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Discussion Forum

Kids playhouse

Toolsguy | Posted in General Discussion on May 27, 2004 03:53am

For my son’s 3rd birthday, I want to build him a small outside playhouse. I have a general idea of what it will look like but thought I would ask if anyone has any do’s or don’t or design ideas.

We’re  talking simple here. Mostly a shed design but smaller.  I figure it will be about 8′ x 5′ with a door and a window in the front, maybe window on each side too. I want to keep it small so its not too overwhelming in the yard. For the roof I’m figuring a peak type. What angle would be best to do? 45 degree peak (keep them from climbing on top?). For siding I figure I will use that ply material that is grey on one side.

How best would I design the roof so that there aren’t rafters in the way of head room inside? Or is this a no no?

I’m figuring I will sketch my own plans but if anyone can recommend some they have seen that would be appreciated.

 

 

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  1. Sancho | May 27, 2004 04:42pm | #1

    Workbench mag had some nice plans for a childs play house. I think you can get it through http://www.augusthome.com

    yep just checked they have a couple of good plans there for ya.

     

    Darkworksite4:

    El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera



    Edited 5/27/2004 9:43 am ET by RonT

    1. Toolsguy | May 27, 2004 04:58pm | #2

      Ron, thanks. I got one to come up but it looks far too complicated. I'm looking for a simple layout. What search terms did you use. Maybe I missed it.

      1. Sancho | May 27, 2004 10:29pm | #10

        Heres one I think is fairly simple. It looks tough from the first pic but pan down and they have variations that are easier

        http://www.plansnow.com/shedplay.html

        Im building a shed right now and what i did was go to Blows or the home despot and look at the ones (sheds) they have on display . At the blowes near my home they have them out in fronto just go with a tape measure and digital cam if necesary and copy theirs or mod it to fit your needs.  

        Darkworksite4:

        El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera

  2. User avater
    BossHog | May 27, 2004 05:22pm | #3

    I built one for my kids a few years back. I got carried away, and spent about $1,000 on materials. But I figured I could sell it once they outgrew it, and get some of the money back.

    Unfortunately, no one would give me anything for it. Ended up giving it to a relative.

    A couple of ideas come to mind that might help. First is ventilation. I put a small single hung window in the back that had a screen in it. And I framed in a small screened opening up high in front for air flow. The kids used it mostly during the summer, so geting the heat out was important. A ridge vent might have been a good idea, but I didn't think of it at the time.

    The second thing that comes to mind is light. Once I got the plywood on the roof on I realized it was pretty dark inside. So I got a couple of small bubble skylights to put in the roof. Made a heck of a diference.

    The small window and the skylights were leftovers or demo windows from a small lumberyard that I picked up cheap. It might be worth asking around for odd stuff.

    The back window turned out to be popular with the kids. They used it to play "McDonald's drive-up".

    Next would be bugs. I made mine bug tight, so the kids wouldn't go out and find a wasp nest in there one day.

    I wish I had put some heavy plastic under the thing when we built it. That would have kept down the moisture inside it. The damp ground under it smelled sometimes.

    I made the wall heigh about 6', so it wouldn't look too tall and out of proportion. And I cut down a door to fit the scale of the house. Trouble is, the thing isn' good for anything BUT a playhouse. Once the kids outgrew it the thing wasn't really practical to keep as a storage shed.

    If you want more height inside, frame the roof with rafters and don't put in a ceiling. You can make the pitch as steep as you want to gain inside height.

    My boys also used the playhouse for a couple of overnight camp-outs with their friends. If you think your Son might do that, you might want to make it a bit more than 5' wide.

    When you build it, keep the future in mind. Eventually your kid(s) will be gone or outgrow it. Then you'll either have to sell it or use it as a storage shed. Plan for whatever you eventually think you'll do with it.

    But above all, go for it. As far as I'm concerned, the only playhouse that's built wrong is the one that never gets done.

    "Lots of people talk to animals," said Pooh. "But...Not very many listen"

  3. tibbetts | May 27, 2004 05:23pm | #4

    I'm thinking about the same thing for my 2-year old. David Stiles's book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1552093158/qid=1085667496) has some neat ideas, but they aren't exactly comprehensive blueprints. One good source of designs is Jamaica Cottage Shop (http://www.jamaicacottageshop.com), which also sells kits.

    One thing that I've never seen a design for is a combination shed and playhouse. I have an existing 8' x 16' shed that's just about collapsed from rot, and I'd like to replace it with one that's divided into two spaces--like one playhouse for the kids and another one for Dad.

    1. PhillGiles | May 27, 2004 05:38pm | #5

      The best idea I've seen is to buy a wooden shed kit and modify it (if necessary) with additional windows. Adding small windows on either side of the door looks realy good. Paint and some interior work create the play-house (see the Disney paint display at HD). The shed can be converted back to its original destiny after the kids grow out of it.

