A Brick Clubhouse in Scotland

While on a trip in Scotland two years ago, I spotted this slate-roofed shelter in someone's back yard. It was about 8 feet by 8 feet in size, and looked quite old.

 



Using Old Doors

Here is a way to build your clubhouse (or garden shed, studio, backyard guest room...) with very little cost, at least for the walls - use old doors.

In many neighborhoods, there are "anything goes" trash days, usually in the summer. (Look at your city's trash pickup schedule). This is when you can sometimes find old doors and windows on the curb. Also, the Re-Store, second-hand stores, St Vinnie's and architectural salvage yards also sell old doors and windows very cheap. Get doors made of real wood - not the plywood or composition "slab doors", which will disintegrate outside.

First, collect enough doors to roughly fill up your outside walls. You might need to find some narrow cabinet doors or windows to fill in gaps. Once you think have enough, then plan your floor size to fit the doors plus the studs in between to tie the doors to the floor and the roof.

To seal the gaps between the doors, use some 1 by 4 trim boards, as shown above. Build a roof in the Classic Clubhouse style and voila! you have a palace of doors!

Getting Permission To Build a Clubhouse



Start with a simple clubhouse idea; this one might scare the grownups!

 



As soon as you utter the word “clubhouse”, parents and other People in Control will likely imagine a big mess to clean up.  So here is where you’ll need to think like a diplomat and probably a lawyer to argue your case.

Be careful not to choose a site too close to your neighbor’s house or on their land. If there is no fence, ask where the boundary might be. Also don’t use a neighbor’s or your own fence as one of your walls! Furthermore, don’t build in front of someone’s picture window or otherwise block their view. You will get complaints.  By all means promise to keep the area clean except where you are actually building your clubhouse, and then keep the promise!

Invite your parents or other People in Control to help find a good site for your clubhouse. If possible, have a second building site in mind so the People in Control have a choice. If that doesn’t work, impress them with your knowledge of developmental psychology: In recent years children have been increasingly deprived of the outdoors and nature. Child-development specialists such as Richard Louv have directly linked the absence of nature to the recent rise in obesity, attention disorders and depression among children. Show them Richard Louv’s website, http://richardlouv.com/last-child-movement, and then tell them, “You don’t want me to get fat, stupid or depressed do you?”

Another good argument is this: “I’ll be engaged in something creative, I’ll be learning a lot of practical skills, and you will know where I am!” Then show them the plans you drew so they will know more about your project, and that you are serious about doing it “right”. Tell them you’ll follow the safety tips listed in Chapter 2 and remind them you’ll keep the place as clean and neat as you can. Until they convince you it is impossible to build a clubhouse (you live in a high-rise apartment, for example), then keep trying!

If you live in a community or subdivision that is heavily laden with what they call owners agreements, covenants or deed restrictions, check the rules to see if you can build in your yard. In recent years, some towns and homeowners’ associations have ordered clubhouses removed because they are deemed unsafe, a fire hazard, unsightly, or all three. Many communities don’t want to be “exposed to risk” from lawsuits or insurance claims. This unfortunate trend is part of the reason kids are no longer allowed to get outside, get dirty and build clubhouses!

So go along with this system if you can. Show them your plan, tell them you are the builder, and see what happens.  If necessary, argue your case with the points listed above. If you have to, fight back by getting your parents or sympathetic neighbors to help you regain your outdoor freedom. The Children and Nature Network: http://childrenandnature.ning.com is a worldwide support group that advocates this very thing!

One idea, though it is a bit risky: get your grownup supporters to let you build a “protest clubhouse” and when Those in Power demand its removal, offer to sign a “no fault” letter that promises you won’t sue them or make a claim against their liability insurance. If that doesn’t work call in the local news media to make your point.  This is America, after all!  

Once a Root Beer Stand

In 1990 my daughters and I went on expeditions around our home in Northeast Wisconsin to find clubhouses or playhouses. In Kaukauna, we learned that this playhouse was originally built as a root beer stand and then remodeled.  My kids enjoyed posing in front of it to show off the careful attention to scale and detail.

It's still there today, and it definitely looks 23 years older. My kids have grown a bit since then as well.

Our Second Clubhouse

      After our first clubhouse out on the vacant lot (above on masthead) got wrecked by some kids, four of us formed a club and build this clubhouse.
      It turned out that Kathy (seated at right) got us permission to use a fenced-in back yard her parents only used for storing junk and extra lumber; Chris, in the doorway, knew how to find really cool stuff in the trash, Chele, seated at left, was Kathy's friend, and I (who took the picture) was able to build it. The other kids helped by finding some of the wood.
     We built this from wood we found or that the neighbors donated. As Christmas approached, we needed paint and more nails to finish the clubhouse. When my mom asked what I wanted Santa to bring me, I quickly replied, "About five pounds of 8-penny nails and a gallon of turquoise paint!" Santa came through, and the clubhouse, in this picture, was bright turquoise!

The One That (Almost) Got Away



On large estate-house grounds, elaborate playhouses were often constructed for the kids. This one Is my favorite of any I've seen so far. It was discovered by New Jersey resident John Rickershauser:

John lived near an old country estate in New Jersey, which was eventually razed for a condominium development. Just before the demolition, he was out walking (fortunately with his camera handy) when he spotted this wonderful but neglected playhouse on the grounds. These estate playhouses often had running water, wood- or coal-fired cook stoves and electric lights, and I suspect this one had it all. The fence alone is an architectural treasure.

 

I drew a floor plan of this in case anyone wants to build it!

 

Photos contributed by John P. Rickershauser

Two-story Playhouse in Tucson

In Tucson, Arizona, having a lot of opening windows is a good idea to let cooling breezes flow through. This playhouse was built of 2" by 2" framing and 1/2" thick OSB panels, all brightly painted. Another bonus is the high ceiling at one end, tall enough for a cozy loft.