What to build a garden playhouse out of?

[JonHeath]

Hi all,

I'm currently in the process of chopping 4 very large (as high as the house) and 3 medium conifers down at the bottom of the garden.

My plan is to cut several of these trees down completely and reclaim the ground. However I've decided to leave 3 of the stumps in place up to around 6 feet high and use these as "posts" to form the basis of a playhouse that I'll build slightly off the ground for my kids. (yes I'm aware of the planning rules).

At the moment I'm researching what to build the structure out of, as I've never built anything wooden to be weatherproof before.

I was thinking of using decking joist to make a frame and then maybe use decking to create a platform floor. However maybe this will be an expensive way of doing things? What's the cheapest material(s) I can use to withstand the weather, and not look rubbish. I'm not trying to do it on the ultra cheap but want to be cost effective whilst still looking attractive.

I did consider re-using the conifer wood that I'm cutting down to maybe create the playhouse walls.....but don't want to make something that will slowly rot?

Thanks
Jon

 

[leeco]

I would build the timber frame out of 2x2 or 3x2 and then clad it with ship lap/T&G boards. The floor and roof out of ply then felt the roof.

 

[big-all]

I would build the timber frame out of 2x2 or 3x2 and then clad it with ship lap/T&G boards. The floor and roof out of ply then felt the roof.

similar here but we need to know the span[distance between trees]

 

[JonHeath]

Thanks for the replies.

The longest span between trees is around 4m. I was actually planning on using 6x2's for the long beams between trees, and less bulky beams/joists for spanning the beams themselves.

My concerns really are around using materials that won't rot over the long term. I want this to last 10 years or so. It will probably have a platform to walk on outside (with railings) with a slide attached and then a bit of an indoor playhouse bit. So the floor will probably want to be weatherproof, as would the railings. I presume ply would not be happy if moisture got in it? Also when you say timber frame, do you mean a standard softwood that I'd then treat?

Thanks

 

[leeco]

If you got a good grade ply for the floor like marine ply then you wont have any problems with moisture.

I have built lots of stuff out of T&G shiplap and as long as you treat it and treat it when it looks like it needs doing again say every 2 - 3 years then it will last more that 10 years.

When I say timber frame I mean the frame you build 1st normally out of 2x2 PSE timber or if you would like it more heavy duty then use 3x2. You can treat them if you like but they wont be exposed to the elements.

This is the stuff I used to build and might give you a idea what im saying.

Untitled

• leeco
• 10 Sep 2013
• 1

Untitled

• leeco
• 10 Sep 2013
• 1

Untitled

• leeco
• 10 Sep 2013
• 1

Untitled

• leeco
• 10 Sep 2013
• 1

 

[JonHeath]

Thanks for that - I see what you're referring to when talking about the frame. Nice construction by the way!

I was referring more to the frame that the floor will sit on, as it will be off the ground (fixed between trees). So it'll need to be stronger than the frame the walls and roof will be made of.

T&G shiplap seems like the way to go for the walls. I'm still seriously considering using decking for the floor though as I can bide my time and get a cheap unused or second hand job lot off ebay. I can have the same floor whether it's inside or outside if I do that.