(low) raised playhouse

okedoke

I'm building a playhouse for my son. Its dimensions are 7' * 6' and the floor is raised 1.5' off the ground. The corner posts are 4*4'' treated fenceposts.
I'm going to bury the bottom 2' of the posts in the ground but I'm wondering would i be safe enough just backfilling with soil, or should i cement them in the ground?

Also - anyone care to guess how long 4*4'' treated posts will remain rot free buried in soil (or concrete)?

Thanks

cletus

Other more qualified voices may be along shortly, but I'd be inclined to cement. You could buy bags of the premix cement, just crack them into the post hole and add water. They work a treat

Bonzo Delaney

I made something similar about 3 years ago defo concrete the posts in there'll be a fair bit of movement @1.5 m off the ground
If I was doing it again I'd get the first 3 ft of the base posts creas sooted to be sure
Prob haunch the concrete up the posts about 50 mm above ground level so water won't lie around the post when settlement occurs

Bonzo Delaney

Found a pic of it

okedoke

Thanks Bonzo - very impressive looking build

Tabnabs

What about using some form of SS shoe bolted to the timber and concrete footing? Would this be a solution to the issue of rot?



or

okedoke

Interesting idea Tabnabs.

Kencollins

I built a playframe with a raised platform for the kids last year.

I went for concrete around the posts, just got some of the chip and stone stuff and mixed with cement powder and a little water.

I'm glad I went for cement, the father in law was suggesting just backfilling with earth but it is totally solid with the cement. The cement was about 2ftx1ft, and 1ft deep.

Ken

okedoke

thats a fine job Ken - so did you bury the posts 1 foot deep, i was planning on going deeper for a much lower platform but maybe I'm overdoing it?

Kencollins

Yes, about 1 foot deep. I put a brick at the bottom, a 6 inch bed of cement around the brick, then slightly less than a foot of concrete around the 6x3 post.

I'm not a builder or a carpenter though, it just looked right!

okedoke

Kencollins wrote: »

Yes, about 1 foot deep. I put a brick at the bottom, a 6 inch bed of cement around the brick, then slightly less than a foot of concrete around the 6x3 post.

I'm not a builder or a carpenter though, it just looked right!

Thanks Ken

cullenswood

Any of you guys interested in building something for me? Looking into getting something done, but wouldn't have the tools or skill to do myself, and not sure where to go to get someone to do it.

randombar

Sorry to bring up an old one but just wondering on advice for building one?

Stupid question but how long did this take people?

Thinking of starting with something basic similar to this: https://www.donedeal.ie/adview/view/18597537 and then adding to it over time.

okedoke

It took me maybe 5 or 6 days (2 people). Id never built anything before so there was a lot of figuring out time in that. I basically sank 4 8' treated posts into the ground in a square, nailed 2*6's around the outside of the square at floor level and worked from there. The joists are 2*6s, floorboards are decking planks, frame is 2*2s and the walls are shiplap planks (like a shed).

okedoke

photo

cletus

Have you a rough materials cost?

okedoke

ballpark 4-500 i would say

cletus

Can I get some thoughts here. The elevated playhouse I'm planning on building will be up against a block wall, so I planned on rawlbolting the posts to this for stability. It will be on the grass, and I was thinking of using those spiked fenceposts for the posts to sit in, instead of digging up the garden I levelled, rolled and lawned (I know its not a word) only this time last year.

Any reason why the two measures above wouldn't be stable enough for my boys to play on?

okedoke

cletus wrote: »

Can I get some thoughts here. The elevated playhouse I'm planning on building will be up against a block wall, so I planned on rawlbolting the posts to this for stability. It will be on the grass, and I was thinking of using those spiked fenceposts for the posts to sit in, instead of digging up the garden I levelled, rolled and lawned (I know its not a word) only this time last year.

Any reason why the two measures above wouldn't be stable enough for my boys to play on?

I honestly have no idea

listermint

garden parting walls were not built to support a playhouse structure. I know its probably well meaning but if there are decent winds you could damage the wall easily.

I would not advocate that method or fencing posts. We are talking about hundres of Kilos of timber here.

It should be concreted into the lawn and the legs should be cross braced. Some of the designs above seem lacking in cross bracing.

cletus

Thanks listermint. The plans I was thinking of using are below, minus the swing section

http://woodarchivist.com/3072-backyard-playhouse-plans/

No cross bracing there either, but i had thought of walling in the bottom section too, and putting a trapdoor to the top level

listermint

cletus wrote: »

Thanks listermint. The plans I was thinking of using are below, minus the swing section

http://woodarchivist.com/3072-backyard-playhouse-plans/

No cross bracing there either, but i had thought of walling in the bottom section too, and putting a trapdoor to the top level

that one looks relatively low, the cross bracing should not be necessary there as the platform is short throw from the foundation post.

Its the taller ones that are concerning if you are going over that height i would certainly brace it. A wind could knock the legs right over with easy even if they were concreted in

cletus

Right, looks like I'm digging the garden up so

thehamo

Would there be any option of building a base that isn't concreted in to the ground? I Would be putting the play house on artificial grass with a sand and hardcore base

listermint

Certainly if you want the thing to move with Kids on it....