Growplay assembly
Monkey bars that raise as the kids grow, on twist-in anchors, no concrete.
A Growplay frame is a monkey-bar climbing frame with two signatures: the bars adjust from five to seven and a half feet so you set them to the child and raise them over time, and it stands on patented twist-in ground anchors, so there is no digging and no concrete.
A monkey-bar frame that grows and needs no concrete
Growplay specialises in backyard monkey bars and climbing frames made from double-galvanised, powder-coated steel. Two things set them apart. First, the bars are height-adjustable, from about five feet up to seven and a half, so you can set them low for a younger or less confident climber and raise them as the child’s ability and confidence grow. Second, the frame is freestanding and anchored with patented twist-in ground anchors, no post holes and no concrete.
That combination makes it a genuine weekend DIY: twist the anchors into a flat spot, set the bar height to your child, and you are done, and you can even relocate it later. The frame is backed by a ten-year warranty and is modular, so you can add accessories like a ninja net, a monkey bridge or a flying fox over time.
The build itself is straightforward with a couple of technique notes, keeping the clamps loose until the frame is aligned, and using a rubber mallet to seat the tubes. Set the height, anchor it on a proper surface, and it is ready for years of climbing.
The build
A weekend DIY, no digging or concrete.
| Model | Time | People |
|---|---|---|
| Lay out the partsSort by the step list before starting. | 20 min | 1 |
| Join the frame tubesRubber mallet; clamps hand-tight only. See below. | 1 to 1.5 hours | 2 |
| Set the bar heightTo suit your child; raise later. See below. | 20 min | 2 |
| Twist-in the anchorsNo digging or concrete. Flat, level spot. See below. | 30 min | 1 |
| Add accessoriesNinja net, monkey bridge, flying fox; sold separately. | 30 min each | 2 |
Tighten everything fully only once the frame is completely assembled and aligned. It is backed by a ten-year frame warranty and built to handle sun, snow, rain and hail.
How to build a Growplay frame well
Set the bar height to your child, and raise it as they grow
The signature feature, and the point of the design. The monkey bars adjust from about five to seven and a half feet, so start them low for a younger or newer climber, low enough that they can reach and drop safely, and raise them over time as their strength and confidence build. This is what lets one frame suit a child for years and siblings of different ages. Set the height thoughtfully at assembly, and revisit it as the kids grow rather than leaving it at one setting.
Keep the clamps hand-tight until the frame is fully assembled
The key build technique, straight from Growplay: the clamps need adjusting throughout assembly, so do not fully tighten them until the final steps. Hand-tighten only as you go, which lets the frame align properly, and once everything is connected and square, go around and fully tighten all the bolts with the hex key. Tightening too early locks in a misalignment that fights the next connection, so build it loose, align it, then torque it down.
Use a rubber mallet to seat the tubes
A specific tip from the manual that saves damaged parts: use a rubber mallet, not a metal hammer, to join the frame tubes, and place a foot at the end of the tube you are tapping to stop it sliding and to prevent the tube end from being damaged. Seating the tubes fully and squarely this way makes for tight, clean joints. It is a small technique, but it is the difference between a rattly frame and a solid one.
Twist in the anchors on a flat, level, soft surface
The no-concrete part people love, but it still needs the right ground. The patented anchors twist into the ground to stop the frame lifting, shifting or tipping, with no digging or concrete, but the frame must sit on a flat, level surface, and it should be over an impact-absorbing surface like grass, sand, soil or mulch to cushion falls. So pick a level spot, twist every anchor fully in, and make sure there is soft surfacing and clear space under and around the landing area.
Expect blisters early, and supervise new climbers
A reassuring note: children often get blisters when they first use monkey bars, that is grip strength building, not a fault with the bars. If it happens, have them slow down, check the bars are clean and dry, and let their hands recover before more climbing. Supervise younger and newer climbers, keep the area under and around the bars clear, and let them build up gradually. It is normal for hands to toughen up over a few weeks of play.
Before you build
Choose a flat, level spot with soft, impact-absorbing surfacing and clear space around it.
Have a rubber mallet and a hex key ready, and lay the parts out by step.
Plan to hand-tighten the clamps until the whole frame is assembled and aligned.
Decide the starting bar height for your child, and know you can raise it later.
And note which accessories you may want to add, they are sold separately.
Where an installer helps
By joining the tubes cleanly and keeping the clamps aligned until the frame is fully assembled, then torquing everything correctly.
By twisting the anchors in properly on a suitable flat, level, soft surface, so the frame cannot lift or tip.
By setting the bar height appropriately for your children and fitting any accessories.
It is a genuine weekend DIY, so help is most valuable for a square, solid, correctly-anchored frame set to the right height, and for anyone who would rather have it done in an afternoon.
What an installer does
- Joins the frame tubes with a mallet and keeps the clamps aligned.
- Fully tightens everything once the frame is assembled and square.
- Sets the monkey-bar height to suit your children.
- Twists in the ground anchors on a flat, level, soft surface.
- Fits any accessories such as a ninja net or monkey bridge.
- Confirms clear, cushioned space around the landing area.
Get it built by someone who has built one before.
Tell us your ZIP and what you bought. Installers near you will quote you directly, and you deal with them, not with us.
Questions people ask
Do the monkey bars really adjust in height?
Yes, that is the signature feature. They adjust from about five to seven and a half feet, so you set them low for a younger or less confident climber and raise them as the child grows in strength and confidence. It lets one frame suit a child for years and siblings of different ages, so set the height thoughtfully at assembly and revisit it over time.
Do I need to dig or use concrete?
No, that is the point of the design. The frame is freestanding and uses patented twist-in ground anchors that stop it lifting, shifting or tipping, with no post holes and no concrete, which makes it a genuine weekend DIY and even relocatable. It does need to sit on a flat, level surface, ideally over grass, sand, soil or mulch to cushion falls.
Any tips for the assembly?
Two from Growplay: keep the clamps hand-tight only until the whole frame is assembled and aligned, then fully tighten everything, this lets it square up rather than locking in a misalignment. And use a rubber mallet, not a metal hammer, to seat the tubes, placing a foot at the tube end to prevent damage. Those two make for a solid, clean frame.
My child got blisters, is that a problem?
No, that is normal grip strength building, not a fault with the bars. If it happens, have them slow down, check the bars are clean and dry, and let their hands recover before more climbing. Hands toughen up over a few weeks of play. Supervise younger and newer climbers and keep the area under and around the bars clear.
Can I add to it later?
Yes, the frames are modular. You can add accessories like a ninja net, a monkey bridge or a flying fox over time, with the largest frame able to fit several at once, though accessories are sold separately. Along with the height adjustment, that lets the frame keep pace with your children’s ages and interests, backed by a ten-year frame warranty.
Installers.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Growplay. Growplay is a trademark of its owner, referred to here only to describe the assembly services that independent installers on this directory provide.