtodigandremovedirttoreachtheappropriatedepth.
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Dig a channel along the scored line(s) for the base of the fort (corner post and sandbox boards) to rest into. Dig the channel(s) to the same level
depth. The bottom of the channel(s) should be level to each other so your frame doesn’t teeter or rock because the channel(s) are uneven.
● Onceyouhaveremovedenoughgrassanddirt,slide/pushtheframeintothechannel(s).Placealevelontheverticalandhorizontal
boards of the frame to determine if enough soil, or too much, was removed.
● Repeatthisprocessuntilthebasicframeisplumbandlevelandinitsnalpositionbeforecompletingtherestoftheassembly.
● Measuretomakesurefortissquare.
** Important: if you require a channel depth of more than 6”,
then we recommend you have your play set area professionally graded before completing assembly. **