Before you can build a playhouse for your kids, you obviously need a plan. Without a plan, you’ll stumble, make random cuts, and waste your time and money on improperly cut lumber. But how and where do you get a design and plan?
Let’s face it, most of us are normal guys or girls without an architecture degree, right? So how do we design and build a playhouse?
One way to get your creative juices flowing is to study other game houses. Whether online or in person, look at and study as many game house designs as you can. If you’re lucky enough to see some in person, take a tape measure and physically measure the height and width. Get an idea of how big a playhouse should be and how big you want yours to be.
As a general rule of thumb, an average sized game house should be between 50 and 100 square feet in size. Walls need not be more than 6′ tall, as most children are between 4 and 4-1/2 feet tall.
If you’re a novice woodworker, keep the design simple. A square or a simple rectangle is the safest bet. Don’t try to get fancy with an overly elaborate design. You may get stuck in the middle and give up. It’s better to keep it simple and complete.
Design your playhouse with a gabled roof. A gabled roof is the easiest to build and still looks good on a simple structure. The slope or angle of the roof should be 1 to 2. In other words, for every 12″ the rise should be 6″. This makes it easier to calculate the height of the crest.
For siding, use horizontally turned T-111 plywood. This gives the impression of lap siding, but is faster and cheaper. When using this method, keep the wall length 8′ or less, as plywood siding comes in that standard length.
Build a front door out of thicker plywood or 1×6 boards. You can get some basic strap hinges at a hardware store to allow it to swing. If you design the walls 6′ tall, make the door 5′ or 5′-6″ tall.
Don’t try to use a regular door knob for the playhouse door. They are made for a standard door that is thicker than the door you will build. Just use a latch or slide bolt. Or you could choose to have no knob at all!
Finally, design your playhouse with some windows. Make them about 18″ square as this will look better in proportion to the rest of the playhouse.
Therefore, you should check out other gambling houses and take notes. Sketch out your ideas on a blank piece of paper. I like to use graph paper with 1/4″ squares. Spend some time tweaking and perfecting your design. Once you get it just the way you want it, you’re ready to start building!