This is an exciting week for the playhouse- the exterior is almost complete and we have a roof! Just a few weeks ago the playhouse started as a piece of plywood on the ground. I’m looking forward to showing you the evolution on this week’s edition of building a playhouse- the exterior.
Here’s where we got to on the playhouse frame last week-
building a playhouse- the exterior
SUPPLIES
- 2×4-8′ lumber– 23 boards ($3.73 each) $85.79
- Wood Screws box of 300 ($27.97)
- Short Screws (for the roof brackets) ($5.96)
- Tie Plates (brackets for the roof)- 14 ($0.56 each) $7.84
- Plywood sheet 4×8– 4 sheets ($12.65 each) $50.60
- Siding Panel 4×8– 9 sheets ($20.97 each) $188.73
- Ultra Pure White exterior paint ($42)
- Door Onlay (4.27)
Total for this week- $413.16. Puke. This is an expensive project. To be 100% transparent, I had a freak out about the price tag and we took a few says off working about it. But we started and we’re going to finish. We’re trying to use lots of reclaimed materials where we can to keep the price down.
step 1
The first thing we worked on was the roof! Here’s how we built the rafters-
First, we used two tie plates to connect 2×4 studs cut on a 45 degree angle.
Then, we used a jigsaw to cut out a little triangle. This is where the rafters will rest on the frame of the house.
Once the 7 sets of rafters were build, they were screwed onto the top of the playhouse frame. A 2×4 connected all of the rafters to create a ridge board.
Next, we screwed sheets of plywood to the top of the roof. That was fun to lift up and hold while my husband screwed them in- lol!
step 2
Next, the siding was attached to the side of the house with screws. At the front of the house, we framed in the windows and hung the door. We got those at Habitat for Humanity and the trim was from our scrap wood pile.
step 3
Once all the siding was up, I started prepping for painting by caulking the seams and filling in the screw holes. The sides of the house all need trim pieces of wood. But getting that white paint up was a big step in the right direction!
Here’s the front of the house with the siding on. I ran out of paint, but the top of the house looks pretty bad right now. BUT we have plans- we need to extend the overhang over the front of the house. Painting will help, but so will adding a window. After the overhang is extended and the window is added, we’ll see what else it needs.
Do you have any suggestions for the top peak area? I’m tempted to add a little awning a few feet above the door. I’d love to hear any of your ideas.
For paint, I used Behr Ultra Pure white so it matches our house. I played with the idea of rainbowing it (painting it lots of colors), but I thought making it look like our house would be more fun! I might add a rainbow fence to the left of the playhouse so we can’t see into that neighbor’s yard. Plus we need more rainbows around here, right?! 😉
In this picture, you can see the playhouse is right next to the diy arbor we built.
I let Don pick the color for the front door. He mostly painted it. Up close, the paint is super bumpy and uneven. BUT I thought it was more important to have him help and feel ownership since this is his playhouse than for it to be perfect.
step 4
Then today, this decorative molding for above the door arrived! I still need to trim out the door. When I do, the decorative molding will look even better! Picture a mailbox under a window and a sign that says “little Fairview Cottage.” That’ll be sooo cute! Or should it say mini Fairview Cottage? What’s your favorite?
As a reminder, here’s where we started last week-
And here’s where we’re at today!
Although it still needs a ton of work, we’re almost to the fun part- decorating!!! I’m hoping next week I can have an update with the desk for Don’s lab. If you’re wondering the plans for the inside, I have a series of stories on Instagram saved that goes over those. If you prefer a blog post, this post goes over the plan and this post goes over the building and cost of the frame.
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Dear precious Ashley 🙂 !! & precious family 🙂 !! It’s gorgeous already!! 🙂 What a work of art! Such talent! 🙂 I love it! 🙂 I can see your darling lil Don 🙂 is so in love with it! He’ll be sooo happy doing his Dinosaur research & holding classes ~ how cute! 🙂 He’s a great lil painter too! 🙂 I love “Lil Fairview Cottage” & yes an awning would be sooo adorable with rainbows ~ & lil rainbow window boxes with flowers the colors of the rainbow! Even silk flowers too! A nice white porch with a white rocking chair & of course a lil rocker for Don’s fave dinosaur would be so sweet! It’s sooo much fun to see this lil dollhouse for your lil doll come to life 🙂 & I adore Habitat for Humanity ~ all their kindness & we have 2 adorable Scandinavian chairs from there 🙂 Enjoy Ashley 🙂 & you all take the best care & keep “playing house” 🙂 it’s a joy for the heart & so are you! 🙂 With love from all of us! xo
Hi Pam! Thanks so much for all the love😍😘
So cute so far! Maybe for the top you could add some dimension by adding a few horizontal 1×2 or 1×4 and painting them rainbow so it gives that similar stripe effect you have everywhere but with more dimension. Then maybe a pergola type awning above the door?
I love those ideas! A pergola could be really fun here. Thanks Irah!