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)