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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What’s the price range of your systems?
Regular retail prices on the systems you see in our catalog and/or on our Web site range in price from $2500.00 and up. Keep in mind you can feel free to design your own system. Check with your local dealer for special sales or promotions. We have also just added the Adventure Series systems that will retail starting around $1500
I can get a wooden play set for $1000 to $1500 at Costco or Home Depot; is this worth the money?
We are priced right in line with the quality wood play systems on the market today. Keep in mind we are not trying to compete with the systems you can by at Costco or Home Depot. Although our new Adventure Series system is around the same money and offers much better quality.
How does the price compare to other systems?
Once again we are priced right in line with the quality wood play systems on the market today. Yet we offer so much more! We like people to consider the price of the system over a five year period. With our system you have a one time purchase price. No additional expense on annual or bi-annual maintenance. With a wood play system you have the cost to purchase the system plus you will have annual maintenance that will include both time and money. Get customers to think about their neighbors wood fence, wood deck or swing set and how it looked new vs. how it looked after a few years.
Assembly/Installation
Who assembles it?
Our dealers provide installation. Check with them for installation options and pricing.
How does the system get to me?
Your dealer will arrange for your system to be delivered to you.
Maintenance
What is the maintenance for this equipment?
Get out the garden hose and spray the system off. Occasionally you may need to wipe it down with a towel. You can also use a mild household product, such as an orange cleaner; if you experience any dust or dirt build up on your system. There is never any need for staining or painting!
Safety
We design and manufacture all our systems in accordance with ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Designation F1148-05 for Home Playground Equipment.
How much space do I need for my system?
- The amount of space required will depend on the play system you choose.
- To ensure the safety of your system, you should give considerable thought to the location and surroundings.
- NOTE: Play system must be located on level ground.
- Stationary equipment such as slides should have a 6 foot perimeter around them, free from obstacles such as fences, trees, houses, and low hanging wires.
- Swinging equipment should be a minimum distance of twice the height of the swing beam away from obstacles such as fences, trees, houses, and low hanging wires.
- Visit our Web site for a complete list of how to place your play system and recommended ground cover to help protect your child. Safety surfacing is a topic you should discuss with all your potential customers. We ultimately cannot make them put a surface under our systems, but we still need to stress the importance. Rubber mulch is a very good surface (more expensive), but wood chips and pea gravel will work as well.
For what ages is it appropriate?
Our play systems can be enjoyed by children 1 – 100! Selecting the appropriate play system based upon your child’s age and ability level is very important. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the parents to decide what is best for their children. You can help guide them with the information. Example….If the families children are all under 3 they may not want to look at a double tower at this time. If they have children that vary in age with some older then 5 or 6 you might talk about how the Larimer series works good. You have a small tower for the younger kids and a double tower that will be more challenging for the older kids.
How do I know that it's safe for my child?
Vinyl Adventure Play Systems and parents share the same number one concern when it comes to play systems, SAFETY! We manufacture our play systems using only ProWood Micro treated yellow pine as our support structure. This is a proven durable wood that will hold up in the harshest of climates. Over 50% of the wooden play systems manufactured today are made out of treated yellow pine. It offers lifetime protection against insect, fungal decay and wood rot. Treated yellow pine provides excellent structural support and is used in deck support systems, fence posts and boat docks.
We then encase our lumber within a vinyl sleeve which not only protects the lumber from the elements, but gives our system additional structural support. The vinyl also insures a smooth, safe, and non-splintering play surface for your child. Our process does not wrap or heat shrink the vinyl to the wood. It is a sleeve that slips over the wood. This process leaves space between the vinyl and wood that allows for the natural expansion and contraction cycles that wood experiences under different weather conditions.
The vinyl we use has a 100% Ultra Violet protection. No need to worry about the structure of our play systems being to hot to the touch, even on the warmest days.
Unlike wood play systems our decking and pickets are made of an innovative slip resistant vinyl surface that is non-splintering making it safe and comfortable to walk on.
We use only stainless steel hardware and our high quality steel brackets and rungs are powder coated to insure a safe long lasting play system.
Does it have a weight limit?
The main structure of our system is built to handle adult weights. Single person swings come with 125 lb rating and our multiple person (glider/4 chain tire) come with a 175lb rating. Very important to let people know that you as adults play on the system all the time. When possible ask them to crawl up onto the tower or take a swing so they can get a true understanding of the durability of our systems.
Is the vinyl hotter to touch than the wood play systems during the summer?
No, the vinyl fence portion our systems does not attract the heat – even in the summer! Our vinyl has 100% Ultra Violet protection.
What are the decks and pickets made of?
Our poly lumber is made from recycled milk jugs and other plastic packaging. Not only is it extremely strong and durable, it’s slip resistant and of course, maintenance free!
Miscellaneous
What might the resale value be after a few years?
Even though it is hard to speculate resale value in the future, we feel that our product will have more value then your traditional wood systems. Five years from the date of your purchase our system will look pretty much the same, unlike what a wood or metal system may look like.
What is your best selling system?
It is based upon the size of the system you are interested in. Many of our customers take our standard models and customize them create their perfect system.
Can I order direct from the manufacturer?
No, Vinyl Adventure Play Systems are only available through an authorized dealer. See our Web site for a dealer in your area.
Is there the option to add to this play system in the future as my kids grow?
