If you have kids, you might have wondered how much does it cost to build a playhouse or buy one already made. If it’s the latter, you may shocked by some the prices out there. For example, prefabricated wooden playhouses typically cost an average of $1,000 to $5,000. Custom built playhouse on the other hand are much more, sometime in the upper $10,000!
A very basic 5×5 playhouse (usually cedar, pre-fab) might cost $1,000 to $1,500 without delivery. Having said that, that’s a lot of money to be spending on a kids playhouse. Not sure about your budget, but the best alternative is a DIY playhouse project that you can complete in no time. So let’s take a closer look at how to make a kids playhouse step by step.
What Kind of Wood Should I Use to Build a Playhouse?
This all depends on your budget. But let’s start with the basics. If you’re on a tight budget, you can go ahead and use normal, non-pressure treated lumber. Better yet, you can use wood pallets if available in your area. You can get a standard 48″x40″ pallet for next to nothing, usually for free. Take a look on your local Marketplace or Craigslist to see if any available. If you’re working with a higher budget, you can go with pine or cedar. Cedar will be best but that comes with at a higher cost.
How Do You Make a Playhouse Step by Step?
Now that we have an understanding of what type of wood we can use for building a playhouse, let’s take a look at a building process.
Location of Your New Playhouse
Most important decision after your budget is the location of your playhouse. Do you have enough room in your backyard to do it? If you don’t have a backyard, where are you intending to put it? Think twice before starting building. Although a playhouse is easy to take apart, it’ll save you time and money doing so.
Gather All Your Building Materials
Equally important as your location, getting your building materials is critical as this will require some time and effort in gathering it all. Make sure you have:
- Wooden boards 2×8
- 2×4 boards
- 1/4 plywood
- Screws, 3″ galvanized
- Decking planks
- Wood siding or mental
- Shingles
- Roofing nails
Create The Base
Use your 2×8 boards then cover it with the decking planks. For example, you can form a 6×8 rectangle by cutting the 2×8 boards. Use your 3″ screws and create the rectangle. Add 2 additional 2×8 boards to create your floor joints. To cover the foundation and create the floor measure and cut the 1×6 deck plank to fit the base. Cover the base completely.
Create The Wall Frames
To build the playhouse, you’ll have to make empty wall frames that attach to each side. Make sure that you measure and install the wall inside the floor, usually about 1″. Use your 2×4 boards.
Attach Wall to Base
Start with the back wall, standing it at the edge of the floor, 1″ inside. Use the galvanized screws and screw this in place. Next, get the side walls up with the last wall beige the front.
Build The Playhouse Roof
Measure and create your rafters, made from your 2×4 boards. Attach the struts to the ridge board and then add the rafters. Cut plywood to fit the roof. You can now attach shingles to the top of the plywood. Screw the rafter and struts to the frame.
Finish The Walls & Roof
Once you finish the walls and shingles, you can now add whatever personal touches you like. For example, you can paint the outside, add accessories and perhaps put a table set inside for the kids to use.
Final Cost of Building a Playhouse
So, how much does it cost to build a playhouse in the end? You should be able to build a nice and roomy kids playhouse for $100 to $300 if you do it yourself. That includes all materials. On the other hand, if you plan on buying a prefab, that cost is usually 3 to 4 times higher.
The choice is up to you however, with a little patience and time, you can be saving hundreds. Now that you know how much does it cost to build a playhouse, are you going to do it yourself or buy one? Let us know what you decide. If you built it yourself, do share how it turned out and what step you took in the process.
