pg. 1

Dolly’s Raised Play House

Materials Provided:

3”x3” post:

4 x 1030mm for the legs of the frame

2 x 1.2m for the horizontal supports

2 x 1860mm for the horizontal supports

8 x 460mm cut at angles for the stability of the structure

2 x 820mm for the upright supports at the railings

Railings:

2 x 620mm

1 x 1060mm

Playhouse:

4 x 1.2m wall panels

1 x 1.2m x 2m base

1 x door

2 x roof panels

2 x rolls of felt + felt nails

4 x T&G fascia boards

2 x finials

2 x 1420mm laft for nailing the felt to

4 x 58mm x 1270mm T&G trims

3 x 1.2m T&G trims

Accessories:

Slides, fireman’s pole, steps, grab handles, latch, hinges, screws, screw head covers

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Maintaining Your Climbing Frame

My climbing frame has been installed, what do I do next?

A: If your climbing frame was installed in a grassed area the installers have concreted the

frame into the ground. They have left a small exposed hole, where the posts have been sunk

into the ground. The reason this has been done is to allow the concrete to set overnight.

Before allowing the children to play on the climbing frame, please ensure that the sods of

grass have been replaced over the holes to leave the ground flush around the posts.

Please do not allow your children to play on the climbing frame

until the sods of grass have been put back.

Q: How should I maintain my Climbing Frame?

A: There are many customers whose Climbing frames last for years as a result of simple

steps taken to ensure the wood's longevity. The timber used on your climbing frame has

been pressure treated. This essentially means that it has been put into a pressurised vessel

and has been impregnated with wood preserve. With time and under our weather conditions

the green colour fades away. We suggest you treat the wood once every 2 years (completely

optional). Not only will this keep it looking ‘lively’ but will also help it last as long as

possible.

Q: What kind of stain should I use?

A: We used a water-based treatment when we made the products. You can use a water-

based or oil-based stain at your discretion. However, once you switch to oil you will not be

able to return to water-based from that point forward. Your local home improvement,

hardware or DIY store will have plenty of options and suggestions for you.

Q: What else should I do?

A: We suggest you check bolt tightness and all hardware periodically to ensure everything is

in proper order.

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Step 1: Build your frame

Firstly use the 1200mm and 1860mm 3”x3” posts to start your frame. These will be screwed

together using 200mm index screws and the pre-drilled holes on the posts.

The next stage will be to secure your 1030mm legs to each corner of your frame, using the 460mm

angled posts for stability. Once again these will be screwed together using the 200mm index screws

into the pre-drilled holes.

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The final part of step one is to lift and secure the base of the playhouse to the frame you have just

assembled. These are screwed together using 120mm screws and can also be stitched together with

60mm decking screws.

Step 2: Building your playhouse

Firstly you will start securing the four wall panels in position by screwing 60mm decking screws from

one panel into another. Once you have the four panels screwed together, ensure the wall panels all

line up flush with the outside of the base before screwing down into it.

Step 3: Screwing up your roof

Start with one side and use 60mm screws to screw round the outside of the roof, down into the wall

panels. Ensure that the roof panel is lined up with the outside of your back gable as well as along the

bottom of the roof. Then screw up the 2nd roof panel and stitch 60mm screws from one panel into

the other, screwing throught the rafters.

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The next part of this step is to use the 60mm screws to screw on your 1420mm laft, into the top of

the walls on either side of your roof, keeping the top of the laft flush with the bottom of the roof

panel. After this you can then fit the 58mm x 1270mm trims to each corner of the playhouse. To

ensure your playhouse is kept water tight, we would recommend running a bead of clear silicone

down each corner, where the trim meets the T&G boards of the wall panels.

Step 4: Securing your railings

The 620mm side railings are screwed to the playhouse with the double sided timber to the top, using

the decking screws. Make sure the railing is kept flush to the outside of the playhouse and the base

(see picture above). Next get the 820mm 3”x3” posts and screw to the outside of each railing. After

these are in place you can fit the front railing, keeping flush to the front of your base, and screwing

into the 3”x3” post connecting to the other two railings, as shown in the pictures. Once the three

railings are screwed together with the posts, you can screw through the bottom of the railings into

the base, using the decking screws.

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Step 5: Felting your playhouse

The two rolls of felt provided have been cut to the exact size required. If you roll out the felt on top

of the roof, while keeping it pulled tight, measure the same overhang over each gable end of the

playhouse. Also line up the felt so that it is running flush with the piece of laft that you screwed on

earlier. When you start to nail the felt, ensure the felt is kept tight, with no bumps or rises, and keep

it square to the playhouse as you nail across the top, bottom and sides. Your 2nd roll of felt will

overlap the 1st, so nail all sides including along the joint where it overlaps. At the corners, make sure

the felt is folded in around the corner, rather than cutting it. No felt should need to be cut.

Step 6: Hang your door

Your door has been made to fit the opening, so all you need to do is screw on your hinges and latch,

depending what way you want the door to swing. Use the smaller 40mm screws to ensure they don’t

protrude out the back of the door.

pg. 7

Step 7: Screw on your fascia boards, finials and trims

For the fascia boards screw the borads on flush to the top of the felt, making sure your plumb cut

angle at the top is tight. Screw these using the 40mm screws. Pre-drill holes in the finails to avoid

them splitting and ensure they are plumb before screwing. See above photograph.

Next screw on the three pieces of 1.2m trims on the back and both sides to help waterproof and

hide the base of the playhouse.

Step 7: Slide and steps

The steps might have to be cut or dug into place (depending on the slope of your surface)

They are secured at the top using decking screws into pre-drilled holes

Grab handles are then placed on the top of the steps

The slide is secured into place using the 60mm screws supplied, ensuring it is kept tight to

the base at both sides.

Step 8: Fireman’s pole

Place the fireman’s pole into its position (ensuring that it is parallel to the post).

You will see that it will be too tall to attach to the top rail

Mark the position that it will go into the ground

Dig a hole about 10” deep and 10” in diameter

Place the fireman’s pole into the hole and cut off any excess length so that the pole can be

secured into the top rail

Secure the climbing pole onto the top rail using 60mm screws supplied

Concrete the pole into its place ensuring that it remains parallel to the tower posts