Dunster House Climbing Frames Review

Many thanks for taking the time to visit and welcome to this Dunster House Climbing Frame review which will cover 8 different models under this brand so at least you have more than one choice when it comes to making a final decision. We will also outline a series of frequently asked questions as part of this review which will be of interest you and will answer most of the questions that you may possibly have. We will also outline additional images and comparison tables for further clarity on the features and also the dimensions that need to be planned for in your back garden.

Before we begin, please be aware that guide prices can only be outlined at the time of this review as prices can change from week to week or month to month depending on local discount activities so please make sure to view the price checkers provided below to ensure you have the most accurate up to date price information.

This review is split out into 5 parts outlined below

Contents:

1. Company and Review Overview
2. Frequently Asked Questions
3. Review of Pros and Cons
4. Outline of 8 different models with their main features (plus dimension comparison table)
5. Overview on the Main Accessories

Part 1: Dunster House Climbing Frame & Swing Set Review Overview:

Brand:	Dunster House
Models:	Dunster House Climbing Frames Compilation x 8 Models
Orders online:	Yes, orders accepted online with home delivery
Warranty:	10 year on the Wood against rot / decay and 1 year on all other parts
Price Range:	£200 up to £1200 depending on the model (at the time of this review)
Cheap Place to Buy:	Dunster House Ltd via Amazon UK – View current stock availability here
Support:	Dunster House at 0-123-427-2445
Overall Rating:

Company Background Information:

• Dunster House Ltd. is a British operated and owned company and their manufacturing plants are based around Europe and they have the exclusive rights to unique products across their category portfolios.
• They have their own design teams, their own unique product features and characteristics and they provide the best value that they possibly can.
• They are based in Bedford in the UK and they can be contacted on 0-123-427-2445 with any problems or queries that you may have.
• Their address if needed is Dunster House Ltd, Caxton Road, Elms Farm Industrial Estate, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 0LF, United Kingdom

A selection of the Models available under this brand are outlined below:

Overview on Recent Customer Feedback:

• Pleased with delivery and sales staff
• Good customer service level
• Highly recommend them
• Professional company organisation
• Staff are friendly and easy to deal with
• Delivery guys are very helpful
• Good at meeting delivery times
• Great craftsmanship and very sturdy

Overview on Returns / Deliveries:

• They allow a 30 day from delivery withdrawal order
• You need to be available on the day to accept and sign for the delivery
• Most deliveries are free in UK mainland
• Full details of any charges if applicable are outlined upon checkout when address is added
• No deliveries are available outside of UK Mainland

Part 2: Frequently Asked Questions about Dunster House Climbing Frames:

Q. What safety play zone needs to be applied to these Climbing frames?
A. As a guide, a 2 metre perimeter needs to be applied around the Climbing frame as a safe play zone
Q. How many models is there available to choose from?
A. There are over 10 separate models (8 are featured in this review)
Q. Where do they deliver to?
A. They deliver to mainland England, Wales and most parts of Scotland.
Q. Where do they not deliver to?
A. They don’t deliver to Scottish Highlands, Scottish Islands, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight or anywhere outside of the UK
Q. Do I need to treat the wood with preservatives or sealants?
A. No, the wood is already treated and has a 10 year warranty against rot and decay. You can add a wood stain if you like after a year or so to brighten it up if needed and make it more attractive in your garden
Q. What is the duration of the warranty?
A. There is 12 months on all parts and 10 years on the wood against rot, fungal decay or infestation
Q. Can they be used for Non- Residential settings?
A. No as they will not be covered by warranty. They are only covered by warranty if properly assembled in a residential setting
Q. Do they include ground anchors?
A. Yes, each model is supplied with the necessary ground anchors
Q. What age group are they suitable for?
A. It depends on the model but generally are 3 to 10 years or 3 to 14 years
Q. What is the weight capacity of the swings, slides etc?
A. The weight capacity per child user is 50kg each
Q. What the heights of the platform decks?
A. The platform heights from ground level are generally 1.2m high
Q. How many children are allowed to play on the platforms at the same time?
A. Depend on the model – generally 1 to 2 children are allowed to play on the platforms at the same time
Q. Do the anchors need to be installed in concrete?
A. It depends how solid the ground surface is. If the ground is soft and the unit rocks with high swinging, then you will need to dig holes, pour in concrete, attach the anchors firmly and let sit overnight undisturbed for extra piece of mind
Q. Is further drilling needed?
A. Most of the main drilling is already completed – some minor drilling will be needed from you and drilling of screw positions before putting in the screws
Q. Can Toddler swing seats be added?
A. Yes, you can add toddler swing seats to replace the existing swing seats if needed
Q. How long are the slides?
A. The slides are approx. 6 feet long.

