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What are the top 5 customer questions?

Hello, I’m Amy…. Project Manager here at Xorbars. I started in April 2021 and have really enjoyed learning the ropes.  My role as project manager is to manage the installation of our garden gyms from concept through to completion. 

As you can imagine I get asked a lot of questions, BUT on average many of the questions are very similar.  So I thought that I would put them down on our blog just in case one or two of them are what you are looking for  So here are the TOP 5 questions I get asked!

Q1: Can I design my own gym?

YES absolutely!  We love to see your designs. Sometimes it’s the parents that take charge but often it is the kids that have very specific ideas on what they require.

Take a look at the DESIGN YOUR OWN GYM section on the website when designing your own Xorbars gym. You can have a play about with layouts, dimensions and add varying accessories to get it exactly how you would like for your personal usage. This obviously varies from family to family depending on ages of users, the space you have for your garden gym and which type of workout you’re after. 

Remember you can use this for both an installation or DIY quote too.

Your design does not have to be perfect.  Once we have received your design/sketch/work of art , we can advise on stability and useability of your custom design and get you a bespoke quote specifically for this.

Q2: You don’t install in my area; do you recommend anyone or what are my options?

Unfortunately we cannot cover all of the UK. 

At the moment we can offer you full DIY kits of most of our products.  Some are shown on the website and some are waiting to be uploaded.  If there is a product you would like a DIY for which is not there, then please email in for a quote.

With our DIY kits you will receive everything our installers take on a job. 

These can be installed by yourselves (if you have moderate DIY skills). You can also give us a call beforehand if you would like any advice or guidance, sometimes a friendly chat can give you the confidence you need to get the job done.  We can book you a time slot with an installer too.  So you can go over any questions you may have. The DIY option does require a certain amount of work prior to installation, posts need to be sanded / planed and oiled. All bars come with coach screws and washers included within the kit and our DIY Option also comes with Postsavers to add longevity to your posts. Postsavers are designed to protect the bottom (ground level) from rot.

For a guide on installing a pull up bar, please see the guide to outdoor pull up bar installation.

Another option would be to find a landscape gardener or builder in your local area who would be able to install for you. Simply show them the design and explain that you will have everything on site (except for postcrete – 2 bags per post on average).  Most professionals will easily install our gyms to the same exacting standards as we do.  And we are also happy to speak to them too should they need any advice.

Q3: Which varnish/oil can I use to maintain my Xorbars posts?

Whilst all of our posts are treated by the sawmill and we offer further protection as part of your installation, we do recommend treating the wood regularly.  The simple fact here is that the wood is designed and protected to last – however by regular easy maintenance, you will prolong the life or your gym.

We do want to stress the importance of proper maintenance, which in short is making sure that you treat the posts twice a year with a wood preservative, stain or oil. We recommend that at the beginning of the summer and then at the beginning of winter you apply a coat of any wood preservative, protective oil or stain. This will help to continuously nourish the wood and maximise the lifespan. 

Will the wooden posts crack or split?

At times, as the weather heats up, the cracks can appear almost overnight and at first can be somewhat alarming. But this is the nature of wood. This is something that will most likely happen but it is not something to be alarmed about. Because the cracks often run down the centre of the wood it can look like the bolts that attach the pull up bars to the posts are causing the wood to split. This is NOT the case.

For further information please see our more detailed blog post on splitting wood.

Q4: What is the maximum weight of Boxing Bag I can use on your bracket?

We have had our bars tested to a static weight of 300kg so the boxing bracket itself can easily hold that weight. Ideally the boxing bracket would be best positioned on a central post and not one in isolation to main frame. This would provide the most structural support. It is recommended the you use the boxing bag (when part of an Xorbars gym) for conditioning training – personally we save the heavy duty boxing for the gym.

Q5: What is the warranty on installed Xorbars gyms?

