Cubby Houses & Playhouses

Ground level or elevated

Ground-level cubbies sit directly on the lawn with a low step or none at all. They suit children from about eighteen months, take up less room, and go together in an afternoon. If your kids are under three, this is the category to look at.

Elevated cubbies raise the floor onto a deck, usually with a ladder up and a slide down. They suit roughly three to ten, hold interest for far longer because they combine climbing and imaginative play, and need more ground around them.

Sizing for your yard

Measure the cubby's footprint, then add walking room on every side and clear ground at the bottom of any slide. A cubby with a two-metre base wants closer to five metres of yard once it is properly placed.

Check your local council requirements if you are looking at anything tall. Some councils have rules about structure height, floor area, and how close you can build to a boundary.

Timber and how it ages here

Most cubbies are treated pine or cedar. Treated pine is the common choice and holds up structurally for many years, though the surface checks and greys unless you oil or stain it. Cedar is more dimensionally stable and weathers to a silver-grey that many people prefer as it is.

Whichever you choose, oil it before the children ever use it. Australian sun does more damage to backyard timber than rain, and a coat applied on day one is worth three applied later.

What assembly involves

A small playhouse is a comfortable afternoon for one person. A large elevated cubby is a full weekend for two, and the wall panels are heavy. You will want a drill, a socket set and a spirit level. Laying out and counting every component against the parts list before you start saves the most common frustration.