Bijou Build Frequently Asked Questions

At Bijou Build, we design playsets that fit beautifully into family life. Inspired by nature and built with intention, our collapsible, modular designs are the first of their kind: easy to set up, easy to store, and made to last. Unlike bulky, permanent structures, Bijou Build lets you reclaim your yard, adapt as your kids grow, and enjoy play without compromise. Our modular system grows with your family, repurposing and reconfiguring as children move from toddler years to teens, and even beyond play into new uses. Built from recycled and responsibly sourced materials, Bijou Build is the most sustainable playset in the world: fewer materials wasted, more years of connection, and endless ways to bring joy to your space. It’s playtime reimagined: modern, sustainable, and made for families who want connection without clutter.

Start with the Mainstay for the core modular structure or a smaller yard. Choose Mainstay & Sway if swinging is the priority, or Duo Rambler if climbing and connected play are the priority. Larger bundles require more space and additional safety clearance.

Bijou Build is designed for ages 3 and up with open-ended ways to play and relax as your family grows. Younger children can climb, explore, and enjoy imaginative play. Older kids and teens can turn it into a backyard hangout or reading nook. Adults can use the swings and platforms to unwind outdoors. In other words, there’s something for everyone ages 3–103.

All kits include all necessary hardware and straps. You will need a ladder, a drill or power screwdriver, and the necessary wood. Each of our product pages lists exactly what comes in your kit. The Mainstay kit comes with a zipper door panel, crawl-through panel, sunburst panel, clamber panel, window panel with window ring insert, Solar Light panel with five strands of solar lights, and blue Hover Platform.

The Mainstay has a stated weight limit of 250 pounds. Accessories, including the Hover Platform and Rambler Rope Bridge, have a stated 250-pound limit per accessory. Always follow the weight limits and assembly guidance for your exact configuration.

Yes. Bijou Build is a modular play system, so you can add compatible swings, platforms, climbing panels, or a Rambler Rope Bridge as your space and family’s interests change. Use only configurations and connection points approved for your model, and follow the instructions and anchoring requirements for every new accessory.

The Bijou Mainstay has an assembled footprint of approximately 7.5 feet in diameter and stands 9.5 feet high. You will also need a clear safety area around the structure, allowing at least 6 feet around stationary play equipment and additional front-to-back clearance for swings. Check the product instructions for your exact configuration. Before ordering, measure the complete play area—not just the structure’s footprint—and check for fences, trees, branches, wires, slopes, and other obstacles.

Bijou Build meets or exceeds applicable U.S. standards for children’s products and outdoor play equipment, including ASTM F963 and ASTM F1148, as well as European EN 71-1 and EN 71-8 standards. Our playsets have been tested for use and abuse, torque and tension, weathering, and UV exposure.

Children should be actively supervised while using Bijou Build. The structure should also be checked for secure anchoring, damage, loose parts, and unsafe surface conditions before play. Do not use the structure until assembly and anchoring are complete or when weather, wear, or site conditions make play unsafe.

The Mainstay requires stakes, as do our Swing Arm, Duo Rambler, and Big Bijou setups. The Bijou Build Nest and Haven do not require stakes but will need to be staked down when adding weight-bearing accessories such as the Swing Arm or Rope Bridge.

Bijou Build should be installed on relatively level, stable ground so the structure can be evenly positioned and securely staked down. Avoid steep slopes, uneven areas, rocks, roots, and other obstacles that could affect stability or prevent the anchors from being fully secured. If your installation area is uneven, level and prepare the ground before assembling your playset. Always follow the anchoring instructions for your specific setup and confirm that the structure is stable before use.

Install Bijou Build on a level area with impact-absorbing protective surfacing appropriate for the equipment’s fall height. CPSC guidance recommends materials such as properly installed wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, shredded rubber, or safety-tested rubber surfacing rather than concrete, asphalt, or another hard surface. Follow the Bijou Build instructions and the surfacing manufacturer’s requirements for material type, depth, drainage, and maintenance.

Plan for an unobstructed safety zone in addition to the product footprint. CPSC recommends protective surfacing extending at least 6 feet around most home play equipment. For swings, the surface should extend in front of and behind the swing to twice the height of the suspending bar. Use the dimensions and instructions for your exact Bijou Build configuration before choosing an installation location.