Xorbars installed gyms have a 12 month Guarantee (Parts & Labour). All gyms also come with a 24 month Warranty on any defected parts (does not include labour). Both cover the functionality of the equipment and do not include chipped paint or checking of posts (see above for wood checking info). 

Fun Fact: we have been installing gyms for 7 years and to date have only received three maintenance calls.   

Well that’s the TOP 5.  I bet you are now thinking – well none of my questions are even there!  If that is the case or if you just have many more questions then head over to our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section here FAQ’s.​ 

Failing that, please email me using the contact us page.

Thanks

Amy (Project Manager)

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How tall should monkey bars be for kids?

How tall should monkey bars be?

We install a lot of monkey bars for customers across the UK and one of the most frequent questions we get asked is how tall should my monkey bars be? 

The reason we get asked this is because most of our customers are families, made up of mum, dad and two or three kids.  So, with five people in the family…  Hold on!  We mean five people and the uncles, aunts and of course friends, how do you choose the best height. 

how tall should monkey bars be for children

Start with the tallest person.

Is dad using the monkey bars to do pull ups?  As in most cases, dad is often the tallest person with sons hot on their heels, it’s a good idea to take his measurement first.  The measurement for monkey bars is from the ground to dads outstretched arms and fingers.  If you then add approx. 50mm to this you will get a bar height that makes sure his feet are off the floor when hanging.  In most cases you will be between 2.2 and 2.5meters.

What if it is just kids using the monkey bars?

Well, if it is just kids using the monkey bars then we still think that monkey bars should be put in at a high height.  Kids have a tendency to grow really quickly and learn to use monkey bars incredibly fast.  We have put monkey bars in much lower and subsequently received a call asking if they can be moved higher up shortly after.  So, in this instance, start with a high height between 2.2 and 2.5m and consider the following information:

Now for the first height test of your monkey bars

Take everyone outside and find something that is that height.  Something like a tree branch, pergola or shed works well.  It helps you get an idea of just how high we think you need.  It’s a good time to consider also the post height.  Remember… they will be 100 – 150mm above this.   

The monkey bars look pretty high and we have young kids

The next test is to consider the youngest child (who will actually be using the bars).  We think that most children 6 and over are capable of using the bars at an adulty height.  If they are not quite there yet, then we have noticed that they learn incredibly fast. 

Get them to stretch up and measure from toes to outstretched fingers.  Now deduct that measurement from your planned total height.  Whatever height you are left with is the height that they will potentially drop from.  You will soon notice that whilst high for a young child, for any child 10 and over, it’s not that high.   

Find something that is that height and see how comfortable your kids are jumping down from it. 

Go to a park

It is always worth seeing if your local park has any monkey bars.  Take a tape measure and of course your kids and try it out.  They are often quite low and not great for adults.  So measure them and see what the difference is between your ideal adult height and the park monkey bars.  If they can jump down from the ones at the park, then you can assess whether a little extra height will still be okay.

Consider a crash mat

A nice option for kids is a crash mat.  You can get these from Amazon.  They simply just take the edge off when practicing, just until they get the hang of it.  See more on this when considering ladder bars (to climb up to the monkey bars)

Using ladder bars and how many do you need?

Ladder bars to climb up to the monkey bars are sold separately.  For Teenagers and adults, we recommend one at each end. 

For children, we like to recommend using 4 in total.  We put 3 at one end and 1 at the other.  The children can climb up one end and get all the way across to the single ladder bar.  We refer to this as a ‘perch bar’.  Children can perch here and then climb back.  Now the cool thing about this bar and NOT having full ladder bars at this end (besides the cost) is that children like to jump off this bar.  And guess what?  The crash mat is excellent here.  Great practice for kids and super fun for parkour. 

Get Olympic Gymnastic rings

It is worth considering getting some gymnastic rings.  They are great for everyone but if you do have a young child that isn’t yet tall enough then they will have something for them to use and play with too.

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Which Warrior Outdoor Gym is Right For You?

