HANDCRAFTED CONSTRUCTION
Each Carpenter's Shop playhouse is individually hand-crafted using only the finest materials and construction techniques to provide many years of service and a lifetime of memories.
Because of the effort required to make and customize playhouses, our annual production capacity is rather limited. The amount of time required to produce and deliver a playhouse depends on several factors:
- The production backlog at the time that the order is received.
The production backlog varies considerably depending on the time of the year. Sometimes we can begin production immediately, and sometimes there is a delay.
- The amount of time required to produce the playhouse.
The amount of time required to actually produce a playhouse varies somewhat from model to model, but generally a minimum of six weeks is required.
- The amount of time required to physically ship the playhouse.
In order to assure structural integrity, playhouses are constructed and shipped as completed units from our production facilities. Playhouses can be delivered with a 500-mile radius of San Antonio using our own truck and specialized trailer. In these cases, the delivery is a 1-2 day process. Beyond that distance, playhouses must be shipped by motor freight on a flatbed truck, and the shipping costs are determined by the freight company. We make arrangements for the shipping as part of our service, but normally ask that the customer pay the freight company directly for the shipping costs.
SIZE AND PROPORTIONS
Each Carpenter's Shop playhouse is scaled to a size that is appropriate for your children. The walls of most playhouses are approximately four feet high, and the walls of the larger playhouses are approximately five feet high. The doors and windows of all of the playhouses are scaled to the height of the walls.
The pitch of the playhouse roofs are selected to maximize the amount of head room in the center of the structure. The smaller playhouse have approximately 6-1/2 feet of headroom in the center, and the larger playhouses have headroom of nearly 9 feet in the center.
Therefore, your children will not outgrow your Carpenter's Shop playhouse quickly, but will continue to enjoy it for many years.
FRAMING
All of the Carpenter's Shop playhouses are constructed using the same proven techniques that have been used for decades to build full-sized homes all over the United States.
Our approach to design and construct playhouses that have maximum strength and structural integrity, using materials that are scaled appropriately for the size of the playhouse.
The basic construction of the Carpenter's Shop playhouses includes 2" x 2" framing and plywood exterior siding. Many joints are glued and nailed to provide additional strength and rigidity for the structure.
FLOOR AND PORCH
The framing for the floor unit and the porch decking for all Carpenter's Shop playhouses is made of treated wood to resist moisture and insects.
ROOF
The roof is decked with plywood and covered with felt. Twenty year 3-tab composition shingles are then applied over the felt.
All roof valleys are covered with flashing. Any roofing nails protruding into the playhouse are ground flush with the wood for safety.
Roofing colors include the following:
- Black
- Shasta White
- Autumn Tan
- Amber
- Aspen Mist
Other shingle selections, dimensional shingles, and roofing materials are available at additional cost. Optional ridge vents for the roof are also available to increase ventilation and cooling of the playhouse in the summer.
DOORS
Each of the Carpenter's Shop playhouses includes a front door and a side or back door. All of the doors open to the outside for safety. The doors on most playhouses are adapted to the height of the walls, but on some playhouses the front door is located under a gable, permitting a somewhat taller door.
The doors are fitted with knobs that latch securely to exclude animals and protect against weather. Spring hinges are included on each door that permit the door to be adjusted so that it will close gently but securely.
All doors are individually fabricated at our facilities to assure proper fit and finish.
WINDOWS
All of the windows in the Carpenter's Shop playhouses are safety glazed with plastic to provide protection from rain and animals. The windows open for ventilation, and latch securely when closed.
The small windows are generally 12" or 16" wide and open to the outside. The larger flush windows are generally 32" wide and open to the outside.
In the Model 205 "Ranch House" playhouse, wooden shutters are used in place of the safety glazed windows.
All windows are individually fabricated at our facilities to assure proper fit and finish.
WINDOW SEATS
Some of the Carpenter's Shop playhouses include window seats that extend beyond the walls. These window seats are wonderful places to sit at talk with little friends or just rest and enjoy the sunshine and cool breeze.
Window seat window are generally 32" wide and open to the inside.
EXTERIOR TRIM
The Carpenter's Shop playhouses have roof trim along the gables, "gingerbread" applique patterns on the walls, and "flower boxes" for artificial flowers.
Most playhouse designs that include porches have railings with decorative trim and finials. When wide slats are used for the railings, heart or star cutouts are available as an option.
PAINT
The Carpenter's Shop playhouses are primed and then painted in two colors of high quality latex paint.
The Carpenter's Shop playhouses are normally painted on the outside with a main pastel color and a complementary pastel trim color. The interior is normally painted white, or antique white, and with pastel trim. Other color combinations are available.
If you wish to select your own paint colors, you may send us color chips that we will "computer match" when we obtain the paint.
As an option, the Carpenter's Shop playhouses are available unpainted. This option saves some cost and permits the whole family to participate in the finishing and decorating of the playhouse.
BUILT-IN SHELF AND DESK UNIT
Many of the Carpenter's Shop playhouses include a built-in shelf unit around a side or back window, and a built-in desk unit under the shelf unit.
VINYL FLOORING
All of the Carpenter's Shop playhouses include sheet vinyl flooring. This makes it easy to keep the playhouse clean and protects against spills.
GINGERBREAD AND TRIM
Because the Carpenter's Shop playhouses are individually hand-crafted, each one is unique, differing slightly in the details of trim and decorative accents.