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A House in the Woods….

user-14544 | Posted in Photo Gallery on September 6, 2006 08:34am

Got a referal from a past customer to build a small playhouse for their neighbors 6 year old twin daughters. SURE!, we can do that! I set up a meet and greet after work abouts a month back…work out a plan and start 2 weeks later.

As you can see, this “small playhouse” took on a life of its own. Had a mom that kept saying “…can we add _____?” It started out as a simple 8×10 playhouse for the girls…then they wanted something a bit bigger that we could split in half so they could have storage on one side and the playhouse on the other…what about a loft? can we get windows? how about a porch? she progressed into a 12×20 playhouse with a 3/4 loft above. and the back “storage” area? The 11 year old brother claimed that as his own and decorated it with all his sports posters and such…

It was a fun project to work on. I didn’t make a killing on the thing, but got 2 other jobs from their word of mouth, one of which I start in 2 weeks…so I took the lack of extra pocket money as great advertising…

Whaddaya think?

knowledge without experience is just information…. Mark Twain

Politicians, like diapers, need to be changed often…and for the same reason.  (bumber sticker)

www.cobrajem.com

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Replies

  1. DougU | Sep 06, 2006 03:30pm | #1

    Charlie

    Thats almost to nice for a play house! I'm sure the neighborhood kids will love the place!

    Hell I know familes that dont live in that nice a place.

    Looks good and getting the referals is an added bonus.

    Doug

  2. smslaw | Sep 06, 2006 04:44pm | #2

    Looks like it was fun to build and will be fun for the kids. 

    You might think about a railing for the stairway.  It looks like the loft railings are nailed, not bolted, to the floor framing.  It doesn't look too sturdy.  I only pretend to be a carpenter, though, so others with much more expertise  may disagree.

    1. User avater
      user-14544 | Sep 08, 2006 06:04am | #19

      your right about the railing...I was ready to put it up, but she talked me out of it...made the stairs hard to get up for an adult. they are only 2' wide.......got a call last week to come and put the railing back up. daughter almost fell...as for the nails, I set them with 3 1/2" ring shanks...stiff enough to hold my lard azz!knowledge without experience is just information.... Mark Twain

      Politicians, like diapers, need to be changed often...and for the same reason.  (bumber sticker)

      http://www.cobrajem.com

  3. User avater
    McDesign | Sep 06, 2006 07:35pm | #3

    Super!  My two girl (2 and 8) are home sick today - I just showed them the pix while we all ate lunch.  They love it, and want one.

    Forrest

  4. JohnT8 | Sep 07, 2006 12:16am | #4

    What, no basement?!

    ;)

    Looks good.

    jt8

    "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success."  --Albert Schweitzer

  5. Junkman001 | Sep 07, 2006 02:45am | #5

    Is the house sitting on 8" block on their sides?

    Insert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
    1. rez | Sep 07, 2006 03:05am | #7

      yeah, you don't need footers then.

      Makes a nice place for the dog to lay to escape the heat.

       A bird does not sing because it has an answer. A bird sings because it has a song. 

      1. Junkman001 | Sep 07, 2006 01:34pm | #9

        I'd be concerned about the potential to collapse when on their side. MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.

        1. User avater
          McDesign | Sep 07, 2006 02:25pm | #11

          <Insert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here>

          I try to take the high ground, and never repeat.

          Forrest - a new sign-off every time!

    2. User avater
      user-14544 | Sep 08, 2006 05:57am | #17

      yep, they are on their sides. I've found in the past that they tend to sink less and don't "cut" into the ground as much...I just glue them together and go. don't' normally like to use them...would rather have poured post footings...but she had to sacrifice that cost so she could afford the curtains upstairs!knowledge without experience is just information.... Mark Twain

      Politicians, like diapers, need to be changed often...and for the same reason.  (bumber sticker)

      http://www.cobrajem.com

      1. Junkman001 | Sep 10, 2006 02:26am | #21

        In the future try a 1 or 2x8x16 under a reg 8" block .