The Xorbars Warrior Gym is one of our most popular garden gyms which is why we have developed 3 different versions to chose from. Lets start by looking at the standard model.


Option 1: The Standard Warrior Garden Gym

This is our most poular gym for all the family, It includes:

  • 1 x Set of Monkey Bars
  • 2 x Pull Up Bars (Set to any Height)
  • 1 x Set of Parallel Bars
  • 1 x Mini Bar above the Parallel Bars for Incline Press Ups

The heights are set to suit adults and children alike and you can add a bunch of extras including: another bar above the parallel bars for climbing, a boxing bag bracket, ropes, TRX attachments and/or a swing.


Option 2: The GB (Gorilla Bar) Warrior Garden Gym

gorilla bars

This swaps out the monkey bars for Gorilla Bars.

  • 1 x Set of Gorilla Bars
  • 2 x Pull Up Bars (Set to any Height)
  • 1 x Set of Parallel Bars
  • 1 x Mini Bar above the Parallel Bars for Incline Press Ups

As you can see we have swapped the monkey bars for wider and longer Gorilla Bars. You can do full wide arm pull ups on each bar. Children over 8 can easily use them. You can add more ropes and attachments.


Option 3: The Olympic Warrior Garden Gym

Olympic Ring High Bars Garden

This one is for the Olympic Rings enthusiasts

  • 1 x Set of Monkey Bars
  • 1 x Olympic Height Pull Up Bar (13ft High)
  • 1 x Pull Up Bars (Set to any Height)
  • 1 x Set of Parallel Bars
  • 1 x Mini Bar above the Parallel Bars for Incline Press Ups

This is especially designed for those of you who require full height Olympic rings. The bar is set to around 13ft in the air that you have full use of Olympic Rings*

*Note: Olympic rings can be used on our standard Warrior Gyms where the posts are still pretty tall.


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Cracking or Checking of Posts

Cracking Posts (also known as Checking)

Whilst we use the best sources of timber available to us (within a price) when constructing your garden gym, the posts we use will either have visible checks already or it is inevitable that cracking/checking will occur.. This can be especially prevalent during the hot summer months. Remember – wood is a natural product and will split.  

100% Full refund prior to installation

If after reading this article you would like cancel your order prior to installation or delivery of DIY products then you will be entitled to a 100% refund.  If you go ahead with the installation and subsequently do not like the appearance then unfortunately there will me nothing we can do.

Cracking timber is a common concern for all!

  • We use several companies in the UK to supply timber and we have found that ALL of the timber used regardless of the source is susceptible to ‘checking’ or ‘cracking’.
  • This is a problem that ALL timber suppliers face and all suppliers of play equipment and gazebos etc.

The information provided here is to give you an understanding of what to expect after you have our installation team install your gym.

What to expect after your outdoor gym is installed?

The following images show how the wood can crack/split usually during the summer months as the wood dries /adapts naturally to the outside environment.

cracking posts

  • In 99% of all cases the cracks, which may appear as defects, will NOT affect the structural integrity of your gym.
  • At times, as the weather heats up, the cracks can appear almost overnight and at first can be somewhat alarming.  But this is the nature of wood.  This is something that will most likely happen but it is not something to be alarmed about.
  • Because the cracks often run down the centre of the wood it can look like the bolts that attach the pull up bars to the posts are causing the wood to crack.  This is NOT the case.

Further research

We also DON’T want you to just take our word for it.  So below are links to other website that discuss in detail ‘Checking’ (cracking) of wooden posts.

https://www.mcilvain.com/how-to-prevent-cracks-in-your-large-timbers/

https://www.tuin.co.uk/blog/cracking-and-splitting-in-timber/

What can you do?

As the structural integrity is NOT affected the short answer is you don’t have to do anything.  In fact, during the winter months we often find that the cracks subside as their is more moisture in the air. 

However from an aesthetic perspective this an area that we are currently investigating and will be updating this page over the coming weeks. 

