Maintenance | Yard Kidz

Having a roof over your playset can help make it more comfortable for playing in the full sunlight and help keep rain out of the club house. Upgrading a roof can upgrade the whole look of your playset and your backyard as well. How to build a playset roof? You can build a simple roof over your playset using wood that matches the rest of the playset. With a few extra materials, you can add roofing materials to your playset’s roof, and it will last forever. Building a roof over your playset can be as simple as slapping up a few extra 2x4s or as complex as building a roof for a permanent structure. Continue reading to learn about the types of roof you can put on your playset and all the step-by-step instructions for completing the job. Related: How To Clean An Outdoor Playset Types of Playset Roofs Canopy Roofs Canopy roofs are a common option for playsets because they are easy to construct, they are lightweight, and the materials used to build them are less expensive than other options. The bright colored canopies are vibrant and charming, and they can be swapped out to match your style preferences. In a canopy roof, study fabric canopy is installed over a beam and attached to the sides of the playset’s clubhouse. If you are looking to build a simple roof that won’t cost you a ton of money, the canopy roof is the best option for you. It doesn’t get much easier, but canopy roofs are not as durable as the other roof options. Wood Roofs Wood roofs are also commonly used on playsets. A wooden roof looks common and will hold up to the elements better than a canopy roof. A wood roof is constructed on a frame on the top of the clubhouse and covered with wooden slats that match the wood of the rest of the playset. They do not keep out all rain, but they do a good job overall of protecting the playsets’ club house. The materials may cost a little more than a canopy roof, but a wood roof is far more durable. For a new take on the wood roofs, you could use wooden beams over the rood and create pergola style. This wouldn’t keep rain off the playset’s clubhouse, but it would allow lots of ventilation and it would look unique. Shingled Roofs Shingled playset roofs are more like those you would find on shed or other outdoor structure, and they are meant to keep out rain and snow. While a shingled roof will last a long time and provide very effective covering for the playset, they aren’t a good fit for every family. Shingled roofs cost much more in materials, and they are heavier than wood roofs and canopy roofs. In addition, a shingled roof on a playset does not always look all that nice. If you put a shingled roof on a cheap playset, it is just going to look weird. Whether you should put a shingled roof on your playset or not really depends on the style of your playset and the feel of your backyard. Peaked vs Skillion vs Flat For large structures, there are many different kinds of roof shapes and peak, but playsets don’t usually go to those lengths. Most playsets have a traditional peaked roof that is shaped like a triangle. Sometimes, you will see a playset with a skillion roof. A skillion roof looks like one half of a traditional peaked roof. Instead of two slanting pieces, it has one slanting piece. These roofs are easy to build, but they do not provide as much headspace as a peaked roof. Flat roofs are simply one flat panel of wood across the top of the playset. A flat roof is very simple, but not good options for most playsets. Flat roofs must be raised to provide enough headspace, they aren’t as attractive as peaked roofs, and they do not allow for rain to run off them efficiently. If you live in an area that gets significant snowfall, you may need to clean off your playset roof in the winter to prevent the weight of the snow from damaging the playset. Selecting Roof Material Wood Many ready to assemble playset kits come with a wooden roof. These roofs aren’t designed to be completely waterproof the way a shingled roof is, but a wood roof will still provide ample shade, some protection against weathering from rain and snow, and they look great. If you plan to use wood on your roof, choose a wood that matches the rest of your playset or stain or paint the wood so that it looks thought out and polished. Fabric Fabric canopies are a very common option for most commercial playsets. They provide shade, ventilation, and add color to the playset. It will not keep rain or snow out of your playset set. In fact, before a rainstorm or cold weather, you should remove the canopy to prevent it from becoming damaged. Vinyl is frequently used when making a playset roof, but there are alternatives to it. Sun shade fabric in particular is a great choice for a playset roof because it is inexpensive and provides shade while still letting light and air through it. Other options include sun tarps, and beach umbrella fabric. Any kind of outdoor fabric should be hold up to elements. The problem with fabric canopies is that they often become damaged and weather faster than wood. Many playset owners seek out a more long-lasting solution when they need to replace their swing set canopy. Shingles One way to protect the roof of your playset and give it some visual appeal is to install shingles on it. Shingles are not necessary on a playset roof unless you really want to protect it and make sure rain does not enter the playset from the top. The choice to put shingles on a playset roof is really an aesthetic one. Most people skip shingles on a playset roof. Shingles come in a variety of shapes, colors, and materials. Choosing the one that is right for your playset can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Shingles are often made out of asphalt, clay, wood, slate, metal, rubber, and composite materials. Any lightweight shingle will be fine to use on your playset roof. Just pick out shingles that you like the look of, but maybe avoid any materials that have sharp edges. Some shingle shapes you might want to consider are t-shaped, scalloped, beaver tail, rectangular, or diamond. Scalloped shaped shingles lend a dollhouse feel to the playset, if that is the look you are going for. Real cedar shingles will give the playset a rustic feel but may not last as long as other materials. Focus on the look and price point of