Make a Club House
Have you dreamed of a special space to call your own? The following steps will provide a guide for constructing a personalized clubhouse.
Steps
- Plan. What will be the purpose of your clubhouse? How big do you want it? How many people will be in it? What will be in it? How much money and what materials will you need to build it? Decide exactly what you want before doing anything else.
- Choose your location and measure the complete area. This will tell you how much space you have to work with and the size of your clubhouse within it.
- Write your measurements down on grid paper. For example: Backyard, width: {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}, length: {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.
- Draw a top view diagram of the area, with each square on the grid paper representing a specific amount of distance, such as "1 square = 1 square foot." If the area is 30 x 30 feet, then the diagram should cover 900 squares.
- Draw your clubhouse to scale into the diagram in the area you want to build it.
- Calculate the size (length and width) of your clubhouse. This is helpful in gathering materials and determining your budget. If your clubhouse is 8 x 10 feet, it would be 80 square feet inside.
- Add the height measurement for your club house to determine overall size. It has to be tall enough for you to enter, so you may want to make the height of your clubhouse a few feet taller than yourself, depending on how much headroom you are comfortable with.
- Include the ceiling and floor measurements. You can find this measurement by multiplying the bottom line of any room by itself. For example, if the bottom line of a given room is {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}, then the ceiling/floor is 16 square feet, or 16 squares on grid paper.
- Make a list of all the materials you will need for construction, taking into account size, durability, tools needed and method of construction.
- Materials can be purchased from a hardware store, assembled from scraps, or a combination of both.
- Before beginning construction, ensure all measurements are correct and all materials needed are on hand. If you are a beginner builder, consider enlisting the help of someone with experience.
- Paint the finished product with waterproof paint or other type of sealant and Decorate-Your-Home-on-a-Budget to your liking.
Tips
- Draw out your plans in a way that makes sense to you.
- Build it on fairly level and dry land.
- Set aside and appropriate amount of time for this project before starting.
- Get a ladder if you are making a tree house.
- If you don't have a roof use a tarp instead.
- You don't have to build it in a tree! But you can if you want to.
- Alternatively, build your clubhouse in a Build-a-Treehouse.
Warnings
- Check for termites or carpenter ants, which will eat wood. If using insecticides, use formulas safe for household use.
- When choosing your location, make sure you have permission to build there.
- Check with your city's zoning ordinances to see if there are any taxes or fees you might have to pay.
- Set realistic goals or you may spend way too much money or just be disappointed.
Things You'll Need
- Space for building
- Lots of Wood (any kind)
- Saws
- Drills
- Hammers
- Nails and screws
- Caulk
- Tape measures
- Grid paper
- Ruler
- Money
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