How to Build a Fort Using Wood and Recycled Materials

Building and playing in forts or playhouses is a favorite pastime for many children throughout their childhood. Creating customized and distinctive forts or playhouses from wood and recycled materials makes this pastime not only fun, but also environmentally-friendly and educational.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PVC pipe
• Wood studs
• Plywood
• Corrugated cardboard
• Tarp
• Sheet
• Nails
• Pipe clamps
• Fabric markers
• Craft paint
• Pillowcase
• Old clothes
• Newspaper
• Shoebox

1. Design your fort using fort or playhouse books such as "Playhouses You Can Build: Indoor & Backyard Designs" by David R. Stiles and Jeanie Stiles available at most online bookstores. Decide how many rooms and windows your want and the placement of the doors and windows. Also, think of recycled materials available in your home to incorporate into the design.

2. Build the fort's frame using wood studs or PVC pipe. Make the flooring out of painted plywood. Use recycled corrugated cardboard or plywood as the walls and roof if the frame is made of wood, but use a tarp or a sheet for walls with a PVC pipe frame.

3. Attach the flooring to the wood frame with nails and to a PVC frame using pipe clamps available at any hardware store. Decorate the inside and outside of the walls using fabric markers for fabric walls and craft paint for cardboard or plywood walls. Hobby stores such as Hobby Lobby carry markers and craft paint. Enlist the help of children for the decorating step.

4. Personalize the fort with additional elements such as a flag made from a recycled pillowcase or old recycled clothes. Create curtains from old newspapers or make a mailbox or window planter from a shoebox.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using plastic sheeting because it is not breathable and not advisable for anything built for children's use.