Outdoor Living Today assembly
A little cedar cottage, not a swing set, so it builds like a mini shed on a level base.
An Outdoor Living Today playhouse arrives as pre-panelized Western Red Cedar: pre-made wall panels, pre-shingled roof panels, a precut floor. Most parents build it in a day. The care is a level, well-drained base and a few cedar-kit realities, not ground anchoring.
A real little house you build from a cedar kit
Outdoor Living Today makes something different from a backyard swing set: a genuine little cedar cottage. The Little Cedar Playhouse is Western Red Cedar with three working glass windows, a Dutch door, flower boxes, and an optional built-in sandbox, and it arrives as a pre-panelized kit, the walls come as finished panels, the roof panels come with cedar shingles already attached, and the plywood floor is precut. There is no dangerous cutting, minimal tools are needed, and all the hardware is included.
Because of that, it goes together much like a small shed: you stand the wall panels, drop on the pre-shingled roof, and lay the floor, and most parents finish in a single day with two people. Reviewers consistently call the assembly a piece of cake because everything is cut and drilled.
What that means for the build is that the attention goes to giving a standing structure a proper base, and to a few realities of a cedar kit, rather than to anchoring a swing frame into turf. Get the base and those details right and you have an heirloom-quality playhouse that lasts for years.
The build
Pre-panelized, about a day, two people, minimal tools.
| Model | Time | People |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare a level baseLevel, well-drained ground or a gravel pad. See below. | 2 to 4 hours | 1 to 2 |
| Floor and wall panelsPrecut floor, panelized cedar walls. | 2 to 3 hours | 2 |
| Pre-shingled roofRoof panels come with shingles attached. | 1 to 2 hours | 2 |
| Windows, door, trimDutch door, glass windows, flower boxes. | 1 to 2 hours | 1 to 2 |
| Seal or paintShips unstained. Finish it, let the kids help. See below. | a later day | 1 |
It ships on a pallet by freight, dropped curbside, so plan two people to unload it. And build it within 90 days of delivery, that is an OLT warranty condition, explained below.
What a cedar playhouse needs
Give it a level, well-drained base
Unlike a swing set anchored into turf, a playhouse is a standing structure whose floor sits on the ground, so the base is everything. OLT are clear about it: clear the debris, get the ground level, and make sure it drains, because water pooling under the floor leads to early rot, and an uneven base leaves the structure sitting wrong and the door and windows not closing true. A simple level gravel pad or carefully levelled ground is ideal. Time spent on the base here pays off in a playhouse that sits square and lasts.
Cedar splits, so pilot and nail gently near edges
Western Red Cedar is beautiful and naturally rot-resistant, but it is soft and prone to splitting, especially near board ends. So drive fasteners carefully, pre-drill or nail gently close to edges, and do not overdrive, to avoid splits that mar the finish. It is also worth a light sanding of any factory pencil marks on the finished faces. None of this is difficult, it is just the care cedar rewards, and it keeps the cottage looking as good as it is built.
Build it within 90 days of delivery
A warranty condition worth flagging up front: OLT require the kit to be assembled within ninety days of delivery, because cedar left packed and sitting can warp and shrink. So do not let the pallet sit in the garage for a season, plan to build it soon after it arrives. Beyond protecting the rot-and-decay warranty, promptly-built cedar simply goes together better, before any boards have a chance to move.
It ships unstained, so seal it (and let the kids paint it)
The playhouse arrives as natural, unstained cedar. Cedar can be left to weather, but sealing or staining it protects it and locks in the look, and because it ships unfinished you can make it any colour you like, which is half the fun, kids love painting their own playhouse. Plan a dry day after assembly to apply a finish, and consider it a project the children can join in. A sealed cottage weathers gracefully for many years.
Plan the freight delivery
It comes on a pallet by motor freight and is dropped at the curb, and the carrier will call ahead to schedule. You may need two people on hand to unload it from the truck and move the panels to the build site, so line up a helper for delivery day and clear a path. Knowing it is a curbside freight drop, not a carried-to-the-backyard delivery, avoids a surprise when the truck arrives.
Check whether you need a permit
Because a playhouse is a small standing structure, some municipalities require a building permit or have rules about placement and setbacks, and OLT note that verifying this is the buyer’s responsibility. So before you build, a quick check with your local county or city, and your HOA if you have one, avoids any trouble after the fact. It is a five-minute call that is far easier than moving a finished cottage.
Before you build
Prepare a level, well-drained base, ideally a gravel pad or carefully levelled ground.
Plan two people for the curbside freight unload and delivery day.
Build it within 90 days of delivery to protect the warranty and avoid warped boards.
Have a finish ready to seal or paint it after assembly, a project the kids can join.
And check any local permit or placement rules first.
Why OLT points you to an installer
Because OLT do not offer installation and specifically suggest a local installer or contractor for those who would rather not build it themselves.
Because getting the base level and well-drained, the foundation of a lasting playhouse, is the part most worth doing right.
Because the freight unload, the careful cedar work, and sealing it all take time and a helping hand.
It is a rewarding DIY build for many families, so help is most valuable for the base and a clean, square result, or for anyone who wants the cottage ready for the kids without giving up a weekend, an installer can even contact OLT directly for guidance.
What an installer does
- Prepares a level, well-drained base or gravel pad for the playhouse.
- Unloads the freight pallet and moves the panels to the site.
- Stands the wall panels and fits the pre-shingled roof square and true.
- Installs the windows, Dutch door and trim, working cedar carefully to avoid splits.
- Can seal or stain the cedar to protect and personalise it.
- Advises on permits and placement so the finished playhouse is compliant.
Get it built by someone who has built one before.
Tell us your ZIP and what you bought. Installers near you will quote you directly, and you deal with them, not with us.
Questions people ask
Is it hard to build?
Not really, it is a pre-panelized kit, so the walls come as finished cedar panels, the roof panels are pre-shingled, and the floor is precut, with all hardware included and minimal tools needed. Most parents build the Little Cedar Playhouse in a single day with two people, and reviewers call it a piece of cake because everything arrives cut and drilled. The base prep is the part that most rewards care.
What kind of base does it need?
A level, well-drained one. Because the floor sits on the ground, clear the area, get it level, and make sure it drains, a gravel pad or carefully levelled ground is ideal. This prevents water pooling and early rot and keeps the structure square so the door and windows work properly. Unlike a swing set, it is not anchored into turf, the base is its foundation.
Do I have to build it right away?
Fairly soon, yes. OLT require assembly within ninety days of delivery, because cedar left packed can warp and shrink, and building late can affect the warranty. So plan to build it within a few weeks of it arriving rather than letting the pallet sit through a season, and the boards will go together better for it too.
Does it come finished?
No, it ships as natural, unstained cedar. Cedar can weather on its own, but sealing or staining protects it and lets you choose any colour, and because it is unfinished the kids can help paint their own playhouse. Plan a dry day after assembly to apply a finish. A sealed cottage will look good and last for many years.
Does OLT install it?
No, OLT do not offer installation, though they will happily support you or an installer by phone, and can sometimes suggest someone in your area. Because the build combines base prep, freight handling and careful cedar work, many families use a local installer, which is exactly what this directory helps you find.
Installers.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Outdoor Living Today. Outdoor Living Today is a trademark of its owner, referred to here only to describe the assembly services that independent installers on this directory provide.