HomePlace Structures Garden Chalet User manual

Garden Chalet
Assembly Manual
© HomePlace Structures

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Dear Customer,
Thank you for your purchase of our Garden Chalet. The craftsmanship and detail in this Garden
Chalet is unmatched. We are proud to bring it to you from our Amish friends and neighbors who build
such remarkable products.
This manual is designed to simplify the assembly process, however we strongly recommend having
an experienced carpenter involved in the project. Please read through the entire manual before start-
ing!!
The actual Garden Chalet that was put together for this manual was 10 feet wide and 14 feet long.
This manual can also be used for smaller or larger models. It took 2 men, 11 hours, using the air
tools shown in the picture, to assemble this playhouse. However, it will probably take you a little lon-
ger since it will be a new project for you.
Take a deep breath and get at it, the satisfaction and enjoyment of this building is only a few hours
away. Have Fun!!!!!
Remember, it is very important that you have a level site for your Garden Chalet, and that the floor is
perfectly level prior to setting the walls.
You have purchased a product that consists of heavy, bulky pieces. With your purchase, you assume
full responsibility to have the necessary manpower and/or equipment available to unload the items.
You also agree that any damage that happens to the equipment, product, or individuals during the
unloading process, or during the entire construction process, is your responsibility, and neither the
seller, nor the manufacturer, will be held liable for any such damage.
TOOLS NEEDED:
Hammer
Tin Scissors
Utility Knife with hook blade
Two Stepladders and 1 plank
Compressor
Hoses
electric screw gun
skill saw and level
4 air guns: 1 framing gun with 3 in. nails
1 siding gun with 1&1/2 in nails
1 roofing gun with 3/4 in staples
(optional) 1 trim gun for installing the trim
Garden Chalet
Assembly Manual revised 7/18/02
© HomePlace Structures

Upon arrival your kit should
look like this. Set the kit
as close as possible to the
assembly location.
Step 1
Lay all the pieces in the yard
around the assembly area.
Step 2
Set floor on leveled site. If
needed, level site with 2” of
stone or gravel.
Note: It is also possible to level
the floor using bricks, blocks or
other non-decaying material.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 1
Step 3
Set second (smaller) floor sec-
tion on level site. Once in
place, unscrew floor boards
and stack to side of floor.
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Step 5
Fasten smaller floor section to
both the foundation 4x4 and
2x4 of larger floor section with
3” nails (10 or 12 penny nails).
Step 6
Once sections are attached,
install the floor boards with a
tongue and groove fit. Fasten
boards to floor joist with 2 1/2”
screws.
Step 4
Once floor boards are off,
make sure the 2x4 is sitting
level on the 4x4 foundation
board and flush with the 2x4 of
larger floor section.
Step 7
Set left side-wall plum, keeping both
ends flush with the ends of the floor.
The base plate (2x4 frame) should sit
in 3 1/2”, as pictured. From the outside
of the wall, nail through siding into the
floor, making sure that the bottom 2x4
of wall is tight against the floor.
Then, from inside wall nail through 2x4
bottom every 12 in.
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Step 10
Set front wall, repeating steps
taken on back wall. Remove
temporary strip at door, only
after end-wall installation is
complete.
Note: Door can be lifted off
hinges if desired.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 3
Step 8
Set end-wall in place and nail
from the outside through the sid-
ing, making sure that the bottom
plate on the wall is tight against
the floor. The back wall should
fit in the 3 1/2” space between
left wall and floor.
Step 9
Using 3” nails, nail the corner
together every 12” through sid-
ing or through the inside as
pictured. Then nail through
topplate of end wall, down
through 2x4 on side-wall.
Step 11
Repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 to
install right side wall.
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Note: If your Garden Chalet model comes with the porch
option, follow these directions.
-Set 2 porch posts, into hole on porch floor.
-Secure tops of posts to side walls, keeping top of posts
flush with the end of sidewall top plate. Screw through top
plate down into the posts.
-Set end piece between posts and secure through top
plates.
-Attach 6 decorative braces, keeping wide side up.
-Set loft/porch ceiling in place, nailing along edges.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 4
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Step 13
Nail through the bottom gable
2x4 down into the end wall.
Step 14
Repeat steps 12 and 13 for
opposite wall.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 5
Step 12
Set first gable-end, keeping
2x4 on the bottom of the gable,
flush with the 2x4 on the top of
the left wall. Hold gable siding
in tight against left wall siding.
Hook rafter cut-out on each
side of the sidewalls.
Step 15
Temporarily remove the bottom
1x10 roof plank from each roof
section for easy access to fas-
ten roof sections. Set the back
roof section hooking top 1x4
into the point of the gable.
Toe-nail rafter into the top
plate, keeping cutout snug
against siding.
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Step 16
Fasten rafters to top plate of
wall by using 3-31/2 nails.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 6
Step 17
As pictured, place front left
roof section same as the left
back roof section. Once in
place, toe-nail rafter on top
plate, then through rafters
(where the front and back sec-
tions come together) every 24
inches. It is optional to use
vise grip as pictured to hold
roof sections together during
installation.
Note: Front roof sections
should have same marking;
rear roof sections should have
same markings
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Step 18
Repeat above steps for the
additional roof sections.
Step 19
Fasten the previously removed
1x10 planks with 2” nails. Nail
through 1x10 roof planks down
into both gables and rafters.
Note: Be sure nails don’t pro-
trude through gable overhang-
should use 1” to 1 1/4’ nails or
staples.
Step 20
Install the sofit board on both
front and back of playhouse,
keeping flush with front of the
rafters.
Step 21
Install face-boards between
gables on both front and back
of playhouse. Keep bottom of
face-board flush with the bot-
tom of the gable face board.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 7
© HomePlace Structures

Step 22
Install the four corner trim piec-
es with trim nails, holding them
up against the gable siding.
Step 23
Fasten the outside edge of
both gables to side walls with
2 1/2” galvanized nails.
Step 24
Fasten window boxes flush
with bottom of window sill.
Use screws included with win-
dow boxes.
Step 25
To install the loft, start from the
inside left gable, then on top of
gable plate, fasten the 2x1 1/2
board with 3” nails.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 8
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Step 26
Install the 2x4’s keeping bev-
eled edge up as pictured.
Step 27
Fasten 2x4’s with 3” galva-
nized nails to rafters as pic-
tured.
Step 28
Install loft floor boards placing
the two narrow boards out at
each end.
Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 9
Step 29
Space boards accordingly,
then fasten with 2” galvanized
nails.
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Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 10
Step 31
Install cedar shingles with 3/4
staples. Apply using standard
application as shown on shin-
gle instructions.
It is recommended that you
involve someone who has
experience in roofing to shingle
the playhouse.
Step 30
Touch up paint as necessary.
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Need help? call 717-768-0804 page 11
Congratulations! Your Garden
Chalet is now ready for you to
enjoy for years to come!
© HomePlace Structures