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Quality Outdoor Furniture in Kansas City and Wichita: A Review of Backyard Specialists

Outdoor time is very important to me and my family. We eat dinner outside most nights from April to November and my kids play outside most days after school. Our former outdoor furniture and swing set were literally falling apart- it was time for us to upgrade. 

I looked for outdoor furniture in Kansas City and found Backyard Specialists. Their products were high-quality, their service was excellent (they run frequent deals with free delivery or swing set installation), and I loved that they were local. 

a family eating at their outdoor table in Kansas City

I reached out to Matt Heerey, the owner of Backyard Specialists, and he provided the patio furniture and swing set mentioned in this post. This is an honest review of my thoughts on our outdoor furniture in Kansas City from Backyard Specialists. 

Outdoor Furniture in Kansas City and Wichita

Polywood Furniture: 

If you’re looking to get new patio furniture in Kansas City, polywood is arguably the most popular material on the market right now and for good reason. Polywood is made out of high-density polyethylene (or HDPE)- also known as the hard plastics used to make milk jugs and containers. This makes polywood an eco-friendly choice because 99% of this outdoor furniture comes from recycled materials. 

Why is polywood so popular?

Polywood is extremely durable. It is a great choice for outdoor furniture in Kansas City. It lasts for 20-30 years. It is UV-resistant and maintains its color, bug resistant, corrosive resistant, easy to maintain (no sanding or painting), and it comes in lots of colors. If you’re looking for outdoor furniture in Kansas City or Wichita that is long-lasting and requires little to no maintenance, then polywood is likely the best choice for you. 

outdoor furniture in Kansas City front porch chairs and table from Backyard Specialists

For me, the main reason I was drawn to polywood furniture is because of the durability. We bought an outdoor table 8 years before that was metal. The paint peeled off, it rusted and the glass in the center was cracked. The table we bought started looking old and gross after about 3-4 years. Having something that would last 20 years really appealed to me when searching for outdoor furniture in Kansas City.

We also have three little kids and no time. I don’t want the time that I do have to be spent resurfacing furniture or painting faded furniture. Ultimately, I know that we would likely wait way too long to properly care for wooden furniture and the life of our outdoor furniture would decrease, making it a greater expense in the long run because we would have to replace it sooner. 

an outdoor polywood table from Backyard Specialists in Kansas City

What polywood items did we get? 

We got a polywood table that seats 6 people for our back porch with matching chairs and two adirondack chairs as well as a small table for our front porch. I went with all black front porch furniture, but you can choose from 13 different colors. On our back porch I chose a table with a brown top and black legs. You can customize your furniture to be 2 colors to suit your style. I thought this was a fun feature of Backyard Specialists outdoor furniture in Kansas City and Wichita.

Pros of Polywood Furniture: 

  • Lasts 20-30 years 
  • UV-Resistant and doesn’t fade 
  • Bug Resistant 
  • Corrosive Resistant 
  • Easy to maintain 
  • Comes in 13 different colors 
  • You can customize the design to be 2 colors 
  • Made in the USA
  • It looks cute! 

Cons of Polywood Furniture: 

Although polywood can withstand any natural temperatures, we learned not to put hot things on our outdoor table. My husband was grilling and put a hot lid down on the table and it left a small mark. I am glad we know this now because sometimes we will roast marshmallows in our backyard and rest the roasting sticks on our table, now we know not to do that. 

Polywood is more expensive than other types of outdoor furniture, however I would argue that it is cheaper in the long run. You’re paying an upfront investment of something that will last longer and be lower maintenance. If you’re looking for the cheapest option, polywood may not be for you. If you’re looking for outdoor furniture in Kansas City that will last, and thus save you money long-term, then polywood is a good investment. 

front porch with polywood furniture from Kansas City decorated for Halloween

My thoughts: 

Overall, I was really impressed with our outdoor furniture from Backyard Specialists. I was looking for quality, long lasting outdoor furniture in Kansas City that looked nice in our space and that is exactly what I found. 

Swing Set

We also got a swing set from Backyard Specialists when we were looking for outdoor furniture in Kansas City. This swing set was tall and sturdy. It easily fits our 3 kids plus more neighborhood kids. I love that it is big enough for multiple kids and good enough quality that it will last until my kids outgrow it. 

a swing set with swings, slide, and climbing wall in Kansas City from Backyard Specialists

Our last swing set was purchased on Amazon in 2020. It lasted about three years before it broke down to the point it became dangerous for my kids to play on it. It was also not as tall or wide as our new swing set. My kids would have been too old to play on it in a few years. This time while researching outdoor furniture in Kansas City I wanted a swing set that was quality and would last and was big enough for all my kids. 

Pros: 

  • Design- You can pick from many designs or custom features 
  • Size- These swing sets are much larger than ones you will find at larger companies. They can better accommodate multiple children and older children
  • Quality- These swing sets are built to last as your kids grow
  • Installation- Backyard Specialists can install your swing set for you so you know it is safe for your children. The assembly is fairly fast, it took them just a few hours to install our swing set. I was able to keep the kids out of the house for the assembly so we could surprise them when we came home! 
  • Sometimes they run deals for free installation. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to look for those deals. 
  • Local- They have a local office in Kansas City and Wichita with sets available for viewing. This way you can support a local company and see the product before you buy it. 
two kids playing on their swing set from Backyard Specialists

Cons: 

The slide of our swing set collects water at the bottom. It can be a little annoying to have to wipe that off after it rains, but that also happens at all the playgrounds we go to, so maybe it is just what happens with slides. 

These swing sets are also more expensive than others you might see online or at Costco. However, this will last you much longer, its better quality, there are installation options (yes! Backyard Specialists will build it for you!), and they are larger. This is definitely a situation where you get what you pay for. 

My thoughts: 

If you want a swing set that will only last for a few years while your kids are little, then maybe a cheaper swing set is a good option for you. However, if you want to encourage your kids to play outdoors for years to come, then I recommend investing in something that will last. Likewise, if you have multiple children, I think the larger swing set will better accommodate your family. 

An old swing set that is falling apart
This is our old swing set which was 4 years old

Why Backyard Specialists? 

When you support Backyard Specialists, you can also get deals on free delivery and/or installation which is a BIG perk. If you pay someone to install your swing set, you can pay hundreds to thousands of dollars. Or if you choose to do it yourself, you could do it incorrectly and make something that is not safe for children. 

The quality of Backyard Specialist’s products was the biggest perk for me when looking for outdoor furniture in Kansas City. We are limited on time, and I want backyard furniture that will last. I don’t want to have to replace my swing set outdoor furniture every 4-5 years. 

There are a lot of options when it comes to outdoor furniture in Kansas City and swing sets, but I always prefer to support local business when I can. The owner of Backyard Specialists, Matt, is kind and helpful. I like supporting brands with people I can talk to and care about their brand and sales. That is something you just cannot get from Walmart or Amazon. 

A boy playing on the slide of a swing set with a large rock climbing wall

Conclusion 

If you’re looking for Kansas City patio furniture, Backyard Specialists is a great choice. I wish that we had gone with Backyard Specialists the first time! They sell quality outdoor furniture in Kansas City.

If you’re looking for more fun ways to get outside in KC, check out the 21 Best Hiking Trails in Kansas City and 10 Best Places for Camping near Kansas City.

What are you looking for most when it comes to swing sets or outdoor furniture in Kansas City? Let me know in the comments below.

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