Craftsman Style Playhouse

Difficulty

Intermediate

This gorgeous playhouse features wide open french doors, a taller ceiling, and beautiful windows. You'll love the step by step plans and diagrams. Beautiful reader submitted photos by AerialC

We love this playhouse because it is tall inside, so big kids and Mom's under 6 feet can play too.

We love that the windows add natural light.

We love that both doors open up and it feels so giant in there!

And we love how simple this playhouse was to build. Read on - once you get the four walls built on the ground, you just stand them, tie in with some roof rafters, and put plywood on top. It really is pretty simple!

PS - The deck plans are here.

Dimensions

Dimensions shown above

Preparation

Shopping List

5 - sheets exterior plywood (we used 3/8" but see notes on roofing plywood below)

8 - 2x2 @ 8 feet long

20 - 2x4 @ 8 feet long

1x3s for doors if desired

2-1/2" pocket hole screws (blue coated exterior ones)

Galvanized nails or screws for attaching plywood

Roofing of choice

Cut List

Listed in steps

Tools

General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Instructions

Step 1

FRONT WALL

2 – 2x4 @ 63 1/2" (top cut at 30 degrees off square)
2 – 2x4 @ 50” (top cut at 30 degrees off square)
2 – 2x4 @ 59 3/8” (top cut at 30 degrees off square)
4 – 2x4 @ 18 3/4"
2 – 2x4 @ 22 1/4"
1 – 2x4 @ 44 1/2"

WINDOW GRILLS

2 – 2x2 @ 15 1/2"
4 – 2x2 @ 8 5/8”
4 – 2x2 @ 10”
2 – 2x2 @ 18” (top end cut at 30 degrees off square)
1 – 2x2 @ 24 1/4" (top dogeared to 30 degrees off square) - this is the top center piece

The entire front wall was built on the ground with a Kreg Jig set for 1-1/2" stock and using 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.

The 2x4 boards are joined together flat (so the wall is 1-1/2" thick before plywood).

Wait until after you build the other walls to use scrap plywood for filling in the blue pieces.

We used 3/8" exterior plywood, just nailed on from back.

Top rafters overhang the outer 2x4s by 6", measured along bottom edge of rafters.

Step 2

ROOF OVERHANG ON UNDERSIDE OF RAFTERS IS 6”

BACK WALL

2 – 2x4 @ 63 1/2” – one end cut at 30 degrees off square
2 – 2x4 @ 50” – one end cut at 30 degrees off square
2 – 2x4 @ 59 3/8” – one end cut at 30 degrees off square
1 – 2x4 @ 62 1/4” – top dogeared to point at 30 degrees off square
1 – 2x4 @ 89” 2 - 3/8" exterior plywood 48" cut to fit - save scraps for the front wall.

We built the back wall again on the ground, using the Kreg Jig again. The blue is 3/8" exterior plywood nailed on to back. Again, 2x4 boards are joined together flat, so wall is 1-1/2" thick before plywood is attached.

Step 3

SIDE WALLS – BUILD 2

12 – 2x2 @ 45”
2 – 1/2" plywood @ 45” x 48”

Build two of the side walls - we used the Kreg Jig here too.

Step 4

Once all the walls were built, we attached the front and back walls to the side walls to create the walls of the playhouse. Then we added rafters to make the roof.

RAFTERS

10 – 2x4 @ 45”

Step 5

Attach roof plywood to top.

Step 6

DOORS - BUILD TO YOUR OPENINGS. We recommend leaving generous gaps around the doors to prevent finger pinching.

4 – 1x3 @ 48”
6 – 1x3 @ 17”
2- ½” plywood @ 22 ¼” x 48”

We built the doors out of 1x3s and added the 3/8" plywood to the back. If your roof plywood is 3/4" thick, you could just use the slabs as doors. Also, later on we ended up trimming 2" off the bottoms of the doors just so they open easy and no toes get scraped underneath the door.

Finishing Instructions

Preparation Instructions

Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth.

It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.

Project Type

Playhouse

Room

Kids and Toys

Outdoor

Style

Children's and Kid's Room Furniture and Toy Plans

Comments

Joy T.

Mon, 05/19/2014 - 13:14

Material costs

I couldn't find any reference to how much the estimated material costs were... do you know how much was spent to get all the lumber and hardware?

TL1128

Thu, 06/06/2019 - 05:48

How much did materials cost?

spitzmel

Sat, 07/05/2014 - 13:28

Back wall dimension

This is totally cute!! Should the 2 end boards be the same dimension? In the graphic it shows the 2 board being different dimensions 46.5" and 50". In the cut list they are both 50". Thanks!!

kfamilie

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 22:19

Support underneath

Hi! We are about to start gathering our supplies to build the playhouse deck and I was wondering how I create those extra support braces pictured on the deck above, which seem to be an addition to the original playhouse deck plans. First time builder here! Thank you!

Ana White

Mon, 08/10/2015 - 08:30

Those are cross supports. You

Those are cross supports. You can create them with 2 x 4 boards.

dogmelissa

Sat, 08/15/2015 - 07:31

Longer deck?

Help! I want to build this with a longer deck, so there's some deck beside the playhouse. The total length of the platform will be 10' long. In the exact orientation shown, the extra 2' will be to the left end of the house/platform. Can I run the joists in that 10' direction, cantilievered 2' over a dropped beam? Will I need to double the end joist on the other end? Are 2x6 joists still enough? Thanks for the help!

texasjuju

Sun, 05/10/2020 - 13:51

Adult version?

I would love to build a workshop like this, but adult size. I have a new 10 x 20 concrete slab and ideally, I wanted to build something like this but on one end 4' would be a chicken coop with a chicken wire wall inside, with a screen door to access coop from inside workshop. 12' workshop, with the last 4' on the other end being an open front storage area. Entry to the workshop would be a normal door in open area end and a larger double door in the front as shown in your plan. Would need to increase to 8' tall on sides which I think would make the total height about 11'. Then I could store lumber in the rafters.

rlowmaker

Mon, 06/22/2020 - 12:38