Make a Wooden Fort

If you are bored inside your Mom and Dad's home and you want to get out of there quickly, why don't you make your own home? Or you want to make a fun hideaway for you and your friends. All you need to do is follow these instructions.

Steps

  1. Find a good place to build your Build a Fort, like in your backyard or somewhere in the woods, but make sure it is legal before you build it in the woods.
  2. You must decide if you are going to build your fort on plains, or just somewhere between trees also try a 3x4 to support the walls and floor.
  3. Decide if you want your fort to be secret or a place for everybody. If it's a fort for everybody, and everybody can come in, don't leave any tools or valuable stuff inside.
  4. Plan what you want your fort's purpose to be, like if you wanted your own crib or a hideout.
  5. If your fort is on hill, dig or put your fort on stilts or do the 1/2 and 1/2 thingy. Digging is most times used, because building in the heights may be difficult and sometimes even dangerous.
  6. Collect all of the wood scraps you can find. Any piece will do. Use thick beams to build a strong ground floor, use straight, strong pieces to build pillars and use anything like branch to cover your roof.
  7. Test the boards by putting weight on them. Never just step on it and hope it will hold your weight. Always make sure it's strong enough to support any weight which might be put on it.
  8. Start building your fort with nails, wood glue etc. Make sure you work safe, because the last thing you want is a nail in your thumb. Use quality stuff, not the cheap kind. You might also use a saw to cut pieces in the correct length.
  9. Look for two trees about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} apart. Maybe, you might be lucky with both the trees having a branch that creates a Y. If so you can make this in the woods or any place with long sticks.
  10. Now for the frame you have the two trees, place a long stick through the trees. # Now lean the walls on the sticks so that they go straight up.The layers for the walls are 1 sticks 2 pine bows 3 bark. The fort is now complete, and waterproof.
  11. If you are creating a fort on the ground and are not using wood for a floor; a lot of small rocks or gravel will do just fine sometimes; Dirt and pine straw works just as great! After all, you don't want to sit on the cold, sharp stones/rocks do you!?
  12. If your parents don't agree with using their wood or supplies, just find a nice place where you can get some tree branches. But ALWAYS ask first. Remember, be safe and enjoy your fort/tree fort!!



Tips

  • Bring in some blankets and pillows so you can invite your friend over for the night. Hammocks work great here.
  • To make your fort look better, use paint or wood polish etc...
  • Have fun
  • Make a small space in between the wall for a door.
  • If you want sunshine, find thrown away windows (glass or none) if there is no glass, make a flat piece of wood that you can put over the window frame.
  • When you are Placing the support stick make sure your Y trees can hold the supporter!
  • Make sure your posts (corner beams) are far enough driven into the ground, at least 3-4 feet.
  • To make your fort warm in winter, use a kerosene heater. If you want your fort cool in summer, cut a hole in your wall and put an air conditioner in that hole.
  • Build your woodshed by following the rules above
  • To make your fort more livable and away from predators try making it at least 3 or four feet above the ground. Also, try to put up insulation. Tarp works perfectly you can put over top of your fort then nail it down or use rocks to hold it down if your on a low budget this will also warm up your fort and protect it from rain or snow
  • Add a birdhouse that you've built yourself.
  • Link electricity from your house to the fort to have lights and power!

Warnings

  • DO NOT build with cottonwood, it is very brittle.
  • Don't use interior paint on the OUTSIDE this will chip and fade because it is NOT waterproof!
  • Do not build your fort next to tall or dead trees. If you do, a lightning storm may come and the tree can destroy your fort.
  • If using a heater be sure you keep control over it so there is not a fire.
  • Don't let the wood fall on you, be sure it's stable.
  • Do not put any metal on your roof. because it might rust and leak
  • When you are Placing the support stick make sure your Y trees can hold the supporter!
  • Make a small space in between the wall for a door.

Things You'll Need

  • blankets and pillows
  • nails
  • tarp
  • wood (2x4s or 4x4s)
  • hammer and nails(optional)
  • wood glue(optional)
  • Circular saw
  • Goggles
  • small rocks or gravel

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