Santa Monica · Deck Building Services
Custom Play Structures & Backyard Playsets in Santa Monica
Custom-built backyard play structures, swing sets, climbing forts, and treehouses — cedar and redwood, anchored to last.
Play Structures · Santa Monica
Play Structures Done Right
Backyard play structures designed for your yard, not pulled out of a box. We build custom cedar and redwood forts, swing sets, climbing walls, slides, and treehouses for Santa Monica-area families. Every structure is anchored to engineered footings, finished in kid-safe stain, and built to grow with your kids.
How We Work
From the first site walk to final hand-over, one project manager runs the whole job.
1. Design with your kids in mind
We walk the yard with you, talk about ages and how the kids play, sketch the structure, and show scaled drawings before we frame anything. Slides, swings, climbing walls, rope bridges — we design for the kids you actually have.
2. Engineered footings
Every post is set in a concrete footing sized for the structure. Sloped yards get level pads. Pad heights tuned so the deck and swing arc clear fences and trees.
3. Build and finish
Cedar or redwood framing, marine-grade hardware, soft-fall surfacing (rubber, mulch, or turf) under swings and slides. Kid-safe stain, rounded edges, and a final play-test before hand-over.
When You Need Play Structures
A custom play structure is the right call when:
- The off-the-shelf swing sets don’t fit your yard — sloped lots, narrow side yards, or odd setbacks need custom design.
- You want it to last more than a few seasons — pressure-treated big-box sets warp and split in 3–5 years. Cedar and redwood properly built last 15+.
- You have multiple kids at different ages — a custom structure can have toddler features now and add monkey bars or a zip line later.
- The yard slopes — slides love a slope, swings need a level pad. Custom design works with the grade instead of fighting it.
- You want it to look like part of the house — finishes matched to your deck, fence, or trim, not a primary-color plastic blob.
- HOA approval is required — we draw and submit for HOAs, including coastal-zone height limits.
Tell us your kids' ages and your yard size — we'll come walk it and sketch options on the spot. Call: 310-564-8939
What Affects the Cost of Play Structures
Play structure pricing depends on size and complexity. The number scales with:
- Footprint and height. A simple toddler fort runs small. A two-tower fort with bridge, slide, and swing beam is mid-range. Treehouses with engineered footings are the most.
- Material. Cedar is the standard. Redwood is the upgrade. Pressure-treated framing only if it’s buried below grade.
- Features. Each add — slide, swing beam, rock wall, climbing net, zip line, rope bridge — is its own line item, so you can scope to budget.
- Soft-fall surfacing. Engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch, or poured-in-place rubber. Required under swings and slides — varies in cost.
- Site work. Level yards build cheaper than steep yards. Tree-shaded yards may need root-protection footings.
- Stain and finish. Kid-safe water-based stain is included; custom color matches and natural oil finishes are an upgrade.
We quote each feature line-by-line so you can dial scope and budget after the site walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a play structure take to build?
Most builds run 1–2 weeks once material is on site. Treehouses with engineered footings can run 3 weeks. Design and permit (if needed) adds 2–3 weeks up front.
Do play structures need a permit in Santa Monica?
Most ground-mounted play structures under the city height limit do not require a building permit. Tall treehouses, structures attached to the house, or anything in the coastal overlay zone may need one — we’ll check and pull if required.
What wood do you use, and how long does it last?
Cedar and redwood — both naturally rot-resistant and safe for kids. With marine-grade hardware and a yearly rinse, 15+ years is typical. We use stainless on every coastal install.
Is it safe? What about kids falling?
Yes — we follow ASTM F1487 playground safety standards on every build: 4″ sphere rule on guard rails, soft-fall surfacing under swings and slides, and entrapment-free spacing. We’ll walk you through the safety details at design.
Can you add to the structure later?
Yes. We design with future add-ons in mind — bolt-on swing beams, slide modules, and climbing accessories that come on as the kids grow. Saves you a full rebuild down the road.
Planning a deck in Santa Monica?
Tell us about your yard, your style, and how you'd use the space — we'll design and quote it.
Or call us now: 310-564-8939