Yes! That is one of the great things about our systems. You can add additional towers and other accessories as you children grow and are looking for greater challenges.
Does it come in different colors besides green & white/almond?
Right now we offer the green trim with our two vinyl colors, but Vinyl Adventure is always researching fun, new options to offer you. FYI, during the last few years green and beige (almond) have been voted the most popular color choices for backyard accessories across America. People stated the green & almond colors mix well with backyard landscaping. Check out our Web site for our latest offerings.
Can you interchange other systems parts on it, i.e. a Rainbow swing, Wal-mart slides, other trapezes?
We do not recommend attaching other parts to our play systems. By doing so, you may void our Warranty. We carry a full line of accessories if you are looking to add or replace any equipment.
What is your return policy? Is there a re-stocking fee?
Any order that is cancelled before shipment from the factory is subject to a 25% re-stocking fee. No order cancellations are allowed after the system has shipped from the factory.
How long do they last?
We anticipate our main structure will last a lifetime. The product is so new to the market that it is hard to have a true number of years it will last. We have seen absolutely no structural issues in the almost 5 years we have been doing this. FYI, we have seen vinyl fence that has been around for 20 years that still looks like the day it was installed. You may see some gradual fading of the green poly over the long term. Nothing that is noticeable.
How long would it take to get my system?
Your custom play system will arrive 3-4 weeks after your order is placed.
Do I need to anchor my play system?
All of our systems come with anchors. Each tower has 2 and each swing beam support has 2. We recommend that you use the anchors, although many of our customers choose not to due to the size and weight of our systems.
How your product is manufactured and is the vinyl as strong as the wood systems?
- Our products are just as strong and sturdy as any of the other systems on the market today.
- We use an actual vinyl fence sleeve that slips over a treated piece of yellow pine. The vinyl is not wrapped or heat shrinked to the wood. The combination of the two materials gives you a great outer surface and tremendous structural support and durability.
- You can also refer to our Material Information sheet for additional info on each material we use in the production of our Play Systems.
- Have your potential customer give one of our systems the push test. That seems to always be a way for them to truly get an understanding of the weight and durability of our systems.
The wood retailer I just talked with told me that in 2-3 years the wood will rot inside the vinyl?
- This myth is based upon a wood manufacturers attempt at wrapping an untreated piece of wood with plastic around 10 years ago.
- They actually took plastic, not vinyl fencing, and wrapped it directly to an untreated piece of wood. This did not go well and they have discontinued manufacturing this product.
- Once again we use 100 % Ultra violet protected vinyl, with a treated piece of yellow pine.
- The lumber is treated to prevent wood rot and insect infestation.
- The vinyl sleeve slips over the pine leaving space between the 2 materials to allow for the natural expansion and contraction cycles that all wood experiences during different weather patterns.
- Although we are a fairly new product, we have been inspecting systems that were built 4 years ago. We have seen absolutely no issues of any kind concerning this myth that has been started.
- Treated yellow pine is used to build over 50% of the wooden systems on the market today. Other applications include the foundation for most decks, the base plate for many homes and underwater boat dock applications. These industries use treated yellow pine because it has proven to hold up over the long haul without the worries of rotting or insect decay.
Do I need to choose a standard model or can I customize my own system?
- Our customers can feel free to mix and match accessories on our standard models or they can start from scratch and design there own.
- To design your own:
- Select a tower option.
- Select your swing beam option. (Swing beam support needed unless beam will go between 2 towers)
- Choose your roof.
- Select all other accessories, i.e. slides, swings, etc.
- Important safety item to remember when designing your own system.
- No slides or climbing apparatus can extend off any towers in the path of the swing beam.
Warranty
How long is the warranty and what does it entail?
VAPS offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty. See below:
Manufacturer’s Limited Warranty
Subject to proper installation and normal residential use, Vinyl Adventure Play Systems, (VAPS) warrants to the original purchaser a Limited Lifetime warranty covering defects in workmanship that affect the structural integrity of the play system. All vinyl, wood, poly lumber, metal brackets & stainless steel hardware, under normal use and conditions are also covered by a Limited Lifetime warranty. All other components (i.e. plastic accessories, slides, swings, rope, etc.) are covered for a period of two years, except for Adventure Wave slides and Super Spiral slides, which are covered for a period of one year.
VAPS will, at its discretion, replace any part within the covered warranty period which is found to be defective in workmanship or materials. VAPS will replace the covered product at not cost to the original owner. The cost of freight for the replacement product and any other costs such as labor to replace the new product are not covered under this Limited Lifetime warranty. With proof of purchase a decision to replace any part is subject to verification of the defect through our return authorization process. You can contact your local authorized VAPS dealer or call 1-866-580-VAPS (8277) to initiate this procedure.
Cosmetic defects, normal weathering, or any other physical properties that do not affect the structural integrity and safety of the play system, are not covered by this warranty. VAPS cannot assume responsibility for products which have been damaged by acts of God, improper installation, vandalism, negligence or which have been modified or repaired by unauthorized persons.
Vinyl Adventure Play Systems LLC assumes no responsibility for incidental or consequential damages which may arise from the purchase or use of our equipment. Some states do not allow limitations on implied warranties or exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so these restrictions may not be applicable to you.
For safety and comfort reasons the manufacturer reserves the right to make design and construction changes without notice.