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About Project
The back wall or the playhouse. This simple wall is designed to come from a single sheet of plywood. Easy to build and very sturdy, yet inexpensive and well planned to integrate with the side walls and roof.
BIG PROJECT, BUSY BUSY WEEK
Last week, when I started building the playhouse, I was feeling quite discouraged. With my husband out of town for the week, meaning no childcare relief, on top of prioritizing creating a dozen new plans that you have been asking me for for months, it seemed each wall was taking forever to build. Yet I set a goal, one wall a night. And one wall a night, I somehow ended up with this at the end of the week (the door is just leaning there).
TACKLE ONE WALL AT A TIME
I'm really not sure how myself, but out in our backyard stands four walls and a pink door. The roof will be super easy to put on, I'm just waiting to finish the playhouse deck before I put the roof on. In the current stage, it's a five minute job to unscrew the four different panels and disassemble the playhouse. If you click the image above, you can see the seam between the front wall and the gable end wall. Once the playhouse is in it's final location, the seam will be hardly noticeable.
The big question has been how much is this playhouse going to cost? I haven't personally spent a dime because my brother dropped off a bunk of leftover plywood and I buy 1x2s, 1x3, and 2x2s by the bundle (just in case I gotta whip out a prototype on the quick for you), but I am going to make a very rough estimate, assuming you use 1/4" plywood at about $10 a sheet and you can buy furring strips for $1 for 1x2, $1.50 for 1x3 and $1.75 for 2x2s my ballpark guess for just the playhouse without a floor or windows (but with a roof that sheds water and a door) to be in the $150 ballpark. This is a rough estimate, and I encourage you to call your local home improvement store and get quotes on the board prices.
THE COST OF DDIY (DIDN'T DO IT YOURSELF) or DSIY (DO-SOME OF-IT-YOURSELF)
This playhouse that I designed was largely influenced by how easy it would be to build. I created each side from a single sheet of plywood in an attempt to save you both time and money. But I did take some styling influence from this playhouse from Toys-R-US for $3500 and still requiring 8 hours of set up for two people and this one without a deck for $3000 (also from Toys-R-Us). You can easily add dormers (those ones are false) and move your doors around to get the same look. It's the accessories that are going to "make" the playhouse. And they didn't even paint the insides, it's just OSB, for $3000+, you should get a painted inside. And take a look at these playhouses from Lilliput, just incredible! And of course, the price is pretty incredible too. Don't forget to check out their playhouse furniture too.
When building your deck for the playhouse, I noticed that the 2x6 x 8' board are almost DOUBLE the cost of the stud length (92 5/8"). That's twice the cost for just 3 3/8" of 2x6. If this is the case for you as well, I will be posting a quick plan in the next day or two on how to build your playhouse deck 3 3/8" narrower, saving you about $60 in lumber.
Grace wasn't too fond of not getting a pink house, so we convinced her to get a pink door. And we are both quite happy with that. I found this cool site online today that helps you select colors for your playhouse! Have fun! And yes, I will be adding plans for shutters, a simple sticker free slide, ladder, and flower boxes. Again, it's the accessories that are going to take this playhouse over the top.
We've already got the gable end wall plans up. Today, we'll do the back wall. It's super simple, you can whip it out today.
Dimensions
Materials and Tools
1 – 1/4″ Sheet of Plywood
6 – 2×2 Furring Strips
2 – 1×3 Furring Strips
1 – 1×2 Furring Strip
2 1/2″ Screws
1 1/4″ Nails
Glue
Cut List
2 – 2×2 @ 90″ (Top and Bottom Plates for Walls)
7 – 2×2 @ 45″ (Wall Studs)
1 – 1/4″ Plywood @ 48″ x 90″ (Back Panel)
2 – 1×3 @ 90″ (Top and Bottom Trim)
2 – 1×2 @ 43″ (Side Trim)
General Instructions
Read all plans for the playhouse before buying any boards or beginning any building. Have a clear understanding of how the playhouse will be put together. Work on a clean level surface and predrill all your screws. Check for square and use glue on all joints. Be safe.
Step 1
FRAME YOUR WALL
Well, I guess it did come in handy that I helped frame a few houses. Begin by marking on both the top and bottom plates where the joist will got (click diagram for a larger view). Then predrill all the holes in the top and bottom plates. Then begin fastening the studs to the top and bottom plates. Check for square when all boards have been fastened.
Step 2
SHEATHING
I was thinking about you (and me) when I designed this plan. Simply take a full sheet of plywood and trim 6″ off the end to get a piece 90″x48″. The reason you have to trim the 6″ off is because the overall dimensions need to be less than 96″ to fit on a standard 8′ 2×6 deck (again, to save you money and unnecessary cuts). Glue and fasten on with 1 1/4″ nails.
Step 3
TRIM
Cut your longer trim first and glue and nail down with 1 1/4″ nails. Then add the 1×2 trim to the ends, keeping outside edges flush.
