Playhouse

Dimensions

Cut list

Tools you'll need

• ✓

  Measuring tape (5m or longer)

  Used for measuring each material.

• ✓

  Pencil and carpenter's square

  For marking guidelines and right angle verification.

• ✓

  Saw

  Home center cutting service recommended.

• ✓

  Electric driver

  Impact driver improves work efficiency.

• ✓

  Sandpaper

  Prepare two types: #120 and #240 grit.

• ✓

  Level

  Essential for confirming level during assembly.

• ✓

  Clamps (2 or more)

  Used for temporary fixing during joints.

• ✓

  Brush and paint tray

  Used for applying wood preservative.

Materials

Build steps

1. 1

   Measuring and Confirming Installation Location

   ≈ 15 min

   Measure the installation space for the Secret Base (Playhouse) (1200×1000×11500mm). Confirm the width of the space, ensure a passage clearance of at least 600mm, and check the door swing area.

   Measure

   W 1200 mm

   MeasureSTEP 1 / 13

   Tip

   • Place to avoid directly under gutters or over drainage ditches.
   • Leave a minimum gap of 20mm between wall and furniture for easier cleaning.
   • Avoid the boundary between a wood deck or soil and the flooring (ground). Causes instability.

   Watch out

   • Cannot install if installation space width is insufficient for 1200mm. Prior measurement is crucial.
   • Outdoor installation locations have frequent foot traffic. Placement protruding on the floor risks tripping.
2. 2

   Creating Material Cutting List

   ≈ 30 min

   Cut 19mm-thick cedar boards into front and rear boards (19×120×1200mm) ×26 sheets, side boards (19×120×1000mm) ×26 sheets. Bottom board is Lauan plywood 12mm (12×962×1162mm) ×1 sheet. Corner posts are 2×4 lumber (38×89×11500mm) ×4 posts. Using a home center paid cutting service is convenient.

   Cut

   Use the in-store cut service

   CutSTEP 2 / 13

   Tip

   • Cedar boards vary greatly with knots and warping. Pick up each one when selecting.
   • The corner post length 11500mm includes front and rear boards height (120×4 boards = 480mm) plus 20mm margin.
   • When using cutting service, specifying grain alignment improves appearance.

   Watch out

   • Cut ends of cedar boards absorb water easily. Apply wood preservative thoroughly in later steps.
   • 2×4 lumber actual size is 38×89mm. Specify '38×89' when requesting cuts because nominal and actual sizes differ.
3. 3

   Sanding All Materials

   ≈ 40 min

   Sand with #120 grit then #240 grit sandpaper in order. Cedar boards are soft and prone to warp and splinter; especially sand the cut ends and surfaces carefully. Bevel edges of the 2×4 corner posts to smooth to avoid tripping or injury.

   Sand

   #120

   SandSTEP 3 / 13

   Tip

   • Cedar fibers are coarse; sand with the grain to avoid raising splinters.
   • Sand cut ends flat with #120 then smooth with #240. Skipping this results in paint unevenness.
   • Using an orbital sander reduces sanding time to one third; consider rental services.

   Watch out

   • Sanding produces a large amount of dust. Work in a ventilated place such as balcony or garage.
   • If dust is not removed before painting, surface will feel rough. Use air duster or wet cloth to remove dust.
4. 4

   Erecting and Temporarily Fixing Corner Posts

   ≈ 25 min

   Stand the four 2×4 posts vertically and place at the four corners of the workbench. Temporarily fix them with clamps to the workbench to level top and bottom. Use a level to confirm verticality. Measure spacing between posts so inside dimensions are front-to-back 600mm and side-to-side 300mm with a tape measure.

   Build the frame

   Tighten joints firmly

   AssembleSTEP 4 / 13

   Tip

   • Check verticality on two sides (front and side) with level aiming for zero on both.
   • Concrete or cushioned floor may have unevenness; lay plywood to create a flat working surface.
   • Align knots in the same direction on all four posts for better appearance, adjust when arranging.

   Watch out

   • If even one post is off vertical, front, rear, or side boards will be skewed after completion.
   • Be consistent measuring inside or outside edges of posts for spacing; otherwise 5-10mm errors occur.
5. 5

   Attaching Front and Rear Boards (From Bottom)

   ≈ 40 min

   Place the first cedar board horizontally at the lowest front position. Apply wood glue on left and right corner posts and secure with two 65mm coarse-thread screws on each side (4 total per board). Stack boards above with 5mm ventilation slits (width of one chopstick) between each. Of the total 10 boards, attach 5 on the front and 5 on the rear.

   Build the frame

   Tighten joints firmly

   AssembleSTEP 5 / 13

   Tip

   • 5mm ventilation slits prevent moisture buildup in shoes; tightly adjoining boards cause mold.
   • Use chopsticks inserted between boards to keep uniform gap.
   • Drill pilot holes (φ4mm) on corner post side before screwing to prevent splitting.

   Watch out

   • Without pilot holes, 65mm screws split cedar boards. Always drill pilot holes.
   • Overdriving screws dents board surface; screw flush with board face only.
6. 6

   Attaching Side Boards (Left and Right)

   ≈ 35 min

   Attach 26 side boards (19×120×1000mm) similarly with ventilation slits. Attach 5 boards on each left and right side. Adjust front and rear board positions first so the cut ends meet tightly at corners before attaching side boards. Measure diagonals (front-to-rear) with tape measure and fix while ensuring both diagonals are equal.

   Build the frame

   Tighten joints firmly

   AssembleSTEP 6 / 13

   Tip

   • Unequal diagonals cause parallelogram distortion; correct until equal using clamps.
   • Side boards are set inside the front and rear boards; offset pilot holes slightly inward from front and rear board edges.
   • For clean corners, pre-cut corner posts at 45 degrees before assembly.