You can stake your Bijou Build products down on artificial turf, depending on what is below the turf. Many turf installations use sand or materials that can be staked through, meaning the biggest concern is cosmetic. The small U-stakes used by the Mainstay and Sway generally do not pose much of an issue. The Duo Rambler requires larger, screw-in auger stakes that may pose a larger issue for turf. A landscaping company suggested cutting a small flap in the turf, lifting it, and screwing in the stake. If you later remove or move the setup, you can fill the hole with the material below the turf and re-secure the flap with turf nails. The Nest and Haven do not require stakes unless weight-bearing accessories are added. They are compatible with a center-point attachment swing such as the Hover Swing.

The Mainstay cannot be installed on concrete, nor can our Swing Arm, Duo Rambler, or Big Bijou setups, because they must be staked down to be safely and securely installed. The Bijou Build Nest and Haven can be installed without stakes because they do not have play panels and are compatible with a center-point attachment swing.

It can. There are Bijou Build setups at local restaurants and small schools around the country. Each accessory can safely hold up to 250 pounds at a time, so multiple kids can play. We do not recommend the Bijou system for schools with more than 100 students.

It is simpler and less time-consuming than a traditional playset to set up. Your Bijou Build will come with instructions, and you can also follow our video assembly guide. If you have any questions, confusion, or issues, please contact customers@bijoubuild.com and we will be happy to help.

Plan approximately 2 hours for the initial Mainstay assembly with two adults. Follow our video assembly guide for a full breakdown of how it works. Once assembled, it can be collapsed and reopened in just a few minutes. Add-ons such as the Swing Arm or Rambler require additional time.

Two adults are recommended. For the Mainstay, you will need an 8-foot ladder, a drill or power screwdriver, a rubber mallet, the required lumber, and the hardware supplied with the kit. Check your model’s instructions before starting because larger bundles and accessories may require additional wood, tools, anchors, or assembly time.

We do not offer assembly services, but we are happy to assist with questions or issues that arise during setup. Please contact customers@bijoubuild.com. Bijou is designed for ease of assembly, and each Mainstay should take around 2 hours to assemble when you follow the instructions provided.

Yes. After removing the anchors as directed, the Mainstay can be folded, secured with its carrying straps, and moved or stored. Remove the stakes from the feet, walk the legs in, lean it down onto the ground, wrap the hook-and-loop carrying straps around each end, and move it to its new location. We also offer the Bijou Roller to make transport easier. One Mainstay weighs about 150 pounds, so two adults are recommended. The product uses locally available lumber, so owners can also remove and replace the wood when moving long distances. When collapsed, the Mainstay is 10.5 feet long and 2 feet in diameter, so plan your storage space accordingly.

Many third-party swings are compatible with the Bijou Swing Arm, depending on their attachment style, hanging points, hardware, dimensions, and weight rating. The Swing Arm includes four hanging points and the hardware needed to hang two swings, but the swings are sold separately. Before installing a third-party swing, confirm that its connection points fit the supplied hardware and that it allows adequate ground and front-to-back clearance. Follow the swing manufacturer’s installation and weight-limit instructions, and contact Bijou Build if you are unsure about compatibility. For the simplest fit, explore Bijou Build swings and accessories, which are designed to connect with our modular play system.

The Rambler Rope Bridge can attach from Mainstay to Mainstay, or to a Haven or Nest if it is staked down. Any Bijou Build structure attached to the Rope Bridge requires the auger stakes included in the Rope Bridge box. The Rope Bridge can also attach to a live, healthy tree with a minimum diameter of 12 inches. The Rope Bridge can also be used indoors. Each side includes four attachment ropes with adjustable lengths and carabiners.

Our Mainstay Panels, Sway Swings, Platforms, and Sky Hover Swing are made from a woven Teslin material that is 50% recycled water bottles. It is breathable, water resistant, and UV protected. The anchor feet are made from recycled water bottles. Our rings are made from durable ABS, and our straps are made from UV-protected polyester.

Bijou Build materials are designed for year-round play through all four seasons. The breathable panels repel water and are UV resistant, and the materials have been tested against the elements. Our materials are weather resistant, breathable, water resistant, mold and mildew resistant, and UV protected. Along with pressure-treated wood, these materials make for a durable playset in a variety of climates. Pressure-treated wood is recommended for extended outdoor use and protection from the elements. Cedar or redwood may also be used where available. In intensely sunny, hot, and dry climates, colors may fade over time. Our playsets are breathable, water-repelling, and moisture-, mold-, and mildew-resistant.

