Playground slides are a great addition to any play area that you are planning to construct. They provide hours of thrills for kids, are durable, have no moving parts and require little maintenance. Additionally, many playground sliding boards are relatively inexpensive.

Prices for playground equipment sliding boards do not vary too much from one playground sliding board manufacturer to another. In fact, you'll find the pricing and costs of playground sliding boards are pretty consistant. To start making your budget, all you need to do is figure out if you want:

1. Basic commercial playground sliding boards;

2. Elaborate playground slides;

3. Slides that come with stairs and platforms as part of their structure.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get prices for basic commercial playground slides

Simple plastic commercial playground slides are the most popular type of slides these days. They stand up to summer heat and winter cold and can take the wear and tear of everyday use. Basic ten foot outdoor sliding boards without ladders or platforms typically cost around $200. Simple curved or tube slides of a similar length cost between $300 and $500.

I recommend: Detailed Play Systems has several types of plastic playground slides for sale, and gives you a good idea of pricing for basic kids sliding boards. SPI Industries is a playground sliding board manufacturer that makes a variety of basic slides.

Research the costs of larger specialty commercial playground slides

If you want to put a new twist on the old fashioned slide, purchase one or more of the elaborate specialty slides that are now on the market. These slides send kids zipping through curves and tunnels at faster speeds. They also include larger double and triple slides. Prices for these slides start at around $1,000 and go up to more than $4,000.

I recommend: To get a good idea of how much elaborate slides cost, check out the examples on the website for Playbuilder. Planet Playgrounds is also a good place to go to get a range of prices for large, elaborate slides.

Budget for playground slides with stairs and platforms

Large free standing slides with their own platforms can be a good addition to any playground. As you might expect, complete playground equipment slides are the most expensive type of slide, with prices ranging from $1,000 to more than $10,000.

I recommend: To get a sample of prices for complete freestanding play equipment slides, check out the website for B.Y.O Playground. Teachers' School Supply also has good examples of slides that come with their own platforms.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Stay away from old fashioned metal sliding boards. You'll find these are not very expensive, but they heat up quickly in the sun and can be dangerous for children.
• •  Don't forget to factor in the cost of shipping and installing playground slides into your final budget estimate. An easy way to save money on installation is to recruit volunteers from the community that the play space will serve. Most parents are more than willing to give up some time on a Saturday in order to help better their kids play space!

If you're interested in sliding boards, get to know playground sliding board manufacturers. Building this business relationship allows you to gain confidence in their reliability and the safety of the equipment they ship. Knowing who you can count on is a big help when working in an industry based upon children's play and safety.

Keep the safety of outdoor sliding boards uppermost in mind when you're making your plans and completing the construction process. The play equipment slides need to be properly installed and must meet various safety requirements as well as all codes applicable in your area.

1. Create custom kids' sliding boards for private family usage.

2. Choose commercial playground sliding boards for public parks.

3. Select day care playground equipment slides in small sizes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Create custom playground slides

By changing the style, size, color and shape of your playground slides, you can create custom play sets for each client you work with. Consider both freestanding slides as well as slides attached to clubhouses and other play stations to add even more variety to your client base.

I recommend: BackyardCity.com will provide as little as the playground slides for sale or they'll include the hardware in a kit as well. PlaysetParts.com sells you only the pieces you need to create back yard playground sliding boards, allowing you to customize each set you build and sell.

Enjoy building and playing on commercial playground slides

Every kid loves to play at the park and there isn't a much more satisfying job than providing kids with the equipment they find so fun and hard to resist. Pay attention to other parks so your choices are unique, and make sure they're as safe as they are fun to play on.

I recommend: Swing Sets and More has a specific line of commercial playground slides for sale to fit whatever size public installation you're working with. PlaygroundSupplier.com can help you decide if your public park calls for free standing slides or those connected to more elaborate playground set ups.

Miniaturize playground slides for day cares

Tiny tots may only toddle, but every parent knows even the smallest of kids love to slide. Create custom kids' sliding boards to fit the sizes of all the kids who play on the day care playground. Offer a variety of heights, lengths and shapes to suit the large age range found in day cares.

I recommend: WOW Playgrounds has a selection of playground sliding boards from as short as three feet off the ground to as tall as six feet off the ground, making them perfect for day care playgrounds. A2Z Play specializes in kids' sliding boards and other playground equipment suitable for the tiniest of day care kids.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider the climate before you opt to use metal sliding boards. Extreme heat or direct sunlight can mean that metal sliding boards become too difficult or dangerous for children to enjoy.

Obtain playground sliding boards education and training to establish yourself professionally and to educate yourself on current industrial trends and materials. Learn the latest federal regulations so you can design accordingly.

When you offer playground slides for sale, you want to make sure they are functional, fun and that they meet local codes. Learn how to build structures that aid handicapped children and that hold up to rough weather conditions and vandalism. When taking steps to educate yourself on the nuances of slide design you might want to:

1. Garner playground sliding boards education and training from online sites.

2. Attend workshops to learn the latest information in playground equipment slides design.

3. Get a degree that educates you in commercial playground slides design.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the basics of making kids sliding boards by watching tutorials online

Find out the best materials to use and check out diagrams for building playground equipment sliding boards. Use online resources to learn the basics in making kids sliding boards.

I recommend: Wonder How To offers a video tutorial on its website detailing a way to make a playground slide. It addresses issues such as which fasteners are most weather-resistant. Developer Shed offers an online tutorial for building slides for the playground. It has detailed drawings and easy-to-understand instructions.

Analyze the safety of metal sliding boards at workshops to see which aspects need changing

Attend workshops and seminars for playground safety. This could help you determine where commercial playground slides need improvement for safety, so you could adjust your designs to meet these needs.

I recommend: The California Park & Recreation Society highlights workshops for those interested in playground safety. It covers federal regulations and also talks about making equipment that covers areas addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The NC Cooperative Extension offers a playground safety workshop for participants learning to identify areas addressing safety needs. It covers state and federal regulations.

Consider a degree in engineering or design to assist you in developing custom playground slides

When you design commercial playground sliding boards, it's helpful to have a degree in engineering or design. When you take the classes to get the degree, you get hands-on experience in making custom products.

I recommend: World Wide Learn details the intricacies in obtaining an engineering degree. It highlights colleges and universities that offer this degree both online and on-site. One on One Marketing and its division, Classes and Careers, offers a list of colleges where you can obtain an architectural design degree. It highlights online courses as well as on-campus courses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Become an intern for a company that specializes in kids sliding boards to get more detailed information and experience in working with playground equipment design.