{"id":5080,"date":"2020-05-29T15:40:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T20:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/?p=5080"},"modified":"2021-05-23T19:02:03","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T00:02:03","slug":"build-an-8x8-play-structure-with-dimensional-lumber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/29\/build-an-8x8-play-structure-with-dimensional-lumber\/","title":{"rendered":"Build an 8&#215;8 play structure with dimensional lumber"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='__iawmlf-post-loop-links' style='display:none;' data-iawmlf-post-links='[{&quot;id&quot;:325,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/theta360.com\\\/s\\\/sn1pS4qZsCfaatKVEOWhw2UCm&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.ricoh360.com\\\/info\\\/theta360\\\/&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;}]'><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/1ebVDiJqFTU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\u00ef\u00bb\u00bf<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>How to build an 8&#215;8 play structure out of dimensional lumber.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5081\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"8 foot by 8 foot play structure around a tree\" width=\"584\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/IMG_20200522_103829164-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"ricoh-theta-spherical-image\" data-mode=\"click2play\" data-width=\"500\" data-height=\"375\"><p>360 view of the play structure. &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/theta360.com\/s\/sn1pS4qZsCfaatKVEOWhw2UCm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spherical Image &#8211; RICOH THETA<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/theta360.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>List of materials and tools for the basic structure (part 1)<\/p>\n<p>Lumber:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>4x Pressure Treated (Ground Contact) 4&#215;4 posts, 12&#8242; long (8&#8242; or 10&#8242; possible for shorter platforms)<\/li>\n<li>2x Pressure Treated 2&#215;8 beams, 8&#8242; long<\/li>\n<li>9x Pressure Treated 2&#215;6 Joists, 8&#8242; long (possibly 10 or 11 needed if building box around a tree)<\/li>\n<li>6-8x Pressure Treated 2x4s (6 required for fancy corner braces and assembly bracing, but 8 suggested to make things easier. A few small pieces of scrap 2&#215;4 are very useful for temporarily shelves to hold up boards if you are working alone.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Hardware:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>12x 5\/8&#8243; galvanized lag bolts, 4&#8243; long &#8211; mounting beams to 4&#215;4 posts<\/li>\n<li>8x 5\/16&#8243; galvanized lag bolts, 4&#8243; long &#8211; mounting end joists to 4&#215;4 posts<\/li>\n<li>16x galvanized joist hangers (may need more if boxing the tree)<\/li>\n<li>100x 1.5&#8243; galvanized structural screws &#8211; joist hangers to beams (can be replaced with 9 gauge galvanized nails if disassembly is not anticipated)<\/li>\n<li>100x 2.5&#8243; galvanized structural screws &#8211; joists to beams (can be replaced with galvanized nails)<\/li>\n<li>1lb box of 3&#8243; deck screws (used for attaching bracing together and temporarily mounting beams\/joists, not actually part of the finished play structure)<\/li>\n<li>Water sealing wood stain (to color\/preserve the wood)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Tools Required:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Digging tools: Shovel &amp; Post Hole Digger (+ clippers to cut small roots)<\/li>\n<li>Wheelbarrow or other way to transport dirt and mix concrete<\/li>\n<li>Hoe or concrete mixer, razor knife to open concrete bags<\/li>\n<li>Cordless Drill, drill bits, screw drivers<\/li>\n<li>Framing Level (4&#8242; or longer suggested), large framing square<\/li>\n<li>Tape Measure &amp; pencil,<\/li>\n<li>Metal rod (probe for roots), spraypaint or pegs to mark digging locations<\/li>\n<li>Adjustable Wrench and\/or ratchet driver and sockets for lag bolts<\/li>\n<li>Hammer for setting the joist hangers and &#8220;persuading&#8221; joists into position.<\/li>\n<li>Step ladder if you are building a tall platform, or are short.<\/li>\n<li>Brush or sprayer for applying wood stain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/yFnuy_4H24w\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>List of materials and tools for the flooring and corner braces (part 2)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2x 4&#215;8 exterior grade plywood (for floor)<br \/>\nor<\/li>\n<li>17x 5.5&#8243; composite deck boards (for floor)<\/li>\n<li>2 lbs of 2&#8243; deck screws<\/li>\n<li>Circular saw to clean up the edges of the deck boards (if used)<\/li>\n<li>4x-6x Pressure Treated 2x4s (8&#8242; long) for the corner braces<\/li>\n<li>Miter Saw (chop saw), circular saw, or hand saw (for simple corner braces)<\/li>\n<li>Compound miter saw (if doing fancy corners)<\/li>\n<li>8x 5\/16&#8243; galvanized lag bolts (3&#8243; long) for corner brace to beam\/joist connections<\/li>\n<li>8x 5\/16&#8243; galvanized lag bolts (4&#8243; long) for corner brace to 4&#215;4 post connections<\/li>\n<li>Premium waterproof wood glue for corner brace assembly<\/li>\n<li>2.5&#8243; galvanized nails (or extra 2.5&#8243; structural screws) for corner brace assembly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>2&#215;4 Basics Bench Brackets<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I used 10 2&#215;4 basics bench brackets to add bench\/walls to 2 sides of the play structure. They come with all of the hardware you need, but I also purchased\/used the following lumber for the bench seats &amp; backs:<\/p>\n<p>6x \u00a0 2x6x10 Pressure Treated boards for seats &amp; top-rail.<br \/>\n6x 2x4x10 Pressure Treated boards for back rests.<\/p>\n<p>[an additional 4x 2x4x10 pressure treated boards are needed if you want to include the bottom safety rails.]<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/jzByAT6G_Ow\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If you have a VR headset, or just want to wave your phone around in the air, you can watch this 360 video of my son running through the play structure:<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/y3qLugGGfwg\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I used OpenScad to mock-up the basic design to determine what lumber to buy for the basic platform and visualize what it would look like. You can download it here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/plan_boxtree.scad_.txt\">plan_boxtree.scad<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00ef\u00bb\u00bf How to build an 8&#215;8 play structure out of dimensional lumber. 360 view of the play structure. &#8211; Spherical Image &#8211; RICOH THETA List of materials and tools for the basic structure (part 1) Lumber: 4x Pressure Treated (Ground &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/29\/build-an-8x8-play-structure-with-dimensional-lumber\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-projects"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5080"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5080\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5394,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5080\/revisions\/5394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}