CONSTRUCTING A CLUBHOUSE MEANS MUCH MORE THAN CHILD'S PLAY.

Byline: Betty Kwong Lifestyle Editor

Kids' clubhouses come in all shapes and sizes. Squat ones can be fashioned out of a cardboard box that once held a washing machine. For a high-ceiling playhouse, choose a refrigerator box.

But if you're after a long-term investment, wood's the way to go.

Playhouse construction, however, is not a weekend project for the inexperienced, said James DesMarteau of Home Depot in Woodland Hills.

``If you want to do it the right way, it's going to take some thought,'' said DesMarteau, who's been in construction for 14 years.

``You'd need a simple blueprint to know what materials you're going to need, the tools that are needed, what kinds of bolts and screws and glues you'll need.''

Do-it-yourselfers with the proper skills can get away with spending a mere $600 to $1,000 for materials to build a safe, two-level play structure, DesMarteau estimated.

That's less than the roughly $1,500 to $5,000 many premade play structures are selling for locally. But when children are at stake, you'll want to err on the safe side.

Owners of several local playhouse distribution centers - including Swings n' Things in Calabasas, Sun Country Systems relocating to Santa Clarita, and Swingset Corral in Ventura - had plenty of advice for shoppers.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when building or buying a playhouse:

Ideally, a playhouse should be built on a spot in the yard where any adult can get a clear, unobstructed view of the children at play.

Choose a shady or partially shady location if possible. A hot playhouse quickly becomes an abandoned playhouse.

Find a relatively soft surface on which to build the playhouse. Six to 10 inches of chipped wood is a common choice. The same depth of sand is just as safe, but also popular with the neighborhood cats. If you put it on grass, be prepared for the lawn to get some wear and tear; the life of the wooden structure also may be shortened if the lawn sprinkler hits it every day.

Try to give the playhouse plenty of breathing room. Most manufacturers recommend a minimum of 6 feet clearance all the way around the structure.

Lumber used on a play structure should be sanded on all sides; run your hands across the beams and walls to ensure that it's smooth and free of splinters. Redwood is the most popular wood used for outdoor play structures nowadays.

Check to see whether bolts, hinges, knobs and latches are well designed to avoid scraped knuckles and pinched fingers. Look for safety-conscious details such as flat steps on a ladder; kids can sustain serious injuries if they slip on a rounded, metal ladder rung.

Most sellers recommended staining, rather than painting, an outdoor play structure. Paint will blister and flake, whereas a good stain will simply fade with time.

Hose down the play structure about once a month; check that nuts and bolts are still tight.

Give the structure a thorough cleaning and a new coat of protectant at least every 18 months; check it more often if it's constantly exposed to salty sea air or direct sunlight. Most sellers contract with someone who will do the service for you.

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Photo

Photo: (Color) The Adventure Ship swing set and playhouse is made by Texas-based Backyard Adventures.