Playhouse & Playset Material Care

Playhouses may be cute and fun places for imaginary worlds, but they are also made from real life materials. Just like real houses, playhouses and playsets require upkeep and maintenance to keep them safe and looking their best. Here are a few tips on proper playhouse and playset material maintenance.

Wood

Most owners of wooden playsets or playhouses prefer to give the wood some type of finish. Paint will provide a colorful and decorative finish for your wooden playhouse. Repainting will be necessary every few years as the paint peels or flakes.

Clear finishes also can look very beautiful when applied to a wooden playhouse. Oil based finishes are more durable and have a higher gloss than water based finishes, but they can also be messier and are more toxic. Refinishing your wooden playhouse every year or two is recommended.

If your wooden playhouse is made from a wood such as cedar or pine, you may also choose to leave it unfinished. This will cause the wood to eventually weather to a silver-gray color, which will give the wooden playhouse a natural beauty.

Plastic

Plastic playhouses may not offer the same decorative effect as wooden playhouses, but they are safe and very low maintenance and ideal for younger children. Today's plastics are designed for maximum durability and weather resistance. Your plastic playhouse or playset will withstand weather and constant play, with little more maintenance required than regular washing with a hose or occasional hand washing with a mix of warm water and detergent.

Siding

Wood, vinyl, or aluminum sidings are also commonly used on playhouse and playsetexteriors. Vinyl and aluminum are going to be lower maintenance than wood siding. If you want to protect your playhouse from the elements without a lot of upkeep, siding is the option for you.