What Makes Cedar the Best Wood for Swing Sets & Playsets

What Makes Cedar the Best Wood for Swing Sets

Great Swing Sets are Made From Great Materials

When shopping for swing sets, there are a lot of options to choose from, including a variety of construction materials. Many people wonder, Is cedar good for a swing set? Absolutely! Cedar offers many advantages over metal and inferior species of woods. Learn why cedar is the best choice for your children:

Cedar

Why Use Cedar Wood for Swing Sets?

1. Durability

All cedars are conifer trees — a hardy, highly revered species of lumber that’s naturally resistant to rot, decay and insects. University studies show that cedar has high durability, especially when used in outdoor applications. These qualities play a major factor in Rainbow Play’s commitment to 100% cedar wood construction.

2. Beauty

There’s simply no substitute for the natural beauty of cedar. Ingrained with decidedly crisp, yet superbly rich, tonal properties, cedar has a way of enhancing outdoor home decor. Compared to metal, plastic or even other woods, cedar is by far the most aesthetically pleasing material for swing sets.

3. Sustainability

When it comes to environmental performance, independent studies show that natural cedar is superior to synthetic products in every way. Cedar wood is sourced from the most sustainably managed forests in the world. While other building materials generate greenhouse gasses, cedar actually removes greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. And, unlike plastics and vinyl, cedar is renewable and biodegradable.

Types of Cedar Wood in Our Swing Sets

  • Cunninghamia Lanceolata: Grown and harvested in China, this prized species of cedar is renowned for its durability, lasting hundreds of years in outdoor applications.
  • Thuja Plicata: Also known as the Western Red Cedar, this is the premier cedar wood in North America — often used for decking, fencing, gazebos, patio furniture and wooden swing sets. Western Red Cedar has a track record of success, lasting outdoors for hundreds of years.
  • Cupressus Nootkatensis: This USA-grown cedar matches the beauty, quality, and outdoor durability of Western Red Cedar, making it the perfect lumber species for Rainbow swing sets. Like other cedar woods, it resists splintering and weathers evenly over time.

Shop Rainbow Play’s Cedar Wood Swing Sets

Rainbow has been proudly manufacturing the best-quality swing sets and playsets for over a quarter century, using only the finest lumber available: 100% natural cedar wood. We back our work with our exclusive lifetime warranty — the gold standard in the residential playground industry.

Browse Rainbow’s outdoor swing sets and experience the benefits of cedar in your backyard.

Find a Showroom

Choose up to three products.