Connect Two Playhouses with a Bridge
If you have a larger family, or even just have a few roaming neighborhood kids who like to stop by, you may find having just one playhouse doesn't all ways cut the mustard. However, if the investment of two playhouses is going down, you want to be darn sure they are going to worth the while. Adding a connecting bridge from one play structure to another provides not only more play interactivity and child level diplomacy, it also ups the fun factor by making two, smaller playhouses into one huge one.
The connecting bridge in the below steps is designed to work with two "King Author's Castle" playhouse plans, though the concept can be applied to any two play-sets with the same deck height. Make sure that the two platforms the bridge will rest on are no further away than 11' 7". The bridge is also 3' wide, so make sure that the railing opening on the playhouse is at least this width and preferably not much more. The below illustrations depict two modified King Author's Castle playhouse plans to connect a bridge.
Step 1: Framing the Bridge
From (1) 2x8x10 and (4) 2x8x12s, construct the joist unit depicted in the below illustration.
Step 2: Decking the Bridge
From (7) 12' decking boards, cut and install the 3' decking pieces depicted in the below illustration. Space the decking boards apart by 1/8".
Step 3: Railing Posts
From (3) 4x4x8s, cut six of the piece depicted in the below illustrious. Install these pieces to the bridge as shown in the 2nd below illustration. Use carriage bolts to secure the posts to the bridge.
Step 4: Framing the Rails
From (4) 2x4x12s, cut four 10' 10" pieces and install them to the posts as depicted in the below illustration.
Step 5: Balusters
From (6) 2x8x10s and (1) 2x8x8, cut twenty 3' 2 1/2" pieces. Install these pieces to the railing as depicted in the below illustrations.
Step 6: Final Placement
Install the bridge between the two platform openings as depicted in the below illustrations.
