The Sextons' playhouse is in the process of being leveled and secured on sloping ground. Treated 4x4 lumber and cinderblocks are being used to raise and temporarily support the house while a more permanent timber foundation is built.
After leveling front to back and back to front, and with cinderblocks still supporting the house, the foundation is dug deep enough to support three rows of 6x 6x12 treated timbers (figure A) (figure B) (figure C).
The first course is secured into the ground with rebar, after first drilling a hole in each end of the timber with an auger bit (figure D). The second course is then set with a slight overhang, ensuring secure ends, before being secured to the first timber with a timber spike (figure E).
The final course of the foundation is put in place after using the 4x4 to raise the house up slightly. After the third course has been secured with rebar and timber spikes, the house is finally level (figure F). The weight of the structure, due to the metal studs, is enough to set it firmly on the support wall; lighter structures might need to be secured with metal brackets.Painting begins while the house is elevated; this makes it easier to access the lower sections. A cheerful shade of yellow paint called Sunshower is rolled on; then Jackie goes back over the wood-grain siding with a brush to enhance the look of the grain (figure G). With the house foundation in place, a sandbox is next on the list of things to do. There is a 4' framing support extension off the back wall; the sand box will extend 4' past the corner of the house and wrap around the house slightly to encompass the change in elevation between the corner of the house and the ground (figure H).
RESOURCES :
Black and Decker tools
Website: www.blackanddecker.com
Black & Decker, Inc. (Corporate)
Website: www.bdk.com/main_bd.htm
Porter-Cable Tools
Porter-Cable Corporation
Website: www.deltaportercable.com
Irwin Industrial Tool Company
Website: www.irwin.com
Ames True Temper Tools
Ames-True Temper
Website: www.ames-truetemper.com
American Society of Landscape Architects
Delta Tools
Deltak Power Tools
Website: www.deltamachinery.com
Plants provided by Skinner Nurseries Inc.
Skinner Nurseries Inc.
Website: www.skinnernurseries.com
Fountain provided by Al's Garden Art
Al's Garden Art
Website: www.alsgardenart.com
Sealants
OSI Sealants, Inc.
Website: www.osisealants.com
Lumber
Western Red Cedar Lumber Association
Website: www.realcedar.org
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