Do not use Bijou Build during severe weather. If high winds, a thunderstorm, heavy snow, or another significant weather event is expected, follow the product instructions for collapsing, securing, or storing the structure, and inspect it before the next use. Bijou Build’s breathable panels allow wind to blow through them rather than catching it like traditional fabric. Combined with the double-staked feet, this creates a wind-resistant structure. If you are aware of an incoming storm, you can collapse your Bijou Build and reopen it after the storm passes. We also sell an additional five-piece auger-stake anchor kit for particularly high-wind areas; contact customers@bijoubuild.com to order. If the Mainstay becomes unstaked, it will collapse because of the hinges in the star hub that hold it together. It will not hold its shape once unstaked, so it will not catch wind like other outdoor structures.

Inspect the structure, anchors, straps, hardware, panels, wood, swings, and protective surfacing regularly and after severe weather or moving the system. Tighten loose hardware and replace worn or damaged parts before play. Review our safety handbook for more information.

Clean the panels with mild soap, water, and a soft brush. CPSC’s home-playground guidance recommends checking nuts and bolts and the condition of equipment regularly, with monthly checks for swing seats, ropes, chains, and cables.

Bijou Build uses standard, locally sourced wood for each playset.

• Mainstay: five 10-foot-long 2 × 4 boards.
• Duo Rambler: ten 10-foot-long 2 × 4 boards.
• Big Bijou: two 8-foot-long 2 × 4 boards, eleven 10-foot-long 2 × 4 boards, and one 10-foot-long 2 × 6 board.
• Mainstay and Sway: two 8-foot-long 2 × 4 boards, six 10-foot-long 2 × 4 boards, and one 10-foot-long 2 × 6 board.
• Swing Arm Kit: two 8-foot-long 2 × 4 boards, one 10-foot-long 2 × 4 board, and one 10-foot-long 2 × 6 board.

For the Swing Arm, 10 feet is our standard recommendation, but customers with smaller yards have used an 8-foot board and one swing.

Bijou Build can be ordered with or without wood. Select your preferred wood option on the product page when placing your order. If you choose ‘with wood,’ Bijou Build will coordinate delivery of the required pressure-treated lumber from a local Lowe’s, Home Depot, or lumber supplier. Because the wood is delivered separately from your playset kit, it may arrive on a different date. If you choose ‘without wood,’ you can purchase the required lumber from a local supplier. Review the Bijou Build wood requirements for the exact board sizes and quantities needed for your playset.

Yes. Bijou Build products have a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. Please contact customers@bijoubuild.com with images of any issues with your product.

Once your order is placed, it is actively worked on by a member of our team. You will receive an email when your order ships from our Dallas warehouse. We ship as inventory is available, meaning that if your order contains a pre-ordered item, all in-stock items will ship right away and your pre-ordered item will arrive within its scheduled date range. You can also check your order status by logging into your account on our website. If you are concerned about your order, contact customers@bijoubuild.com so we can assist you.

Pre-order means you are ordering an item that will not ship immediately because we are in the process of restocking it. Your order is still guaranteed and secure. You will know an item is available for pre-order when the product page’s add-to-cart button says ‘Pre-order now’ and provides an estimated shipping date. Your order is pending in our system until it is fulfilled and will ship within its estimated date range. You will receive an email when the item ships.

Please contact us within 24 hours to cancel your order. If it has been longer than 24 hours, we will check the status of your order but cannot guarantee cancellation.

You may return Bijou Build products for up to 45 days from delivery. A 20% restocking fee and return shipping will be deducted from your refund. Your refund will be processed 2–3 business days after your return is received by our warehouse. We do not offer returns on wood.

We are available in the United States, Canada, and Australia. For any other location, contact customers@bijoubuild.com for a shipping quote.

Yes. Contact us with your product name, order number, photos, and the part you need. The support team can confirm availability, compatibility, warranty coverage, and whether the structure should remain out of use until the part is replaced.

Contact our customer service team at customers@bijoubuild.com and we will help resolve the issue.