DIRECTIONS 1. Cut 9-foot lengths from four of the 10-foot 4-by-4 fence posts; these will be used as posts. Cut a 56-inch piece from the 6-foot 4-by-4 to serve as the ridge beam. Cut the remaining 10-foot 4-by-4 into four 30-inch pieces, then make opposing 45° miter cuts at each end; these will be used as diagonal braces.
2. Cut seven of the 2-by-6s in half to make 14 60-inch lengths; these will be used for frame crosspieces and floor joists. Rip one 60-inch piece lengthwise into three 1½-inch-square backer boards for the apple-tree façade.
3. Cut the remaining two 2-by-6s into four 55-inch lengths, then make parallel 45° miter cuts at their ends; these will serve as gable rafters.
4. To join the posts at the top, cut two 57-inch and two 60-inch mitered lengths from the 10-foot 2-by-4s.
5. Assemble the rectangular, 60-inch-wide front and rear frames. Begin by using 3½-inch deck screws to attach 60-inch mitered 2-by-4s flat to the tops of each of two pairs of posts. Attach the bottom 60-inch 2-by-6 crosspieces 12 inches from the bottoms of the posts with countersunk 5½-inch carriage bolts, and use 7-inch carriage bolts to hold a pair of 2-by-6 crosspieces at midlevel (42½ inches above the bottom crosspieces), sandwiching the posts. Use 3½-inch screws to attach both pairs of 30-inch 4-by-4 diagonal braces to the posts and between the midlevel crosspieces.
6. Make two gables from pairs of the 55-inch mitered 2-by-6 rafters. To hold the top ends together, make two L-shaped ½-inch plywood brackets with 9-inch arms. Glue and screw (with 1¼-inch deck screws) one bracket to the inside face of each pair.
7. Center and overlay each gable on outside face of posts so gable ends project equally from both sides. Attach gables to frames with 3½-inch screws.
8. To make flush surfaces to mount the façade, measure and trim 1½-inch-thick backer boards as shown, and attach them with 3½-inch screws to the posts of the front frame between the middle 2-by-6 crosspieces and rafters and also to the front of the top 2-by-4 crosspiece.
9. A ladderlike framework of joists will support the floorboards. Make it from four 60-inch 2-by-6s: space each of two boards about 21¼ inches from the ends of the two others (the joists should be about 14½ inches apart); center, butt, and screw them into place using 3½-inch screws. This framework will secure to the front and rear posts.
10. Using saber saw, freehand cut the curvilinear tree shape from two pieces of OSB butted together on the center line of the front frame. Also cut a free-form window at the center.
11. Sand the cut edges of the "tree" halves and stain the façade green. Paint the frame brown.
12. Draw and, using saber saw, cut out twelve to fifteen 5-inch apples from the quarter sheet of particleboard. Round apple edges with rasp and paint red.
13. Make a 45° cut along one long edge of the 1-by-6, then cut the board into two 60-inch lengths to make the fascia boards. Trim bottoms of rafter ends with a horizontal cut to match this width.
14. Cut the plywood panels to two 57½-inch-long pieces and one 60-inch-long piece to cover the sides and rear, respectively, of the playhouse. Cut a 20-by 30-inch door opening in the rear panel and a 20-inch square window in one of the side panels. Frame the window and door using corner guard attached with glue and 1-inch finish nails.
15. Attach façade and rear panel to front and rear frames, respectively, with 1¼-inch screws.
16. Attach apple shapes to façade front with 1¼-inch screws running from rear. At least two apples should cover the center seam.
17. Carry all the parts to level site. Measure out a 57- by 60-inch rectangle on the ground, and dig 15-inch-deep holes in each corner for the posts. With the aid of a helper or two, place the legs of the front frame in the appropriate holes so it rests on the bottom crosspiece, which will become one side of the frame for the sandbox. Use a level to check verticality, then backfill holes and tamp. For extra sturdiness, cement the posts in place.
18. Put rear frame in remaining holes, checking distance from front frame with 60-inch 2-by-6s before backfilling and tamping or cementing in place.
19. Cut, space, and install composite-wood decking for floor, laying the boards perpendicular to the floor joists; use 3½-inch screws.
20. Use 3½-inch screws to attach bottom 2-by-6s, floor frame, and 57-inch 2-by-4 crosspieces on tops of posts. With a helper, put 3½-inch screws through the gable ends to attach the ridge beam.
21. Attach side panels with 1¼-inch screws. Trim corners with corner guard, which must be notched to fit around rafters. Add 1-by-6 fascia boards with 1¼-inch screws.
22. Paint interior plywood surfaces yellow.
23. Install fabric roof, securing it to rafters and fascia boards with 1¼-inch screws and washers through grommets.
24. Build an 8-foot-long ladder out of the three 8-foot 2-by-4s, cutting four 24-inch rungs from one piece. Cut both ends of the other two 8-foot pieces at angles so the ladder will rest firmly against the ground and the side of the playhouse. Space the rungs 12 inches apart starting 12 inches from the ground and attach with 3½-inch screws. Secure ladder to playhouse frame with 3½-inch screws.
25. Seal all wood surfaces.
26. Fill the sandbox and let the kids loose.
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