Play area from old decking

Evening all.

I'll get some photos on when its daylight. I've been given a trailer load of old decking, which I'm using to build some play gear for the lad.

The first phase is a small raised deck, about 4ft off the ground, which with ladders and such so he can climb it. I'm going to do a 'wobbly bridge' coming down off it and possibly a slide too.

Quick question though. Two corners are held up on 4x4 fence posts, nice and solid. The other two corner are held up by the dead, stripped tree trunks of mature leylandii which the previous owner had the wisdom to kill off.

The tree trunks are easily 8 inch or more thick, but the surface roots have been chopped off. Do we reckon there'll be enough old root left on to provide plenty of support? Or should I sink more posts?

 

Lucky you getting all that deckng
I'm wanting to build a playhouse for my little boy.
Not paying £100 for one of those little plastic things
Good luck in your project, looking forward to seeing the pic

 

Is it possible to dig round the stumps abit and then fill with 'post fix' i reckon it would look good using the tree trunks

 

Clueless, the roots from the Leylandii are gradually dying and will rot, in time the trunks will move. I don't think I'd be inclined to risk it where there are little one's concerned, better to be safe than sorry!

 

Sheal, you're right of course. After some pondering, I've revised my plan a bit. I don't think it can fall down now, at least not any time soon. The original plan feature the deck being mounted on four legs, two of which were the old trees. That's still the case, except I've added diagonals from the bottom of one leg to the top of the next, so a little bit of trigonometry/geometry magic means that the legs can't fall over, so for it to collapse, the timber above the ground (where I can see it) has to sheer.

I've been up and down on it this evening as I further secure the floor, and it takes my 14 and a half stone as I stomp about on it

Lolimac, I've never heard of this 'post fix'. I'll have a google.

Mowgley, I reckon your lad will love a home made play house far more than a plastic one. The plastic one might have the bright colours, but after that, the novelty wears off pretty quickly. Besides its not just about the finished product. Its about building it with your son. I don't know how old your lad is, I'm guessing too young to be any genuine help on the project, but If you let him hold the 'safe' end of the timber while you cut it, or pass you bits and pieces as you work, I bet he'll love it. I keep asking my son how he thinks we should do various bits on his one. Of course at 3 year old I'm not likely to go with any of his engineering ideas, but he gets so excited in the belief that he is dictating how it will all work.