Wickey climbing frame

[GlumyGloomer]

Does anyone have one of these? I currently have what looks like a pile of raw timber in my garden and I'm really struggling to see what I paid for. Wish I'd got a metal frame instead. Can anyone reasure me that it will be OK? Or commiserate with me for getting taken in by the pretty pictures on the website 😕

[Lazypuppy]

We have one, you have to build it...what were you expecting?

[GlumyGloomer]

@Lazypuppy honestly, to pay someone else to deal with it. However that isn't panning out due to unavailability/inflated prices. If it was sanded and predrilled I might be in with a fighting chance, but as it is I'll have grumpy disappointed kids all summer. I won't get any kid free time until autumn.

[GlumyGloomer]

Obviously I have been a complete idiot.

[Loosingitall]

We have one. The kids absolutely love it & I think it looks great in the garden and it’s been up two years now. It’ll be worth it once you have it up

[Frlrlrubert]

We've had ours 4 years now. It's moved house with us and still gets played on every day. I admit I left the construction to DH and FIL and there may have been some swearing, but for the price it's been totally worth it.

[Ducksurprise]

Something similar. I paid to have it erected. It was worth every penny. Can you look for odd job person, neighbour/ friend that would do it for cash

[GlumyGloomer]

I'm not sure paying is going to be an option. I've never done anything more demanding than an IKEA flat pack before so this is extremely daunting. It would definitely be a long project. Unfortunately I have pretty much zero support.

[Hugasauras]

We do! But it is quite a lot of work to construct as the pieces aren't even pre-drilled. If you aren't a reasonably competent DIYer I would pay someone else to do it.

[pastabest]

We have one and it's great quality.

We had the ability to put it together ourselves but theres a handyman in the village who other people get to do theirs.

Ask on local Facebook for recommendations for people to do it.

[Hugasauras]

A local handy person/odd job person probably wouldn't charge too much for it I wouldn't have thought. Worth asking on local FB group or something.

[GlumyGloomer]

So far I've had quotes around the £500 mark, when they're interested in the job at all. I'll keep looking, but make a start on sanding in the meantime. Unfortunately where I am there's vastly more work going than tradesmen.

[pastabest]

from memory.... doesn't it say not to sand?

[Extrapepperoni]

We have one and it's awesome. Totally worth it in the end! Have you tried Taskrabbit?

[CasperGutman]

We have one. Great stuff, rock solid after eight years, and on the offer i used it was cheaper than I could buy the timber. It did take some work to construct it, admittedly.

None of it needed sanding, though. Not sure what you mean about that. Is this one particular bit? You surely can't be trying to sand the whole thing?!

[Hugasauras]

We only sanded any visible splintery or sharp bits once it was made.

[GlumyGloomer]

Mine says to sand all the pieces. Maybe they used to do it and don't now?
I will give taskrabbit a go.