Backyard Clubhouse

12' x 10' Gable Storage Shed Project Plans -Design #21210

Would your kids love their own backyard clubhouse? Chances are they would! Kids love to have their own space and what better way to give it to them than with a clubhouse? This article looks at some ways to bring a clubhouse right into the backyard.

There are two ways to get that clubhouse. Buy a kit or build from scratch. Each method has it pros and cons and each method can be compared to the other so parents can make the best decision.

Buying a Clubhouse Kit:

When you purchase a clubhouse kit, you are basically buying a house in a box. Buying a kit allows homeowners with limited time and building skills to get very nice clubhouses at affordable prices. The cost of a kit will depend on the size of the clubhouse, the materials used for the clubhouse, and any special features.

The size of kit clubhouse can vary from a simple six foot by six foot square room to an elaborate type clubhouse that mimics a real house with separate rooms with a front porch. As you might imagine, the more elaborate a clubhouse is the more complex the assembly will be.

The average clubhouse kit usually comes as either wood or plastic. Plastic kits are very easy to assemble and are sturdy as long as the assembly instructions are followed. Wood kits require a bit more skill in assembling, but even these are pre-cut and fairly easy to assemble. The species of wood that is used for the clubhouse will have a direct effect on the cost. More expensive types of wood, cedar and oak, will cost more than pressure treated pine.

You can find kits that offer special features as well. These often include things like a singled roof, front porch, screened areas, and realistic windows that slide open and close. Of course, the more of these special features you choose in your kit, the more expensive it will be.

Build From Scratch:

The second way to get a kid's clubhouse is to buy some plans online and build it yourself. Parents might be amazed at the variety of plans that are available for backyard clubhouses. Blueprints are available for many different sizes of clubhouse as well as various designs of clubhouses.

One of the major benefits to buying plans and building from scratch is that you have a much wider variety to choose from. You can find clubhouses that look like gingerbread houses or log cabins. You can find clubhouse plans that resemble miniature Victorian homes to something straight out of the Old West.

The most apparent disadvantage to building from plans is that the homeowner is required to get all of the materials and to then build the structure according to the instructions. This will require cutting and fitting and many other carpentry skills.

A good way to get around this problem is to contact a local contractor who may be able to help you get your plans off of paper and into the backyard.

No matter which method you choose, a backyard clubhouse will bring years of fun and pleasure to your kids.