the shingles to make a selection that will look good in your backyard without breaking the bank. Any shingle you use will work well enough for your playset. Metal Roof Metal shingles aren’t the only way to build a metal roof. Corrugated metal can be used over a playset to create a roof, and when it rains, it will make quite a racket if you’re sitting under it. Corrugated metal might not be the best material to use around children. Corrugated metal can be sharp along its edge and it can get very hot in the summer sun. If a flailing arm or a head sticking out of the window comes in contact with a sharp edge, it could injure a child. Corrugated Asphalt Corrugated asphalt looks a lot like corrugated metal, but it is quite different. Corrugated asphalt does not radiate heat, which will help keep your playset cool. It also does not have dangerous sharp edges, and it is easy to cut and work with. Like other corrugated materials, it comes in a variety of attractive colors. Corrugated Plastic Corrugated plastic is another corrugated option. Corrugated plastic comes in a variety of colors and different levels of opacity to suit your needs. You can choose to let light it with see through panels or let block it out solid panels. Some corrugated plastic panels even offer sun blocking abilities that will provide a shady feel while still giving a good amount of light. You could even use just one see through panel to allow some light into the playset’s clubhouse, like a skylight, without it being too much. Match Your House When in doubt, you can always try to match the look of the roof that is one your home. This will give the playset and home a cohesive feel that looks planned out. Parts of a Roof The roof on your house likely has a far more complex system with different parts and supports, but for your playset you won’t need that wealth of information. Below I describe the parts of a playset roof that you will need to know in order to build a roof on your playset. Ridge: The ridge of the roof is the beam that runs from peak to peak down the center of the roof. If you think of the roof as a triangle, the roof ridge is the top angle where the two sides of the roof meet. Rafter: The rafters are the pieces of the roof’s frame that run between the ridge and the edge of the playset. If you’re still picturing that roof triangle, the rafters are the legs of the triangle that stick out from the top angle. Collar Tie: A collar tie adds stability to the roof. Using the triangle comparison, the collar tie is a horizontal brace that sit below the top angle and connects the two legs of the triangle. A collar tie can be made of wood, but some playset manufacturers provide a bracket with their company logo on it. A collar tie can be as decorative as it is functional. Sheathing: Sheathing is typically a sheet of plywood that covers the rafters. It helps hold the rafters in place and also provides a surface to attach shingles. Materials other than plywood can sometimes be used for sheathing. How to Build a Canopy Roof for a Playset Building a canopy roof on the top of your playset’s clubhouse is the simplest way of building a roof. Unfortunately, I can’t give you measurements on how to construct this. It will depend on the size of your clubhouse and how high your want your roof to be. Materials: 2x4 boards that match the wood of your playset 2 ½ inch deck screws Outdoor fabric for the canopy (shade fabric is a great option) Hardware for attaching the fabric: screws and washers, heavy duty staples, nails Tools: Drill with Philips head bit Circular saw Tape Measure Step-by-Step Instructions to Build a Canopy Roof Decide how you want the peak of the roof orientated. Do you want the peak to be over the slide or a climber? Make sure you think about this carefully. You can always uninstall the roof and change it if you need to, but it is always better to have it the way you want right from the get-go.Screw a 2x4 into the top of the playset using 3 screws. The board should be center, perpendicular, and its top should be as high as you want the roof. Use a level to ensure that it is truly vertical.Screw another 2x4 on the opposite side of the playset directly across from the one you just installed. It should match the first board you installed completely.Attach a third 2x4 to the top of the posts you just created to connect them. This beam will act as the roof ridge and will create a peak when the fabric is installed.Drape the fabric over the roof ridge and secure one side to the playset frame using heavy duty staples or screws with washers. If you want to be able to remove the fabric before a storm, be sure to use hardware that allows for easy take down. Pull the fabric tight, but not too tight, and secure the other side. Alternatively, you could frame up the roof and instead of using wood or roofing materials, you can cover the top of the roof with the fabric. How to Replace a Playset Canopy with Wood If your playset came with a canopy style roof, you’ve probably noticed that it starts to look less than stellar after a few years. Sun damage or damage caused by storms often leaves the fabric used for canopy style roofs looking shabby. This is especially true if you leave the canopy out over the winter. You can very easily replace the fabric with a fresh new canopy when it no longer looks nice, and it usually isn’t an expensive fix, but if you’re looking to install a more permanent solution, then you might want to try adding a wood roof. Replacing a canopy with wood is very simple. The basic idea is that you run boards vertically from the top of the roof ridge to the edge of the playset and secure them. Although the process I outline discusses the use of boards, this can also be accomplished with corrugated plastic. Supplies: ¾ inch boards, whatever width you prefer Stain, sealant, or paint 1 ¼ inch screws or nails Tools: Circular saw Drill with Philips head bit or a nail gun Tape measure Paint brush Rags Step by Step Instructions for Replacing a Canopy with Wood Figure out how long the boards will need to be. Measure the distance from the roof ridge to where the fabric has been connected to the playset. You will want the boards to overhang a little. Add some inches to this measurement depending on how long you want the overhang to be.Figure out how