Part 3: Outline of Pros and Cons (Advantages vs Disadvantages)

Main Pros Outlined:

• Instructions for assembly are excellent and they provide a great level of detail
• Excellent at having all the parts included with no missing parts, especially the nuts/screws
• Customer service support are great with dealing with any potential problem or faulty parts – they are quick to replace and solve any complaints.
• Frame and swings are very robust, solid, strong, hard wearing and a lot sturdier than many other frames
• Great range and prices available to suit many types of house budgets generally starting from £200 up as far as £1200 when last seen on sale
• A great selection of unique features are available to choose from depending on your preferred model be it balcony platforms, hidden dens, monkey bars, ladders, slides and so much more
• You get pressure treated timber all the time which requires low maintenance & is very long lasting
• A 3rd party assembly service is available through Amazon UK (not Dunster House) if you need help in getting the larger frames completed (you need to get a specified delivery date from the Dunster House Dispatch Team first before booking one)
• All the accessories are made of very high quality be it the swing seats, the thicker and toughened slides, the grooved monkey bars and so much more. It all has a touch of class to it with excellent precision and therefore well worth the money if you have it to spend.
• It has been independently tested by the European Safety Standard of EN71 and EN71-3 for your kids protection and they are also CE rated
• Although there is hard work in building them out, there is great overall enjoyment and sense of achievement when completed

Main Cons Outlined:

• Some models can take 4 hours to build while some will take an entire team the full weekend
• On the odd occasion, there has been some small missing parts which can be extremely annoying and can delay assembly considerably
• Deliveries in some cases can be longer than 3 days especially in Scotland so make sure to plan well in advance (of any special days like birthdays)
• A lot of packaging needs to be disposed of after the delivery when everything is unwrapped and unravelled
• No deliveries are available to the Scottish Highlands, Scottish Islands, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, or anywhere outside of the UK
• They won’t give any time slots for the day of delivery as it is considered as an 'all-day' delivery service. Deliveries are only on weekdays (Monday – Friday so no Saturday deliveries are available)
• For insurance and health and safety reasons, deliveries can only be made to the kerbside (some exceptions can be made based on site assessments)
• Some slight cracks on the wood though not harmful to the structural integrity of the wood can be a little annoying to look at.
• Knots and Knot Holes are not covered under their warranty as they naturally occur in treated wood
• Warranty won’t cover the labour costs involved with the installation / replacements or travel expenses involved.
• Some people struggle quite a lot with the assembly of the larger frames so it’s a good idea to have a handyman or 2 on stand-by
• Additional drilling is needed where many prefer to have all the holes predrilled - you will also need to have a reliable power drill in your shed

Part 4: Outline of 8 Popular Models with their Main Features:

Dunster House BalconyFort Searcher

Main Features:

Slide, Tower, Balcony deck/roof
Monkey bars, Ladder, Hidden den
Ground anchors, Climbing stones
Age suitability is 3 to 14 years

Dunster House MonkeyFort

Main Features:

Monkey bars, swings, tower, slide
Ladder with climbing stones
Ground anchors, Tarpaulin Roof
Age suitability is 3 to 14 years

Dunster House SquirrelFort

Main Features:

Rock wall & ladder, swing
Tower, slide, monkey bars
Ground anchors, Tarpaulin Roof
Age suitability is 3 to 10 years

Dunster House FoxCub & Slide

Main Features:

2 swings, ladder, climber stones
Flag, wave slide
Ground anchors
Age suitability is 3 to 10 years

Dunster House Manorfort Stronghold

Main Features:

Tower, climber rope, ladder
2 swings, monkey bars, slide
Ground anchors, Tarpaulin Roofs
Age suitability is 3 to 14 years

Dunster House Maxifort Frontier

Main Features:

2 swings, monkey bars, slide
Tower, climber wall & stones
Ground anchors, Wooden Roof
Age suitability is 3 to 10 years

Dunster House MiniFort Discovery

Main Features:

Tower, Monkey bars, ladder
Slide, climber stones, 2 swings
Ground anchors, Tarpaulin Roof
Age suitability is 3 to 10 years

Dunster House JuniorFort Monkey

Main Features:

Ladder, Monkey bars, 2 swings
Tower, slide, climber stones
Ground anchors, Tarpaulin Roof
Age suitability is 3 to 14 years

Tools generally needed (not included)

• Power Drills corded or cordless
• Solid hammer
• Selection of screwdrivers
• A spirit level
• A stepladder
• Long tape measure (6-10m)
• Building manual supplied

A summary table with the dimensions is outlined below:

Part 5: Overview on Accessories

• Slides are thicker and more robust than what you tend to see elsewhere on the market
• Swing seats are thick moulded plastic that will last a lot longer especially in harsh weather conditions
• Climber stones are made from professional grade Polyresin which are similar quality to what is provided on adult type climbing walls
• Anchors are made from galvanised steel unlike many of the cheap plastic ones that are sold elsewhere.
• Wooden roofs are supplied on various models such as the Balconyfort, the Maxifort and the Megafort and Tarpaulin roofs are provided on other models such as the Monkeyfort and the Squirrelfort

Have you or your kids any personal experience with Dunster House Climbing Frames or Swing Sets in the past? If so, then please share your thoughts and feedback with the wider UK community by leaving a comment in the comment section below – So that they can learn also!!!

Finally, many thanks for taking the time to read our review (which took a lot longer than expected!) and best of luck to you and your children with your final decision