Make your kids the playhouse you always wanted. Complete with swings, slide, monkey bars, pully, ropes, and playhouse. And relaxing porch swing for you to watch them play for hours at a time.
It doesn’t take a carpenter to make it.
It’s insanely cheap especially if you’re looking at out of the box options.
Let's jump right in to step by step from the ground up!
Step by step
Site and Posts: Identify your site and stake pole locations. Use post hole digger to dig your holes and set your posts.
Use traditional 4' x 4' posts 12' in length. Playhouse is slightly wider than it is deep, 7' wide by 6' length.
Beams and Joists
Level and connect dual 2x10 beams across front posts. Measure and connect single rear 2x10 beam to rear posts. Connect joists to rear beam using joist hangers and lay over front beams.
Target height for the decking boards is 6' from the ground. Allows for enough height above for playhouse structure on top as well as sufficient space below for porch swing.
Decking
Lay decking opposite joists direction. Cut excess decking with circular saw or jigsaw.
Weather treated 2" x 6" boards can be used for decking. We used 5/4" by 6" boards as a cost effective alternative to traditional 2" x 6"
Wall Framing
Cut tops of posts to 48” in height above decking. Frame walls and roof with 2x4 framing studs.
Double up on 2x4s on top side and rear. Leave front without framing to open up to the yard.
Roof Framing
Place 16” 4x4 at center of rear horizontal 2x4 stack. Lay 2x4 across front posts and place 4x4. Connect center top 2x4 front to back. Connect 2x4 framing stud to support roof on each side.
Roofing
Cut metal roof material to size. Lay on top of roof framing and screw into 2x4 studs. Attach ridge cap to cover gap in center of roof.
Used Pro-Rib steel roofing with self drilling roof screws to attach to roof frame. Cost effective option that's simple to install and will last.
Posts and Balusters
Attach 4x4 posts to front corners. Lay 2x4 over top of posts. Attach balusters from 2x4 to front end.
Wood Ladder
Attach wood 2x4 ladder between posts on rear right lower level. Attach slide to front right lower level.
Notice the orange bar clamp holding the steps to the post. Holds steps in place to level before assembly. Also useful in leveling beams and joists.
Grab a pair from your hardware store if you don't have them. This one is a Jorgensen 24" medium steel. You can view specs on Amazon at link below.
https://www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-2-pack-Medium-Steel-24-inch
Walls
Use picket fence and attach horizontally to main playhouse. Fencing is a very cost effective option for enclosing the playhouse that's visually appealing.
The structure is complete. Wahoo!
Now for the fun part. Adding the cool features the kids will love. Ropes, pully system, porch swing, slide, and swings.
We dedicated a page just for these ideas with a step by step for each. Check it out at the link.
