Table of Contents
Making the handrail
Step 23: Mark for the handrail uprights
Cut the handrail pieces to size and lay them in place on top of the tree house deckA flat floored roofless area adjoining a house. Timber deck: An outside floor structure comprising of posts, bearers, joists and decking boards..
Work out where the balusters go and mark the positions on both the handrail and the boundary joistOne of a series of parallel members used to support the floor. Part of the framing that provides the structure for a floor..
Ensure that the gap between balusters is not more than 100mm (4″).
Step 24: FixTo secure with nails or screws. the balusters to the handrail
Lay the handrail on a flat work surface.
NailA short nail with a large flat head used for securing roofing felt, plasterboard, sheet metal to wood etc. the top of the balusters to the handrail on the marks.
Use three 75mm (3″) galvanizedCovered with a protective coating of zinc. nails at each meeting. Nail one through the faceThe widest side of a piece of wood. of the baluster into the handrail and angle nailToenail. A nail driven at an angle to the member. the other two through the sides of the balusters into the handrail.
Pre-drill the holes in the balusters first.
Step 25: Fix the balusters to the joists
Pick the handrail portion up and temporarily clamp it in position to the boundary joist.
Nail the bottom of the balusters to the boundary joist on the marks.
Use three 75mm (3″) galvanized nails at each meeting. Nail one through the face of the baluster into the joist and angle nail the other two through the sides of the balusters into the joist.
Pre-drill the holes in the balusters.
Step 26: Posts for the slide entry
Position two posts, one each side of the slide.
Dig the postsee PILE into the ground about 500mm (20″).
No concreteA mixture of sand, gravel, water and cement which hardens to a stone like condition when dry. is necessary, just ram and compact the soil around the post.
Cut the tops of the posts to the required height and add a headerA beam placed perpendicular to wall studs above doors, windows or other openings, to carry the weight of structural loads. Also called lintel..
Step 27: The stair handrail
Use 150×50 (2″x6″) stock for the stair handrail.
That is so the balusters can be fixed to the handrail about 62mm (2-1/2″) from the top, leaving enough free space for hands to be able to slide along the handrail without fingers catching the tops of the balusters.
Make the height of the handrail 1000mm (44″) off the deck around the platform but a little lower up the outer side of the stairs.
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