| Project by Frank Smith | posted 01-31-2018 03:37 AM | 1862 views | 15 times favorited | 22 comments |  |
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My sons and I have been building this backyard playhouse. I designed it last summer to create a structure that had the feel and look of a treehouse despite not have a tree worthy of the structure. The goal was to have some great features that would give them a great place to let their imaginations run wild. It was intentionally placed near the tall hedge row and under the oak branch since it couldn’t be in a tree. The exterior is complete with doors, and windows being built in the shop this winter. We still need to finish the interior this spring and add the features that will make it a true kids hangout. I will post again when the inside is finished.
The detentions are 8’x 8’. There is 4’ of clearance under the structure. It is built on 6’ x 6’ posts. The floor framing is all treated lumber. The wall framing is built using exterior paper, flashing and building materials on the inside and outside of the wall system. Although it will have windows and doors, I can’t rely on kids keeping everything closed for the structure to weather well. My wife and I will teach them to close up at the end of the day, but the building does not require it to stay dry.
The shingles are standard laminate shingles that match our house and out building. The siding, trim, overhangs and stairs are all cedar. A full set of plans was submitted to the building department prior to starting this project. Based on the plans they had no objections and did not require a permit. I only mention that because there are way to many stories of families building great projects that end in tragedy when they have to be taken down. It’s always worth getting approval. It’s also important to still have the underground utilities located before digging even if no permit is needed.
The last picture is a sneak preview of another project I have been working on. Its the build out of a Transit van. What you can see in this sneak preview is a slide out that holds an miter box and table saw operable off of the shelf. There is also a slide out end feed table to catch the material. I will post about that once it is done as well and do a video walk through at the channel I linked.
22 comments so far
Vindex
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93 posts in 1185 days
#1 posted 01-31-2018 04:23 AM
That is gorgeous! I am sure the kids will love it.
Frank Smith
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101 posts in 2270 days
#2 posted 01-31-2018 07:02 AM
Thank you Vindex. I hope they do. They have really gotten into building it.
TimInIndiana
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144 posts in 503 days
#3 posted 01-31-2018 12:22 PM
Really nice job. I can’t show my kids this or they will be after me to quickly take my skills to the next level (or rather, several levels beyond current!).
Dutchy
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3362 posts in 2531 days
#4 posted 01-31-2018 12:43 PM
Royal palace!
-- https://dutchypatterns.com/
helluvawreck
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#5 posted 01-31-2018 02:02 PM
This play house turned out so beautifully. Nice work.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
ohwoodeye
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#6 posted 01-31-2018 02:53 PM
Looks nicer than my house.
Well done.
-- "Fine Woodworking" is the name given to a project that takes 3 times longer than normal to finish because you used hand tools instead of power tools. ----Mike, Waukesha, WI
pottz
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5037 posts in 1347 days
#7 posted 01-31-2018 03:30 PM
wow over the top,your kids have got to love that,and it looks like they had a great time helping out too.beautiful job.
-- sawdust the bigger the pile the bigger my smile-larry,so cal.
calisdad
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334 posts in 1872 days
#8 posted 01-31-2018 04:53 PM
Very nice.
I think not only have you created a play house (and maybe a side job), but you planted the seed of a carpenter and with proper nourishment it will flourish.
Well Done.
-- Groveland, CA.
sras
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5063 posts in 3492 days
#9 posted 01-31-2018 05:15 PM
Well, that’s just perfect!
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
Northwest29
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#10 posted 01-31-2018 07:15 PM
You are a great dad with a big heart. Your boys are very fortunate.
-- Ron, Eugene, OR, "Curiosity is a terrible thing to waste."
Mean_Dean
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6958 posts in 3510 days
#11 posted 01-31-2018 07:37 PM
That’s a great playhouse—the coolest on the block, I’ll bet!
-- Dean -- "Don't give up the ship -- fight her 'till she sinks!" Capt James Lawrence USN
Hawaiilad
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3374 posts in 3384 days
#12 posted 01-31-2018 07:39 PM
Great job on the play house. Your kids will love it for years. If I remember right, I tossed a sheet over the clothes line and staked the corners and called it a play house fort.
-- Larry in Hawaii,
woodbutcherbynight
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#13 posted 01-31-2018 09:09 PM
Wow, great work!!
-- Live to tell the stories, they sound better that way.
bobasaurus
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#14 posted 01-31-2018 09:20 PM
That looks great, wish I had one as a kid.
-- Allen, Colorado (Instagram @bobasaurus_woodworking)
Ziggman
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120 posts in 801 days
#15 posted 01-31-2018 09:52 PM
Very cool house.
Lucky kids.
-- In his retort, the alchemist repeats the work of nature-----Jim Morrison
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