Building a playhouse yourself costs between €150 and €400 in materials. Ready-made wooden playhouses of comparable quality cost €400 to €1,500. Building your own saves significantly — and you can tailor it to exactly what your children want: with or without a veranda, slide, climbing wall or swing. In this article you’ll find a complete step-by-step guide for a simple but sturdy playhouse, including all the key safety requirements.
Build vs. Buy: Cost Comparison
| Build yourself | Buy ready-made | |
|---|---|---|
| **Simple playhouse (150 × 120 cm)** | €150 – €250 | €350 – €700 |
| **With veranda** | €200 – €350 | €600 – €1,000 |
| **With slide + climbing wall** | €300 – €500 | €800 – €1,500 |
| **Saving** | 50–65% | — |
Safety Requirements (EN 1176)
A garden playhouse falls under the European playground equipment standard EN 1176. The key points:
- Minimum free space around the equipment: 2 metres in all directions (fall zone)
- Maximum gap width: 9 cm (risk of head entrapment)
- Minimum gap width: 3 cm (risk of finger entrapment)
- Guardrail (balustrade) above 60 cm: mandatory, minimum 60 cm high
- Ladder rungs: maximum 30 cm spacing
- No protruding bolts or nails
- Sharp edges: round off all edges (minimum R3 mm)
Materials Required (playhouse 150 × 120 cm, floor at 70 cm height)
| Material | Size | Quantity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posts 75 × 75 mm (support posts) | 230 cm | 4 | €40 – €60 |
| Floor joists 45 × 70 mm | 150 cm | 5 | €15 – €25 |
| Floor boards 18 × 140 mm | 120 cm | 9 | €20 – €35 |
| Wall boards 18 × 95 mm (feather-edged / shiplap) | 120/150 cm | approx. 40 | €40 – €70 |
| Roof decking 18 × 120 mm | 180 cm | 12 | €25 – €40 |
| Bitumen roofing felt | 2.5 m² | 1 roll | €10 – €20 |
| Handrail and balusters | — | — | €30 – €50 |
| Ladder | — | — | €25 – €40 |
| Stainless steel screws and bolts | — | €25 – €40 | |
| Wood preservative / stain | 2 litres | €20 – €35 | |
| **Total** | **€250 – €415** |
Step-by-Step Guide: Build a Playhouse in 10 Steps
Step 1: Plan and design
Decide on:
- Location in the garden (level ground, clear of shrubs, 2 m free space all around)
- Dimensions of the playhouse
- Floor height (70–90 cm for a playhouse with crawl-through space beneath)
- Extras: veranda, slide, climbing wall, swing
Draw the design on graph paper (scale 1:20) and prepare a materials list.
Step 2: Foundation / setting the posts
Dig holes 50–60 cm deep at the four corner points. Set the support posts (75 × 75 mm, certified pressure-treated) in the holes with concrete. Check each post is perfectly plumb with a spirit level.
Allow the concrete to cure for 48 hours. Then cut all posts to equal height using a mitre saw (a laser level is helpful for this precise work).
Step 3: Build the floor frame
Fix the floor joists to the support posts using joist hangers and bolts. The floor frame forms the load-bearing structure of the playhouse. Check that the frame is level.
Step 4: Lay the floor
Screw the floor boards onto the floor frame. Leave a 5 mm gap between boards for drainage. Use stainless steel screws (4 × 50 mm), always pre-drilling.
Apply preservative to the underside of the floor (before fitting — after installation the underside is difficult to reach).
Step 5: Build the walls
Use feather-edged boards (shiplap) for the walls — these are overlapping boards that shed water effectively. Start at the bottom and work upwards. Each board overlaps the one below by 2–3 cm.
Leave openings for windows and the door. Use a 45 × 70 mm timber frame around all openings.
Step 6: Build the roof
Build a simple pitched (gable) roof or a mono-pitch (lean-to) roof. For a mono-pitch roof: one long slope from front to back (or side to side). Simpler to construct than a gable roof.
Fix the roof boards (shiplap or plain-edged decking). Cover with bitumen roofing felt (or HPL sheeting for a lower-maintenance roof). Ensure a minimum 5 cm overhang on all sides.
Step 7: Guardrail and opening
Fit a guardrail all around the platform (the floor). The guardrail must be at least 60 cm high. Use horizontal or vertical balusters with a maximum 9 cm gap.
Leave an opening for the ladder or stairs. Keep the opening no larger than necessary.
Step 8: Ladder or stairs
Build a ladder from two 45 × 45 mm side rails with 3–4 rungs (28 × 70 mm). Rung spacing: maximum 30 cm. Fix the ladder at an angle to the platform.
Alternative: build a staircase with a handrail for younger children.
Step 9: Finishing
Round off all sharp edges and corners with sandpaper (grit 80–120). Check for any protruding nails or bolts. Tighten all screws — loose screws are dangerous on play equipment.
Step 10: Apply wood treatment
Apply a coat of wood preservative or stain to all exterior surfaces. Use a product that is safe for children (water-based, low VOC). Allow to dry for 48 hours before letting children play on it.
Adding Extras
Slide
Buy a plastic slide (€40–€120) and fit it to the platform. Check the recommended platform height for the slide (shown on the packaging). Ensure adequate space for the landing area (2 metres fall zone).
Climbing wall
Fix a sloped timber panel (approx. 45 degrees) with climbing holds (€15–€30 per set). Plastic or timber climbing holds are available from toy and play equipment shops.
Veranda
Extend the roof on one side by 60–80 cm and add a floor for a covered balcony. Add a handrail along the stairs up to the veranda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need planning permission for a playhouse?
In most local authority areas, playhouses are exempt from planning permission provided they:
- Are no more than 2.5–3 metres in height
- Are on your own land
- Are not intended for permanent habitation (which playhouses typically are not)
Always check with your local council — rules vary by area.
Which timber should I use for a playhouse?
Pressure-treated softwood is the standard choice for the support posts. For the superstructure: Douglas fir or larch — durable and child-safe (no chemical treatment required in normal use).
What age is a playhouse suitable for?
Playhouses are suitable for children aged 3 and over. For children under 3: keep the platform low (maximum 30 cm), no slide.
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