BERG PlayBase vs Wooden Climbing Frames: Which is Best?

A wooden climbing frame and a BERG PlayBase do different jobs. This is a fair comparison of the two, so you can pick the one that suits your children.

What a PlayBase is

The PlayBase is a steel frame, galvanised and powder-coated, with monkey-bar rungs across the top. Swings, a climbing wall, gym rings, a basketball hoop and fitness accessories hang from carabiner points and can be swapped as the children grow. Every frame is 1m deep and 2.45m high with a maximum load of 400kg.

There are four sizes. The Wall frame is 2.4m wide and fixes to a load-bearing brick or block wall. The Medium (2.85m), Large (3.8m) and Extra Large (4.9m) are free-standing. Prices start at €999.

Maintenance

A wooden frame needs regular treating or staining to cope with Irish rain. A PlayBase frame has no timber to treat. It carries a 10-year frame warranty, rising to 13 years when you register it with BERG.

Installation

Free-standing PlayBase frames are held by base sections buried in the ground, with no concrete. Wooden frames vary, and many need concrete footings.

What each does best

Wood wins on towers, playhouses and a traditional playground feel, which younger children love. The PlayBase wins on swinging, climbing, hanging and sport, and it stays useful into the teenage years: the pull-up bar, dip bar and boxing bag are for ages 14 and over.

A PlayBase also takes less of the garden. It is 1m deep, with no tower or roof.

Which should you choose?

If you want a tower and a playhouse for children under about eight, a wooden frame may suit better. If you want something low-maintenance that changes as the children grow, the PlayBase is the stronger choice.

PlayBase frames are held in stock in Ireland and delivered free. We don't assemble frames ourselves, but we can put you in touch with an experienced installer. Call 01 960 1641 for advice on size.