Really off topic. I'm in a diy mood and promised my 4 yr old daughter to build her a playhouse. Anyone here have good plans available for a decent size playhouse.? (at moment thinking about the 5 room, 2 story mansion but I'll settle for something I can put together in a weekend or 2).

Cees

Hi Caryl,

Here's just one, but if you enter "diy playhouse" in your search engine there are heaps of them

http://www.diynet.com/DIY/article/0,2058,2421,00.html

Regards,

Bill (Pegasus)

Why tell me Bill?

If Cees wants a playhouse for Megan I am not going to build it for him!

Good luck on the project Cees.

I like that one, Caryl

John

Here's just one, but if you enter "diy playhouse" in your search engine there are heaps of them

Hi Bill,

thanks for that. I did that search before I posted here and yes, there are heaps of them. I posted here in the hope that someone might have some 'personal experience' building one. What works and what doesn't etc etc. A while ago I saw one (can't remember where) that was one and half storey high. Inside it had a small 'mezzanine' kids could climb on.

Hi Cees

I saw a TV show regarding a Cubbyhouse. The fellow said "cheap". The material for a run of the mill one is, here in OZ about $600.00 !!

So I gave my kids a cardboardbox. Cost: NIL. Happy? Yes. The kids I mean.

John

:oops: :oops: Sorry Caryl and Cees, just glanced at the post

Hi Caryl,

Here's just one, but if you enter "diy playhouse" in your search engine there are heaps of them

A few years back when my woodworking workshop was set up I was going to make these and dolls houses full time for resale.

Single or double sided laminated 10mm MDF was the material I was going to use, as at the time I could pick up 8X4 sheets for 5 to 10 bucks apiece. Ensure the edges are fully sealed and the stuff lasts for years.

I have two chook houses made from it that are over six years old.

There's a site somewhere in England that has plans you can print out, but I've lost the URL.

Try the furniture manufacturers that use MDF.

They have reject sheets and also sheets that were used to protect the main sheets in transit. These have a slight damage, but usually only from the packing straps.

A medioca (average) playhouse retail starts at around 400 dollars, and some go near to two thousand if you want a double storey with porch etc.

A car case is another method that can be quickly converted to a PH. They come in both ribbed metal shhet and plywood.

The suppliers of these also sell ply sheets, but are usually expensive.

Regards,

Bill (Pegasus)

Hi

I agree with everything except the MDF. I built quite a few furniture with it. Straight as an arrow. Easy to machine. Hard on tools though. And dusty. In a nutshell, perfect material. But not for outside. If it is not 100% sealed, it will expand (getting thicker). It is definately for the outside where it is subjected to rain, moisture or even humidity. Sorry Bill.

Yours forever, your ever loving

John

Hi John,

The MDF I am referring to above is laminated on both sides, and provided the edges are sealed correctly, as mentioned above, the stuff lasts for years. Good quality exterior or marine ply is suitable.... at a cost, but even then invariably needs sealing. Any openings in the lamination will of course lead to swelling if used outside where it will be exposed to the weather.

My tools, which include a four foot lathe, routers, bandsaw, skilsaw, benchsaw, scroll saw and planes etc have worked thousands of metres of the stuff, and provided your tools are sharp, and of good quality, then you will have no probs.

Dust is a prob, but I have a vacuum I can attatch to most of my gear such as saws and routers.

Hi Bill

You should have mentioned that the MDF is laminated. It could have saved me opening my big mouth. :lol:

John

You just didn't read the post John....

Bill said :

Single or double sided laminated 10mm MDF was the material I was going to use, as at the time I could pick up 8X4 sheets for 5 to 10 bucks apiece. Ensure the edges are fully sealed and the stuff lasts for years.

No probs

Nice "Colourful" site here Cees.

Might inspire you

http://www.barbarabutler.com/index.html

Another at,

http://www.ronayne.co.nz in Wellington, but they only have four designs

I am sure you can outbuild Barbara Butler Cees! :lol:

I have some plans I can email you if you PM me your email address. They are for a play fort like the ones at Mitre 10 Mega

wow talk about digging up an old thread :roll:

i think its probably done in the last 5 years sometime. lol

Yes, that playhouse was finished years ago. Megan and her friends used it lots. Not so much anymore these days.

Wanted: diy plans to convert a playhouse into an observatory with a roll-off roof.

A big key like they have on sardine tins ought to do it

sure you don't need the diy plans for a telescope first? :lol:

sure you don't need the diy plans for a telescope first? :lol:

Already taken care off

Need to upload more photos but here is a selection

http://picasaweb.google.com/cees.lensin ... hotography