Taking care of your posts

Whilst the posts are pressure treated for outdoor use, we do as standard  recommend applying an oil based stain or weather resistant treatment to the timber posts on an annual basis as part of your general maintenance program (more of which is discussed as part of the installation process). The oil can be easily applied to penetrate into the cracks to help in the overall preservation of the timber.

100% Full refund prior to installation

If after reading this article you would like cancel your order prior to installation or delivery of DIY products then you will be entitled to a 100% refund. If you go ahead with the installation and subsequently do not like the appearance then unfortunately there will me nothing we can do.

Remember, the most important thing is that the bars feel secure and solid.  

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Metal Monkey Bar with Outdoor Pull Up Bar

Metal Monkey Bar for Garden
  • Case Study: The Miller Family
  • Product Purchased: Monkey Bar and 5ft Pull Up Bar
  • Tallest Bar Height: 2.4 Metres
  • Added Extras: Foot Hold bar, 16 inch multi use bar, swing, sanding and oiling
  • Family Members: 2 x Adults 2 x Children
  • Adult Age: 40+
  • Children Age: 8 & 12

Choosing Xorbars to Install an Outdoor Gym

We take a great deal of pride in our installation expertise which is why we were pleased to recieve the following correspondence from Mr Miller:

“My question concerns the installation. This is really important for me because I would much prefer to pay you guys to install for me.  Is my understanding correct? It would assist massively of you could do the install!”

About the Family 

The Turner family are based in Gloucestershire, Dad enjoys his long distance running and climbing, Mum mostly does her running but does circuit training once a week and is looking to use the Olympic rings to do back rows and to develop her upper body strength. The daughter aged 8 loves her climbing, she has been climbing the tree in the garden with a rope attached but has been asking for monkey bars for a while. The son aged 12, is coming into his teenage years and started to want more body definition, wanting to build on his ‘guns’ as young boys do and  like every young boy, he really wanted a pull up bar.

The previous equipment in the garden was an old swing which was being disposed off.  They were adding a swing to the new Xorbars set up.

Designing the Perfect Outdoor Gym 

The family wanted something that would fit into the space at the end of the garden next to the existing trampoline, this way it wouldn’t impose on the rest of the garden.metal monkey bars garden

Getting the Height of the Pull up Bars to fit the Whole Family 

The monkey bar was installed at the height 2.40 meters, which is the general height that most people opt for. This meant that Dad being 5ft 11 had the height set so that he had to do a little jump to reach the monkey bars.

8 year old’s can use Adult Equipment

The 8 year old daughter tried out the monkey bar and easily got up and off the equipment smoothly and safely she can also jump down from the full height bar.

Narrow Access to Garden

There was a small narrow covered passage way from the front of the house to the rear garden which meant that help was required to carry the 12ft posts to ensure that no damage occurred. Andrew was happy to assist in carrying the posts with the Xorbars installer. The duration of the installation took 1 day.

Future Extension to the Gym

After discussing different training methods/moves with the customer, they are now considering extending the gym next year. Mum and dad were extremely pleased that it is easy to add on other bars so this will grow with the family and their training requirements.

Dip bars are one really nice addition which can be easily incorporated into this set up by adding them to the end of the monkey bars.

Adjustable Height of the Pull Up Bar

The posts have been installed so that that the pull up bar can be raised at a later date to accommodate Olympic rings.  Foot bars can be added to the bottom of the posts so that the bar can still be reached for standard pull ups.

Customer Review 

[blockquote author=”” link=”” target=”_blank”]Communications before the installation were prompt and professional. On the day, James arrived precisely on time, he talked to us about our needs and made sure that he fully understand what we wanted out of the installation, and then he set to work in the most efficient and organised manner one could imagine. During the installation, he came up with ideas and proposals for altering the height and location of certain bars, all of which made complete sense. And at the end of the day, he tidied away and left no mess whatsoever. We have been left with a fabulous set up that has been receiving daily use from all of us, small and large![/blockquote]