Mark and Theresa,
I just wanted to thank you and share the following photos with you of the backyard playset that you were kind enough to share on your website.
I built the playset without the deck, and made a few modifications along the way due to my mistakes, but nothing was major. I have never built anything in my life, let alone something like this.
THANK YOU for your brilliant design and your amazing instructions and videos.
Trevor
Heath, Ohio
Hey William in Minnesota — I saw your question below. — I’d raise the bottom guard rails off the decking and install them like a real deck to leaves and debris don’t gather. I’d use ground contact rated PT for the whole thing instead of the lower areas (again, leaves…they’re not ground, but they’re pre-ground if the get trapped in nooks and crannies). I’d vent the base platforms by drilling holes and I’d use Spax screws for the whole thing. They drive easier, faster and are better all around. I’d use PowerLags for the corner post assembly. And mmaybe a hammock for me!
Hey Mark – I came across a few additional photos of your playset that appear to have a couple modifications from the original plans (different ladders, modified doorways/windows, etc.). I’m getting ready to build a playset that uses yours as a starting point but would like to hear more about changes you’d make and/or things you’d do differently if you were building it today instead of 5-6 years ago. Thanks in advance!
Hey Mark – I came across a few additional photos of your playset that appear to have a couple modifications from the original plans (different ladders, modified doorways/windows, etc.). I’m getting ready to build a playset that uses yours as a starting point but would like to hear more about changes you’d make and/or things you’d do differently if you were building it today instead of 5-6 years ago. Thanks in advance!
I’m about to start mine next week, I live in the Caribbean so going to modify slightly to make it look like a boat. Can’t wait!
This is awesome! We’d love to see photos of the finished project!
Anthony—This is sensational…Please send us photos or video. Whip ’em up on Facebook. I’d love to see how it comes along.
Hi guys, I love the playset!! I literally can’t stop thinking about building it. The only obstacle is the cost. I’m really not sure what to expect. I see that you listed it above. I’ve never heard of the lumber you mentioned. I’ve run a few possibilities of types of lumber through my head (spf, treated, cedar). They all have their pros and cons. I can’t decide what to use. Suggestions? Thanks so much!
Rick–Awesome. Thank you. The only way to iron out cost is to make a materials list. Next, send it to a lumber yard and have them price it. An order of this size, they’ll almost surely deliver for free. The beauty of pro yards. As for the type of lumber, SPF is out. That’s not meant to get wet or snowed on. Moving to other exterior options, pressure treated lumber comes in two flavors. A lot of people don’t know this. Yank a 2×6 off the shelf at a home center and it is NOT rated for contact with the ground. In other words, it’s good as decking or handrails. And that’s fine, but there are other considerations, like leaves, berries, and organic debris. Leaves aren’t ‘ground’ today. Next year, trapped in the nooks of this playset, they’re dirt. Cedar is a sensational choice and you can’t go wrong. Most carpenters would use the generally less expensive GPT for the framing then clad the unit with cedar. Does this help?
If you don’t mind me asking, what was the total cost to build this? I know prices change but I’m just curious what I should expect.
Randy–We had wrapped this project into several others at the time, so I never broke it down. I’m guessing you’d be in somewhere around $1,000-1,500 for lumber, gravel and hardware. Another $500 for the swings and slide. But that’s a rough estimate. The one thing I can say is to build the whole thing with GROUND CONTACT TARTED PT lumber. It’s fractionally more expensive (pennies/board is my understanding) and orders or magnitude better. A pro lumber yard may stock it as a matter of course. Maybe not. Home centers–definitely not. You have to special order it. Please let us know if we can answer any other questions. This project is a personal favorite of ours. 🙂
This is a great project and one that I’m just about to undertake; however, I cannot find the original page & plans on this site. It appears that it’s been taken down?!? Please let me know if/where I can find them. Great job Trevor!!
Hi Dan, we fixed the links and the plans should be there. You can also find them here! http://myfixituplife.com/DIY/real-wood-real-fun-playset-trailer/
Would love to see photos of your finished project!
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