      I wish I had some online pictures of one we built this way for a neighbour many moons back: simply wodden structure, white siding, door in gable end, red door and window frames c/w flower planters, some ginger-bread trim..

      Phill Giles

      The Unionville Woodwright

      Unionville, Ontario

  4. hammer | May 27, 2004 06:05pm | #6

    A few years back I built a playhouse for my kids. Turned out very nice.

    I started with a 6X8 platform 4' off the ground. This covered the sandbox below. The entrance had a 2X6 porch. off of a staircase. The framing was part of the siding. I used 3/4" cedar faced exterior ply and screwed 2/4's at the corners and base. I used a double 2X6 across the top, for better roof support. The 3/4" siding does a good job for a 6'X6' playhouse, but if you build bigger I would use more beefed up framing. I also angled the two side walls out 20deg. to give a larger feeling inside. With 5' walls and the roof mentioned below, an adult can stand inside.

    The roof was a 10/12 pitch made with 2X6's and 1/2 plywood for triangular colar supports, so the roof needed no lateral support. I kept the two gable ends open for ventilation and light. I also ran the roof out to cover the porch. I never saw any kids on the roof. I guess it was too high for them to reach.

    The sandbox and playhouse, all together ran under $450.00

    Good luck and have fun.



    Edited 5/27/2004 5:34 pm ET by hammer-n

  5. csnow | May 27, 2004 08:39pm | #7

    This may be obvious, but do give it a platform floor.  Many of the playhouses around the neighborhood are just sitting on the dirt, and they get nasty inside.

    I saw one that was made from one of those $500 Rubbermaid plastic sheds.  It was 'converted' to have 2 floors inside, a bunch of little windows, and a skylight.  The big doors were just left as is, and a new little door was cut on the backside (now the front).  Even had a little front porch, and a fun paint job (of course).  Seemed like a good idea.  Wish I had my camera.

    Have you seen these?

    Expensive, but some cool ideas.

    http://www.barbarabutler.com/Playhouses.html

    1. Toolsguy | May 27, 2004 09:04pm | #8

      Holy cow! You weren't kidding about expensive. They are really cool though.

      1. User avater
        aimless | May 27, 2004 09:49pm | #9

        At first I thought that $98,720 was a wee bit overboard for a child's play structure, until I saw the one that she built for $166,000 for some kids in Napa Valley. You guys are all in the wrong business! While the 6 figure place had plumbing and electrical a lot of the 5 figure ones are just structure and paint.

        1. csnow | May 27, 2004 10:31pm | #11

          You must mean this one.  Does look like a fun job, and the margins can't be bad.

          View Image

          1. Toolsguy | May 27, 2004 11:15pm | #12

            Heck, that one looks nice enough to live in. The slide would assist me in getting out the door in the a.m. to go to work.

          2. BruLew | May 27, 2004 11:31pm | #13

            I stumbled on her site a couple years ago when looking at playhouse designs.  I built a tamer version of the Fort Bethesda while in Chicago.  It's basically pole construction with everthing bolted together so I could knock it down when we moved.  Last summer we transported it, along with our life, to Maine and I just rebuilt it a couple weeks ago. 

            I have a 13' climbing wall with grips ordered from an Oregon company that makes those butt kicking walls for the X Games.  They were ~$100 for 40 which was much cheaper than anything storebought.  

            2 things -  First, build it to challenge or to be enjoyed for many years (not just for your son at 3). Second, use dimensions to maximize stock sheet goods or lumber (saves on time and money). 

            It's really cool to see how proud the kids are when friends come over to play on their play structure. 

          3. tibbetts | May 27, 2004 11:55pm | #14

            Holy cow! I need to show that one to the DW as proof that the $2-3k that I plan to spend is peanuts!

          4. csnow | May 28, 2004 04:43pm | #15

            Look at it this way;  If you built one like that, perhaps it would qualify for a mortgage.

          5. User avater
            IMERC | May 28, 2004 06:24pm | #16

            Make sure no kids are looking over yur shoulder when you open that pic....

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....                                                                   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

  6. pickings | May 28, 2004 06:53pm | #17

    Call it a fort, boys like that better.

    Opt 1. Build it well, build it tall (6'). Plan on using it later for storage. 6 x 8, or 6 x 10 is not a bad size. Best done by treating front as play house with small scale door and windows, maybe a porch( just the floor extended 3' in front). But on back side, put two swing out doors that are 6' tall to allow access as a shed later.

    Opt 2. Build it small, cheap, and plan on tearing it down later.

    TRy http://www.houseplans4u.com . They have a little book of playhouses in their bookstore. Saw one like I described in there.

    Good luck, enjoy.

    PS. let the little guy help as much as he can (passing nails to you etc), he'll appreciate it much more later on, and it will be a father/son project, not just some new toy that appeared one day.

    1. marv | May 28, 2004 07:03pm | #18

      Please don't use any CCA or treated wood.  Tender hands and feet can't take the slivers.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

      Marv

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