Playtime!
I started building the kids a play structure maybe a week and a half ago. This was all part of the master plan, and one of the reasons we left a big, open flat spot in the backyard. When we expanded the deck we used Trex for all the new stuff, and replaced all the existing cedar since it would have looked a little goofy if we hadn't. I ended up salvaging about 40 20' 2 x 6s, along with some 2 x 4s, and a bunch of railing material. I had to pull out millions of nails, but I got them all cleaned up and stored them under the deck, where they've been sitting for a couple of years.
The idea with the playhouse was to salvage as many of these as possible. I used them for floor joists, bracing, decking... When I get around to the roof I'll use them for the rafters and the purlins to hold up the roofing. I've made a pretty big dent in them.
The building is slow going. The first day I decided not to move things back and forth so I set up a table in the back. It's got the miter saw on top, and I've got a big plastic bin underneath I'm storing things like hand tools, clamps, fasteners, and anything else I think I'm gonna need. I still end up hiking up to the garage half a dozen times a day for things I forget, though.
I usually get the most work done on the days the kids are gone. I drop them off at school and daycare, then usually I need to stop by the hardware store for a new batch of stuff I need to pick up. Then I head home, carry all the new stuff out back, and then make a couple more trips to pack out the power tools and other stuff I leave inside. I usually don't get started working until 10 or so, and have to start cleaning up by around 2 if I need to pick up the kids.
I've made some decent headway, but there's still a lot to do. I need to attach the railings to the bridge, put down all the decking, build the climbing wall, figure out how to attach the slide, add the fireman's pole, add some railings, and put the roof on. If it's done in 2 weeks I'll be feeling pretty good. I'm starting to think those kits that promise that you can build and play the same day would have been a lot easier. But no where near as cool. Or as big.
You can see pictures over at my flickr account.
The idea with the playhouse was to salvage as many of these as possible. I used them for floor joists, bracing, decking... When I get around to the roof I'll use them for the rafters and the purlins to hold up the roofing. I've made a pretty big dent in them.
The building is slow going. The first day I decided not to move things back and forth so I set up a table in the back. It's got the miter saw on top, and I've got a big plastic bin underneath I'm storing things like hand tools, clamps, fasteners, and anything else I think I'm gonna need. I still end up hiking up to the garage half a dozen times a day for things I forget, though.
I usually get the most work done on the days the kids are gone. I drop them off at school and daycare, then usually I need to stop by the hardware store for a new batch of stuff I need to pick up. Then I head home, carry all the new stuff out back, and then make a couple more trips to pack out the power tools and other stuff I leave inside. I usually don't get started working until 10 or so, and have to start cleaning up by around 2 if I need to pick up the kids.
I've made some decent headway, but there's still a lot to do. I need to attach the railings to the bridge, put down all the decking, build the climbing wall, figure out how to attach the slide, add the fireman's pole, add some railings, and put the roof on. If it's done in 2 weeks I'll be feeling pretty good. I'm starting to think those kits that promise that you can build and play the same day would have been a lot easier. But no where near as cool. Or as big.
You can see pictures over at my flickr account.
posted by Gabe at
7:48 PM
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