A Guide to Creating Your Custom Climbing Frame
Investing in a custom climbing frame brings numerous benefits to your garden or play area, including personalised configurations, high-quality materials, and safety-focused designs.
At Active Garden, we specialise in designing and creating custom wooden climbing frames tailored to your specific needs. With our expertise in modular tower designs, we excel in constructing both small and expansive play structures that inspire endless outdoor adventures.
We can help you create a customised climbing frame for a residential garden, and we also supply custom climbing frames to comply with EN1176 regulations for commercial playgrounds, such as public parks, schools, pub play areas, nurseries, campsites, and farm shops. Our bespoke solutions ensure your children have a safe, engaging, and long-lasting play area, perfectly suited to your available space and their developmental needs.
In this guide, we will walk you through the steps of designing, selecting, and maintaining the perfect custom climbing frame for your space.
Why Choose a Custom Climbing Frame?
Custom climbing frames are bespoke play structures tailored to meet your unique requirements. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, these wooden frames are designed to fit your available space, your children’s interests, and your aesthetic preferences.
Active Garden's climbing frames are inherently modular, allowing for easy customisation and expansion. Start with a basic tower and gradually add features like slides, bridges, and climbing walls. This modular approach provides versatility and ensures your investment grows with your needs.
Whether you’re outfitting a backyard for family fun or creating a play area for public parks, schools, pub play areas, nurseries, campsites, or farm shops, custom climbing frames from Active Garden provide a versatile solution. These frames are designed to meet the rigorous EN1176 standards required for commercial playgrounds while also offering the flexibility and personalisation desired for residential use.
Benefits of Custom Designs
Personalisation: Tailor every element to suit your garden or specific play area needs, ensuring a unique and engaging play environment.
Flexibility: Modify components over time as children grow or your requirements evolve. This adaptability means your climbing frame can change and expand to meet the developing interests and abilities of its users.
Optimal Use of Space: Maximise the potential of your space by fitting the climbing frame into specific dimensions and layouts. Whether you have a compact garden or a sprawling play area, a custom design ensures efficient use of every inch.
Assessing Your Space and Needs
Measuring Your Space
Start by measuring your available space to determine the optimal size for your climbing frame. Use a tape measure to get precise dimensions and note any obstacles like trees or uneven terrain. For both residential gardens and commercial areas like parks and schools, create a scaled map to visualise the best fit for the climbing frame.
Age Group Considerations
Different age groups have varying needs. Younger children may prefer lower platforms and gentler slides, while older kids might enjoy more challenging elements like climbing walls and taller towers. Choose components that are age-appropriate and adaptable as children grow.
Safety Requirements and Guidelines
Safety is paramount for both residential and commercial playgrounds. Ensure there is adequate clearance around the climbing frame to prevent accidents. Active Garden’s climbing frame designs comply with EN1176 safety standards, using high-quality, pressure-treated timber and sturdy hardware. Consider soft ground coverings like rubber chippings or Safagrass to cushion falls. Regularly inspect the structure for wear and tear to maintain a safe play environment.
Choosing the Right Materials
High-Quality, Pressure-Treated Timber
Active Garden utilises high-quality, pressure-treated Scandinavian Redwood timber to ensure durability and longevity. This treatment safeguards the wood from rot and infestation, creating a sturdy and safe structure for both residential and commercial climbing frames.
Scandinavian Redwood is chosen for its exceptional strength and resilience. Its natural resistance to harsh weather conditions makes it an ideal material for outdoor play equipment. All of our wooden climbing frame structures come with a 10-year guarantee against rot and infestation, ensuring your climbing frame remains robust, safe, and reliable for years.
Environmental Considerations and Sustainability
Active Garden is committed to sustainability. The timber used is sourced from responsibly managed forests, promoting environmental conservation. By choosing these eco-friendly materials, you contribute to sustainable practices while providing a safe play area for children in gardens, public parks, schools, and other commercial settings.
Designing Your Climbing Frame
Step-by-Step Guide to Designing a Climbing Frame
Assess Your Space and Needs: Begin by measuring your garden or commercial play area. Consider the age group and preferences of the children who will use it. Ensure the space is free of obstacles and has enough clearance for safe play.
Select Your Base Tower: Choose from a variety of base towers that fit your space and budget. Active Garden offers options suitable for public parks, schools, nurseries, pubs, and residential gardens.
Add Modules and Accessories: Customise your climbing frame with a range of modules and accessories like slides, swings, climbing walls, and bridges. This allows you to create a play area that is both engaging and tailored to your needs.
Customisable Options
Active Garden offers a modular system, allowing you to mix and match components to create a unique play area. Choose different platform heights (60cm, 90cm, 120cm, 150cm) and add features like fireman’s poles, nets, ladders, and staircases. This flexibility ensures your climbing frame can evolve with the changing needs of children in both commercial and residential environments.
Popular Modules, Accessories, and Extras
Slides: Available in various lengths and materials, including HDPE and stainless steel, suitable for both residential and commercial playgrounds. These slides add excitement and are durable for extensive use.
Swings: Options include classic swings, nest swings, and dual swing modules. These swings are perfect for engaging multiple children and can be adjusted to fit the age and skill level of the users.
Climbing Walls: Enhance the challenge with vertical or inclined climbing walls equipped with resin rocks. These are ideal for public and private settings, promoting physical activity and skill development.
Bridges and Ramps: Connect towers with bridges or add ramps for an extra element of fun and adventure. These features can make the climbing frame more dynamic and interesting for children.
Safety Surfaces: Essential for preventing injuries, safety surfaces like rubber mulch, wet pour, and artificial grass provide a cushioned landing area. All our safer surfacing meets EN1177 safety standards and is durable enough for high-traffic areas, ensuring a safe play environment.
All additional components come with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty. This covers defects and ensures your climbing frame remains in excellent condition.
For more inspiration and ideas, check out the
Active Garden brochure.
Installation Services
Active Garden provides expert installation services to ensure your custom climbing frame is safely and correctly set up. Our experienced team manages the entire process, guaranteeing professional results and peace of mind. The installation service is included in the price for the Active commercial climbing frames, whereas it is an optional extra for residential settings.
Benefits of Professional Installation vs. DIY Assembly
Expertise and Efficiency: Professional installers have the skills and experience to assemble complex structures quickly and accurately.
Safety Assurance: Proper installation ensures all components are securely fitted, reducing the risk of accidents.
Time-Saving: Allowing professionals to handle the setup frees up your time and eliminates the stress of DIY assembly.
For more details, explore the
Active Garden Installation & Assembly Service page.
Tips for Maintaining Your Climbing Frame to Ensure Longevity
Regular Inspections: Routinely check for any loose bolts, screws, or splintering wood. Tighten bolts and smooth rough edges as needed to maintain safety.
Cleaning: Periodically clean the frame to remove dirt and debris using mild soap and water. Avoid harsh chemicals that could damage the wood.
Weather Protection: During extreme weather, consider covering the climbing frame or applying an additional layer of wood sealant to protect it from the elements.
Create a Custom Climbing Frame with Active Garden
Creating a custom climbing frame with Active Garden offers a unique, safe, and engaging play space tailored to both residential and commercial environments, such as public parks, schools, pub play areas, nurseries, campsites, and farm shops. With high-quality materials, versatile designs, and professional installation, your investment ensures years of active play and enjoyment.
Ready to design your perfect climbing frame?
Contact us for a consultation today and start transforming your space!