many boards you will need across. Measure the length of the roof ridge. Again, you will want an inch or two of overhang. Add some overhang inches onto the measurement. Divide the length of the roof ridge plus the overhang inches by the width of the boards. That is how many boards you will need for one side of the roof.Cut one of the boards in the length that you want and test it on the roof to make sure it fits the way you like. If so, you can cut all the wood you will need in the sizes you need. Doing all your cutting at once makes everything easier.Stain and seal or prime and paint the boards on all sides to protect the wood from the elements and insects. You can keep the paint colors consistent or get creative.Install the boards one by one. At the tip of the triangle, one board should cover the end of the other to close the gap where they meet. On the inside use another board horizontally across the middle of each side of the roof to secure the wood together from behind. How to Build a Simple Roof on a Playset If you need to build a roof from scratch on your playset and you don’t want to use the canopy method, you can create a simple roof using this method. This method will create a finished product that is close to what you might find on an off the shelf playset. The wood will be made entirely of wood, but if you wanted you could use fabric or corrugated plastic for the roof covering. Once again, I cannot give you the exact measurements you need because all playsets are different and will require different sized roofs. Supplies: 2x4 wooden boards 1 ¼ x 6 inch boards 2 ½ inch deck screws Stain, sealer, and/or paint Tools: Drill Tape measure Circular saw Read these instructions carefully, and then set about measuring and cutting the boards that you will need based on the size of your playset.If you plan on staining, sealing, or painting the boards, do this before building the roof.First, you are going to make a V with two boards. Attach two 2x4s together so that the end of one board sits under the edge of the other board. This is the front of the framing for the roof.Attach a collar tie. If you’re familiar with woodworking, you can make this decorative or just practical.Repeat step 3 and 4 again in order to create the back end of the frame.If you are going to create a wooden roof with boards that run horizontally, you can connect these two v-shaped pieces together by installing the first few 1 ¼ x 6-inch boards at the peak of the roof and a board on each side at the bottom of the legs of the V shape. The boards should overhang the v-shaped pieces by about 4 inches.Fill in the holes with more 1 ¼ x 6 inch boards. (If you want to use a different material, you may want to wait to install it until after the roof is on.)Lay the roof on its side so you can see underneath it. Use 2 x 4 boards to create a third v-shaped support down the center of the roof. If your roof is long, you may want to add more than one of these.Attach the roof to the playset. How to Build a Roof with Shingles on a Playset A playset roof with shingles will last far longer than any of the other options listed above. In fact, it may even last longer than the rest of your playset. Having shingles on your playset is not necessary, but some people like the look of it. If this method is done well, it can look really amazing on a playset. Be sure to pick shingles that you love and read the instructions on how to install them. Supplies: Plywood Underlayment Shingles Ridge cap Starter shingle Galvanized steel roofing nails Round cap roofing nails Tools: Measuring tape Utility knife Hammer Chalk String Step-by-Step Process to Build a Playset Roof with Shingles If your playset already has a roof, you can install the shingles right on top of that if you want. Otherwise, you will have to frame out the roof with 2x4s like I described in the last section, but instead of using 1 ¼ x 6 inch boards to cover the roof, you will use plywood. Then… Measure the area of the roof and cut the underlayment to match the size of the roof.Install the underlayment following the instructions on the product you selected. Generally, this involves using round cap roofing nails to secure it in place. Try to keep the underlayment as straight as possible, especially if it has a grid on it. This grid can help you keep your shingles straight when you are installing them. If the shingles you use have starter shingles, install them using roofing nails. All shingles install a little differently. Read the installation instructions that come with the shingles you selected.Install the rest of the shingles following the manufacturer’s instructions. You will likely need to be able to cut them.You may need to cut end pieces using a utility knife or other cutting device depending on the material the shingle it made out of. Use a chalk string to mark straight lines on the shingle so that you cut them straight.Finally, install the ridge cap. Like the regular shingles, all ridge caps work a little differently, but there should be instructions provided with the product you select. Without the ridge cap, water will cut into your playset through the peak in the roof. Buy a Roof Believe it or not, some manufacturers will sell you just the roof. If you’re looking to replace a canopy roof or repair a badly damaged roof on your playset, you may want to check with the manufacturer of your playset and see if they can sell you the roof. The roof usually comes unassembled in a box, but with detailed instructions on how to install it on your playset. Some of them are playset specific, but others can fit on a wide range of playset sizes. Here is an example of a playset roof you can buy that will fit a variety of playsets. Ideas for Roof Add-Ons These are just some basic ideas for building a roof on your playset. There are many ways to install a roof on your playset. These instructions are meant to keep building the roof fairly simple. You can add touches of charm to your clubhouse roof by adding any of the following: Gables with windowsGables without windowsA faux chimneyFlags big or smallMultiple levels to the roofSkylightA periscope holeDetailed collar tieWindows under the collar tie You can make building the roof as involved project as you would like, and the finished project will be fantastic in the end.