Outdoor Playset Plans

This step by step project is about outdoor playset plans. Building a wooden playset for your backyard is an easy and fun woodworking projects that can be done in a weekend. Moreover, you kids will be able to play for hours under your supervision. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to the safety side of the project. Round the sharp edges and corners, as well as make sure there are no protruding screws.

There are several things that you should take into account when building a backyard playset. As you will see during the project, we recommend you to use quality lumber and to make accurate cuts, using professional tools. In order to keep the costs under control, you could use pressure-treated lumber and decking screws. Align the components at both ends before inserting the screws and always use a spirit level to plumb them or to check if there are horizontal. See all my Premium Plans HERE.

Projects made from these plans

DIY Dozer Playset

DIY Outdoor Swing Set

  

Cut & Shopping Lists

• A – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 110”, 1 piece – 48 1/2″, 1 piece – 106 1/2″ POSTS
• B – 4 pieces of 2×8 lumber – 60” FRAME
• C – 5 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 60″, 12 pieces – 63″ long FLOOR
• D – 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 60″, 36 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 46 1/2″ BALUSTERS
• E – 2 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 110″, 1 piece of 2×6 – 13 1/2″, 1 piece – 53″ A-FRAME
• F – 1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 111 1/2″, 2 pieces 2×4 lumber – 60″, 2 pieces – 57″ BEAM
• G – plastic slide SLIDE  
• H – 2 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 24″, 1 piece – 60″, 1 piece of fabric ROOF
• I – 9 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 31 3/4″ long LADDER

• 9 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 10′
• 2 pieces of 2×8 lumber – 10′
• 18 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 8′
• 8 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8′
• 20 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 8′
• 3 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8′
• 100 pieces of 1 1/4″ screws
• 500 pieces of 2 1/2″ screws
• glue, stain
• slide
• swing, hangers

Tools

 Hammer, Tape measure, Framing square

 Power mixer, Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander

 Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses

Time

 One weekend

Check out this video tutorial! It’s that simple to build an outdoor playset!

[youtube id=”mzYsOnnYgoo” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Building a backyard playset

Building an outdoor playset

Top Tip: Building a backyard playset is one of those woodworking projects that will add value to your property, but it will also put a big smile on the faces of your kids. If you choose the right design for your needs and budget, you can get the job done even by yourself.

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Outdoor Playset Plans

Building the posts

The first step of the project is to build the main frame of the playset. As you can see in the image, you need to cut the 4×4 posts at several sizes, as in the image. Use a circular saw to get the job done and and the cut edges with medium-grit sandpaper.

Top Tip: You can adjust the width and the height of the playset according to your needs, but you need to plan everything form the very beginning. Work on a level surface when attaching the supports to the posts.

Building the frames

Continue the woodworking project by attaching the frames to the wooden posts. As you can notice in the image, you need to attach 2×8 lumber to the base of the posts, and create a small sandbox.

You can build the floor joists using 2×4 lumber and attach them to the legs, as in the image. Drill pilot holes trough the wooden components before inserting the galvanized screws, to prevent the wood from splitting.

Attaching the floor decking

Attach the 2×4 or 2×6 decking to the frame, after making sure the joists are horizontal. Cut small notches in the wooden slats, as to fit them around the posts. Drill pilot holes trough the slats and countersink the head of the screws, before inserting the 2 1/2″ galvanized screws into the joists.

Place the slats equally spaced, making sure you least at most 1/4″ between the slats. Smooth the cut edges with medium-grit sandpaper, before locking them into place.

Building the stairs

The next step of the project is to build the stairs, on one side of the tower. As you can see in the plans, we recommend you to use 1×2 lumber when attaching the components to the 4×4 posts. Drill pilot holes trough the pieces of lumber and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the posts.

Top Tip: Place the steps equally spaced, leaving about 3″ between them. Use a spirit level to make sure the steps are perfectly horizontal.

Attaching the balusters

Continue the woodworking project by attaching 1×4 slats to the sides of the fort. As you can see in the image, you need to align the slats at both ends and to place them equally-spaced.

Top Tip: Place a wood block between the wooden slats, in order to get consistent gaps. Make sure you don’t leave more than 2-3″ between the slats, otherwise the kids could get stuck between the balusters.

Building the a frame

The next step of the project is to build the A-frame for the swing. As you can see in the image, you need to use 4×4 lumber for the legs and 2×6 lumber for the braces. Cut the ends of the posts at 15º and 75º, if you want to get the job done in a professional manner.

Make sure you work on a level surface and you join the components in a professional manner. Double check the joints and add waterproof glue in order to get rigid joints.

A frame detail

More details regarding the A posts.

Attaching the swing

Attach the A-frame into place by securing a 4×4 post to its top and to tower. As you can notice in the image, you need to place a spirit level on top of the beam and lock it to the A-frame and to fort with 5″ galvanized screws.

Top Tip: Work with attention and with great care, making sure you plumb the A-frame with a spirit level.

Building the roof

Continue the woodworking project by attaching the components to the top of the fort, as in the image. Use a spirit level to check if the components are plumb and horizontal. Drill pilot holes trough the components and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the to rails.

Cover the structure with a small piece of fabric, in order to protect the fort from bad weather and extreme sunlight. Choose a color that matches the design of the wooden playset.

Installing the slide

One of the last steps of the projects is to attach the swing bench and the plastic slide. Make sure the construction is rigid and there are no sharp edges that could injure your kids.

Outdoor playset plans

Afterwards, you have to fill the gaps and the holes with a good wood putty. Let the compound to dry out properly, before sanding the whole wooden components, along the wood grain, with 120-grit sandpaper.

Top Tip: Apply several coats of wood stain, in order to enhance the look of the diy playset and to protect the lumber from water damage. Build a small patio using traditional materials and set a table with several chairs.

This woodworking project is about outdoor playset plans. If you want to see more outdoor plans, we recommend you to check out the rest of our step by step projects. SHARE our projects and follow us on the social networks to help us keep adding free woodworking plans. LIKE us on Facebook to be the first that gets our latest updates and submit pictures with your DIY projects.