Step 4
ASSEMBLY
When you go to assemble the playhouse, the wall will sit inside the gable end wall as shown above. You will need to screw with 3″ screws from this inside of the back wall into the gable end wall (the screw will need to be fastened at a slight angle).
Finishing Instructions
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Oh this is excellent, now
Oh this is excellent, now when do we get the plans for play furniture... an oven/stove... eh? Your plans are phenomenal, thank you!
SO cute!
SO cute!
I'm showing this to my
I'm showing this to my husband right now! I love it!
that rocks Ana! love
that rocks Ana! love it!
@TheBlackForrist...she already has the play furniture plans on her site for indoor use, we could certainly use those for the playhouse, right? :)
This whole project is just
This whole project is just brimming with cuteness. Thanks for finding the great paint site as well. It worked out great!
I am longing to make this
I am longing to make this playhouse for my kiddos! I have been soooo excited each time I see a photo of it pop up on my reader! Thanks for all your hardwork....and I'll be sure to post pics as soon as I can get mine made {still waiting for this darn rain to stop here in Idaho!!!}
You feel bad? Ana, how?
You feel bad? Ana, how? You're amazing! You're making a wall a day and watching the kids! That's impressive, don't knock it.
Hi Ana,This comment is way
Hi Ana,
This comment is way random but I need your help! I found (not bought) this bookshelf a while back and since posting it on my blog, people have been asking me where they can find one of their own:
Click here to see the bookshelf...
I've searched your site high and low to find a similar plan with the tall, narrow cubbies. Any thoughts?
Thanks, Ana!
-Cara @ Live the Home Life
This house is freaking
This house is freaking adorable! Your making me want to build my own house house! lol.
This is amazing! I have 6
This is amazing! I have 6 girls and they will love this for sure, but I'm afraid I'll have to make more than one! I have a long list of things to build! Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us!!!
Hi Ana- I've been following
Hi Ana- I've been following the plans for the playhouse. I have a question. We are really excited to start building and are grateful for the plans. My husband was worried that the thin plywood and 1x2, etc. won't be enough to hold this playhouse sturdy with the winter winds and snow for years to come. He wants to use 2x4s,etc. Any advice or reasoning as to why you are using what you are using (besides that it's mostly free! =) Thanks for your assistance.
Katie, I wish you could come
Katie, I wish you could come over and see this playhouse, it is strong. Think of it this way, a regular house with 8' walls and two stories can be framed with 2x3 studs. One of the things I try to do is avoid overbuilding because when you overbuild, it costs extra money and time. And in this case, it also decreases the footprint of the playhouse. There is absolutely no reason why you couldn't build with 2x4 walls, but the walls are going to be quite heavy and take up much more space.
If you want to create a stronger playhouse, using 3/4" plywood would be the easiest way to add strength for the outside walls. But there is no reason why you can't also frame your walls with 2x4s instead of 2x2s.
You are amazing! Thank you
You are amazing! Thank you for inspiring us all.
Ana,We are planning to build
Ana,
We are planning to build the play house this weekend (we have 5 VERY excited kiddos) but we have a question. Will the paint alone be enough to keep it water-proof? We live in Houston where it will get wet often from the rain. Should we put siding on to protect it?
Thank you for your site. I have a very long wish list.
Emily
Ana- Thanks for answering my
Ana- Thanks for answering my strength questions! I'm definitely a believer....it's just a matter of getting my husband on board. He is definitely a "over-builder". Thanks so much for the advice. Can't wait to add it to the bragging pool...someday soon.
So we put some rafters up
So we put some rafters up yesterday and it's looking great! I will have the entire collection of plans up this week to build the walls and roof. My husband made the comment that the playhouse was "overbuilt" as it is with the 2x2 walls. But of course, you should build according to what you regions specifications are.
As far as just putting plywood on the sides, think of this. Houses have OSB siding and wood siding, entire houses are sided with plywood panels. Entire houses are made out of logs. Of course, you would need to paint or finish the plywood, but since it is upright, and the roof will shed water, you should not have an issue. If you are still not convinced, there is absolutely no reasons why you could not add siding (and it would look super cute). Those dog eared cedar fence pickets would be darling.
Hope this helps!
Ana
I am so glad that you are
I am so glad that you are providing easy to follow plans that anyone could build. The process of designing and building a playhouse can be as much fun as the enjoying the final product!
While looking for the Home
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Everyone loves to decorate
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We need this in adult size.
We need this in adult size. Then my husband can build me one out back for a scrapbook room and we can free up a room in the house.
::hint:: ::hint:: ;)
sticker free slide
hi. did you happen to put up directions on how to build a sticker free slide? I would like to do this and have it exit out one of the gable end walls instead of putting a window in. would this be ok? The opening would just be lower and with no cross support at the bottom (like the window has) except the actual frame part of that end wall. what do you think? thanks!!
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