   Watch out

   • If ventilation slits of side boards do not align with front/rear boards, appearance will be uneven.
   • Diagonal discrepancy over 5mm hinders smooth storage of items.
7. 7

   Processing and Attaching Bottom Board

   ≈ 25 min

   On the lauann plywood 12mm bottom board (262×562mm), drill nine 20mm diameter ventilation holes evenly (3 vertical × 3 horizontal). Hole positions must be at least 50mm from edges and 100mm apart each other. Insert bottom board into the box bottom and fix to the four posts with 45mm coarse-thread screws.

   Drill a hole

   下穴 φ3.5mm

   DrillSTEP 7 / 13

   Tip

   • Ventilation holes allow moisture escape from shoe soles; do not reduce number.
   • Use hole saw for clean holes; woodworking drill bits also okay.
   • Bottom side of boards faces ground and is not visible; no edge tape needed.

   Watch out

   • Warped bottom boards do not contact posts properly; check flatness and if severe, install reversed and secure to correct.
   • Holes too close to edge weakens strength; keep at least 50mm from edge.
8. 8

   Final Check of Right Angles and Diagonals

   ≈ 15 min

   On assembled box, check all right angles and diagonals. Use a carpenter's square to measure internal angles confirming deviation from 90 degrees. Measure both diagonals with tape measure and confirm difference within 2mm. If off, loosen screws, clamp to correct, and retighten.

   Inspect

   No wobble ✓

   InspectSTEP 8 / 13

   Tip

   • Diagonal difference is indicator of assembly accuracy; within 2mm is functional.
   • Measurements must be done on level surface to avoid errors.
   • Check all screws for tightness by feel.

   Watch out

   • Ignoring distortion causes door or lid misalignment and poor operation.
   • Loose screws risk wobbling and collapse under shoe weight.
9. 9

   Painting Preparation and Sanding

   ≈ 15 min

   Before painting, lightly sand entire surface with #240 grit and remove dust with a damp cloth. Level screw heads and cut ends. Since for outdoor use, wood preservatives like Xyladecor or Osmo Color are recommended.

   Sand

   #240

   SandSTEP 9 / 13

   Tip

   • Cedar boards absorb paint heavily; two coats required.
   • Apply extra paint on cut ends; fibers exposed and absorbent.
   • Xyladecor is best applied by rubbing with cloth for uniform finish rather than brushing.

   Watch out

   • Rough sanding before painting causes uneven paint or fuzziness.
   • If dust remains during painting, resulting surface feels rough.
10. 10

    First Coat Painting

    ≈ 30 min

    Apply Xyladecor or water-based paint thoroughly. Use brush or rag to paint along wood grain in one direction, let soak for 15-20 minutes, then wipe excess with a clean dry cloth. Paint ventilation slits at an angle to avoid missed spots. Let dry naturally for at least 2 hours.

    Paint

    Watco oil / varnish

    PaintSTEP 10 / 13

    Tip

    • Xyladecor's 'apply then wipe' method highlights wood texture.
    • Paint accumulation in slits delays drying; wipe thoroughly.
    • When painting outdoors, ensure ventilation and open windows to reduce fumes.

    Watch out

    • Failing to wipe leaves sticky residue for days; always wipe with dry cloth.
    • Excessive coating leads to uneven drying and subsequent peeling; two thin coats required.
11. 11

    Intermediate Sanding and Second Coat Painting

    ≈ 25 min

    Once first coat is dry, lightly sand surface with #320 sandpaper (intermediate sanding). Remove dust and apply second coat thinner than first, wiping excess similarly. Allow 24 hours for full curing.

    Paint

    Watco oil / varnish

    PaintSTEP 11 / 13

    Tip

    • Intermediate sanding removes fuzz without removing paint film.
    • Two coats greatly enhance wood preservative effectiveness; do not skip.
    • Keep drying area free of dust.

    Watch out

    • Over sanding removes first coat film.
    • Skipping two-coat process reduces preservative effect by half, especially important outdoors.
12. 12

    Feet Pads and Waterproofing Measures

    ≈ 15 min

    Affix felt pads or anti-slip rubber to the bottom ends of the corner posts. If placed directly on ground, raise 10cm on bricks or blocks. For tile floors, silicone pads prevent slipping effectively.

    Fix to the wall

    Anchor to studs

    InstallSTEP 12 / 13

    Tip

    • Felt absorbs water and gets dirty; rubber or silicone recommended for outdoor use.
    • Pads are essential on all four corner posts; omitting center causes tilting.
    • After installation, observe for 1 week to ventilate until paint fumes dissipate.

    Watch out

    • No pads cause floor damage and slipping on wet surfaces.
    • Some silicone pads have weak adhesive; commercially available with strong double-sided tape recommended.
13. 13

    Final Inspection and Shoe Storage

    ≈ 15 min

    Perform final check of all screw tightness, ventilation slit consistency, and paint uniformity. Check stability with level and adjust pad thickness for leveling if needed. Avoid placing heavy objects for one week until paint fully cures. Store shoes dry inside.

    Done!

    Done — nice work!

    DoneSTEP 13 / 13

    Tip

    • Wipe moisture off wet shoes before storing to prevent humidity.
    • Store only up to 80% capacity to maintain ventilation.
    • Monthly airing by emptying and drying with fan extends lifespan.

    Watch out

    • Placing wet shoes for long before paint cures causes shoe-shaped marks on finish.
    • Overloading and forcibly pushing shoes deforms boards.

Warnings

• ⚠️If used outdoors, wood preservative treatment is essential (reapply annually recommended).
• ⚠️Use stainless steel screws (iron screws will rust).
• ⚠️Drill pilot holes before driving screws to prevent wood splitting.

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