The Fort / Sandbox

So, Here it is (Almost complete) "The Fort"..... I built it almost entirely out of wood from some shipping containers I salvaged from a huge job that I sold. The only costs that I had were for (3) 4"x 4"x 8'0" Pressure Treated Posts, (3) Concrete Block Footings, Wire Mesh around the sides, 1 1/2 yards of sand, 12lbs of screws, and some hardware for the trap door and counterbalance assembly. The freebies were the labor, the wood, the Coiling Overhead Door Shroud - turned slide, blood, sweat, tears, and Zach's constant pressure to meet his completion deadline. I now have an extension on the deadline, but have met his "substantial completion" for occupancy. This picture shows the view from our patio. Note the strip of dead grass from where the slide used to be.

This is the side view from the gate. At the base of the fort you can see the (3) separate lids for the sand toy storage. The ladder goes up the tree and through a push up hidden trap door...
Here you can see the trap door as it is in the open position. It actually balances very well considering that the 4"x4" chunk of post that acts as the counter weight was the first thing I tried....... Dumb Luck!!
And here the door is closed. It works very easily for Zach. My biggest worry was that he or Abby would fall through any opening that was left around any type of ladder that I built. Zach climbs up the ladder, opens the door, closes the door with his foot, and goes down the slide.... It proves to be no fun at all!!
And here is the happy owner sitting on his dream fort. About five minutes after I took this picture, Zach told me that he wanted me to build him a fort in the front yard.... I told him that he needs to wear the new one out first before I'd think about it.... They're never satisfied!! My next project will be more along the lines of watching the grass grow, or watering the grass, or watching Zach mow the grass with his bubble mower...... Sounds nice! (Once this job has the final stamp on it!!)