Sunday, March 05, 2006

Playhouse Checklist

This is a comment I gave to a mother of 6, who asked about the playhouse prices. IF anyone is interested send me an e-mail and we'll do that else where. The point of this blog is playhouse safety. I encourage everyone interested in playhouses to read the following and look at what is beign produced locally. Don't miss the punchline at the end.....

****** MOM, (her screen name)
You're out numbered..... LOL
IF you're truly interested in prices toss me an e-mail and I will flip back you a list. They range from $950 up to the Mollie Madison which was $12,600.... There is no average price. I build them one at a time. I’m fairly sure that if you check locally you find that there is someone building “playhouses”. BUT even with delivery my prices are usually better AND mine are built with an eye towards safety. Do your self a favor and find a commercial builder and look at the quality being offered.

1. are the corners rounded -
2. do they use metal drip edge of the roofs (look especially where the roof edges meet)
3. are the playhouses vented (sofit and ridge vents)
4. Are surfaces sanded and sealed
5. are floors made of treated wood
6. are the windows "kid friendly" (are there any windows at all)
7. are there two doors - one swinging in, one swinging out
8. can the interior be finished, if so how much
9. Are their overhangs at the roof edges or does the water run down the sides of the house
10. Construction materials, full 2x4's for the walls good quality hardware

This is just some of the things to look for. This list ignores workmanship, quality of materials and the reason they build playhouses. Are they a shed builder who makes something that looks like a “playhouse” or are they a playhouse builder? Do they know anything about imaginative play for children?

There is a program by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) called the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS). The goal of the NPPS is to make playspaces safe for children. It is a good program and they have done some remarkable work with every school district in the country.

Are you ready for the punch line?

I am the ONLY playhouse builder in the whole USofA that has ever worked with them.


For those of you haven’t seen it, what a roof corner should look like. ($1,890)


Bad corners from a British builder this 6ft wide by 4ft deep playhouse they get 2500 pounds for (or about $4,000) and it doesn't even have real wondows. scheesh

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