| The last time I did a quick look for playhouse kits, I | | | | fine for houses and outdoor sheds, but a small |
| was shocked to find out how much I could pay for | | | | playhouse can work fine using less expensive 2x4s. |
| an item like this, not to mention the added shipping | | | | Go ahead keep with the typical spacing of floor joists |
| costs for all the lumber. It didn't take me long to | | | | (16" on center) and I'd also stay with laying ¾" |
| figure out that the money spent on delivery charges | | | | plywood on top. |
| alone would pay for much of the lumber if I build the | | | | Walls - Some plans get a little carried away with the |
| playhouse myself. Now the challenge is finding | | | | construction of walls, following the same techniques |
| playhouse plans that I'm capable of building. | | | | used in building a real house. That means lots of |
| This is where it gets a little tricky. If you've looked | | | | intricate cripple studs, window headers, and door |
| around, you've seen some pretty elaborate | | | | frames. Most of these features can be simplified. For |
| playhouse designs for sale. Most of these plans seem | | | | example, it's not really necessary to keep wall studs |
| to be made by experienced carpenters, who | | | | 16" on center. A plywood wall needs only a few |
| approach the project as simply a scaled-down version | | | | boards to hold it up, one at each side and one or |
| of the real houses they are familiar building. Nothing | | | | two the middle. And a simple window can easily be |
| wrong with having a playhouse built with this kind of | | | | cut from the center of the plywood, and framed out |
| strength and integrity, but whether the average DIY | | | | with wood trim. |
| builder can take on a project like this is another story. | | | | Roof - It's always a good idea to keep a playhouse |
| If you know how to build a house, or know | | | | water tight, and so the roof is where you should pay |
| someone who does, these kinds of playhouse plans | | | | the most attention. Most plans call for typical roof |
| will work fine. If not, take some care to find a | | | | construction, and that means plywood sheathing, tar |
| project design that is in your range of skills. | | | | paper, and asphalt shingles. With such a small roof to |
| The good news is that playhouses do not really need | | | | work with, this is money well spent, regardless of |
| the same structural details that you'll find in a real | | | | how simple of a design you settle on. The way to |
| house. Here are a few places in the basic design | | | | save time and money here is to skip the typical |
| where you can cut a few corners, and still have a | | | | gable-roof style and build a simple one-piece roof |
| perfectly fine playhouse for the kids. | | | | with a slope. This will do a fine job of keeping rain |
| Floor - Some of the more elaborate playhouse plans | | | | and snow diverted and save you the trouble of |
| call for 2x6 lumber in all floor joist members. This is | | | | cutting lots of rafter angles. |