         

        MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.

        1. User avater
          user-14544 | Sep 10, 2006 04:58am | #22

          good idea....simple! Thanksknowledge without experience is just information.... Mark Twain

          Politicians, like diapers, need to be changed often...and for the same reason.  (bumber sticker)

          http://www.cobrajem.com

  6. User avater
    Sphere | Sep 07, 2006 02:48am | #6

    Way cool, glad my girls are past that stage tho'...otherwise I'd be copying some of that sweet work.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    " If ya plan to face tomorrow, do it soon"

    1. arrowshooter | Sep 07, 2006 04:28am | #8

      Always enjoy reading your posts.

      By the way what ever happened to your old barn project you were posting about a couple years ago? 

       

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Sep 07, 2006 01:55pm | #10

        Either ya have me confused with someone else or you are referring to my house, and I am living in it while it morphs into a real home...LOL

        It kinda DID look like a barn, at first. Well, still does..sorta.

        Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        " If ya plan to face tomorrow, do it soon"

        1. arrowshooter | Sep 07, 2006 03:19pm | #12

          Sorry I did'nt realize it was your house .

          As I recall it looked a little rough for living in. I was thinking it was an outbuilding you were restoring.

            

           

          1. dedubya | Sep 07, 2006 06:40pm | #13

            slap me nekkid and hide my clothes--poor duane-- no respect

            LOL

          2. User avater
            Sphere | Sep 08, 2006 02:53am | #15

            LMAO...Don't YOU be sorry too! Hell, I actually bought the place, and take the rotor outta the wifes car so she can't leave.

            Seriously, we're moving along quite sporadically, all the plans change daily..I stomp fires, and light new ones..that IS how it works in the real world of Owner/contracter/artist/breadwinner projects.

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            " If ya plan to face tomorrow, do it soon"

    2. User avater
      user-14544 | Sep 08, 2006 06:00am | #18

      thanks man...I'll have to try and dig out the pics of the 12x12 gambrel shed I made for my parents house...all from left over and recycled lumber. put a door dormer on the left roof side that steps onto a 16'x4' catwalk to a 8x8 "poop deck" landing for slide...5 swings hang below the catwalkhey, with 25 grandkids, we had to get them out of the house someway.......now where did I save that pic to????knowledge without experience is just information.... Mark Twain

      Politicians, like diapers, need to be changed often...and for the same reason.  (bumber sticker)

      http://www.cobrajem.com

  7. Attila | Sep 07, 2006 07:41pm | #14

    Here was my playhouse nightmare...Better Homes and Garden Victorian Playhouse...Donated my services as part of a charity event thinking I was putting together a kit. Showed up and was handed a set of plans by the homeowner.

    1. User avater
      user-14544 | Sep 08, 2006 05:54am | #16

      That is a nice one there...I can just see all the blue words scrolling through your head while trimming out the thing..."I signed up for this????? $%^^*%#@@+*%$!!!"I had something like that happen to me once...was refered to help a buddy's sister's boyfriend (get all that?) finish up his basement...
      "everything is done except hanging a few doors and some trim...should take about a day to wrap up."3 weekends and 18 sheets of drywall, 432 lf of base and case, 8 doors, 6 lights and 2 a/c vents later, I finally walked out of there...for free! 4 months later I ask him to come help me move my piano up 5 steps..and he had a "thing" and couldn't make it...Gotta love yer friends!what is the size of that thing btw...and how long DID it take you anyway?knowledge without experience is just information.... Mark Twain

      Politicians, like diapers, need to be changed often...and for the same reason.  (bumber sticker)

      http://www.cobrajem.com

      1. Attila | Sep 09, 2006 04:15am | #20

        I think it was about 10' to the ridge, and the footprint was roughly 8' X 10'...I'm not even sure how long it took...Everytime I had a few hours I would shoot over to do some work on it.

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