The point of this blog

A message I sent to a mother who felt bad that she could buy one of my playhouses;

Hi thanks for stopping into my little corner of cyberspace.....
I am trying to figure out how to be clear about the point of my blog..... it is NOT my comercial site. The point of my blog is to help people know and perhaps build or buy a SAFE playhouse.
Strictly educational, so don't feel like you are un-invited if all you want to do is learn about safe playspaces ... Trading ideas about Safe playspaces is the whole idea of the blog......
Please come vist again.....

Windows

The topic for today is windows in the playhouses. Some windows are custom built, while the others are standard sizes. The thing to notice is that they are ALL commercial windows. WHY? Why not just build some. I could and have built replicas for restoration projects.
Commercial windows can be had in thermopane (insulated) glass. Because many of the houses are finished and therefore insulted on the inside thermopane glass makes sense.
BUT the important reason is, of course, Safety.
No casement windows, No awning windows, no recycled windows on hinges.......
Only sliding windows (vertical or horizontal) should be used. Casement and other widows that open and close mechanically are hare for children to operate. IF the window won't open them then the playhouse can overheat. Awning and casement windows project corners out into the play area. IF I am going to take the time to round the roof corners why would I have hard corners from my windows. The homebuilt recycled windows have the same problems as casements and awnings (hard corners projecting) and are often a waste of play space in side. Siding windows are “self-storing” everything is contained in the frame. I like horizontal sliders as there is almost zero chance to get fingers pinched.
If you must use a recycled window there is exactly one way to use it safely. Hinge it on the inside so that it can lay flat on the wall when fully opened.
Look at the pictures and have fun….

Here is what I am talking about the running child crashing into an open casement or awning window? AS a parent I won’t do it... it would give me too many nightmares.

A treehouse (without the tree)

This is an elevated playhouse. They wanted a treehouse but did not have good trees to build in... soooo. The spiral stairs were actually fun to build (picture taken before the hand rail was installed, then the battery died in the camera, bummer)....

Color

There was an question unrelated to Playhouses but it did get me thinking about finishes. All of the finishes I use are non-toxic. Especially the ones used on the inside. I am particularly fond of the products by Zinsser. They make a a true shellac that is either clear or pigmented white. As shellacs they are considered by the EPA to be "food safe" once dried. The ONLY problem until then is that the solvent is denatured alcohol so you wouldn't want that in your food... LOL

The other though that the comment stirred up in me is the use of color. The playhouse here and the white playhouse in the previous post are exactly the same house. Let me know what you think of the change. BTW if you like the change I can get you the name of the interior designer who made the color choices. She is very talented....

Mini Victorian

A mini victorian playhouse that still meets the kidsafe criteria... This was one of the most fun for me to build. From a carpenter's stand point this has the most technical challenges. most important are getting the "Gingerbread" so that there are no points at the ends.
Some of the other challenges were the "bump-out window" the rain "stop" over the adult access door and dormers....

He's back

What a strange January-February it has been. Limited internet access..... Spring is coming and playhouses are being started.