Lets take a look at how concerned you should be about the wood used to build a swing set. Yes,  it’s a top priority and it is all about wood quality and strength when purchasing a swing set? Wood is a very important part of your decision and with many types of wood to select from it can become an overwhelming task. When it comes to  swing sets and wood you can take into consideration southern yellow pine, cedar, redwood, and vinyl clad lumber. There are several things to consider so make a list of what is important to you. Once you decide between materials the size of the boards needs to be factored in. This is because you want to make sure the boards are strong and durable, maintenance free plastic coated lumber is another great option that should be considered. For another, what type of annual maintenance is required? Do you need to sand the boards and re-stain and hopefully no painting. This is, of course, a maintenance issue for you and the handyman.