Hey was wondering if there was any designes/gardners/builders that could help me out here?
The Mrs friend has her own home based child care and she is trying to turn her garden into a play/learn area and has asked me to help as money is tight.
First thing i need to do is lay foundations for a 5mtr by 5mtr log cabbin and was wondering how deep i should go with the foundations also is there any tips you could give me on doing this. I believe 6" should be ok but would like to just double check this.
Also she has done some very basic plansof how she wants the garden. I would like to be able to see her plans in 3D (and show off a little bit of course :Clap
if possible but have no idea on what program to use or if someone has the program would it be possible for you to help with his?
Any help or pointers would be very much appreciated.
Thanks for reading and any help you may be able to provide.
Ray
Hi Ray
Thanks to Evastar for pointing me in your direction,lol
Right, firstly im assuming that your freinds Child learning business comes under ODSTED regs and inspections?
If it does then there are certain rules to follow:
With the planting you cant put anything in there that can cause harm by means if irriation or poisoning by Ingestion.
Does she have any children with disabilities, as there are rules for Fair access !
Certainly from an Insurance point of view everything must be child freindly, that does not mean that you have to wrap them up in cotton wool !
Children learn to understand the world around them by experiencing risk at acceptable degrees and different levels .
That encourages Learning and Social development.
The ROSPA course that i have just done explains that in great detail.
Some risks are acceptable and changing levels and heights, highlighted by different colours teach a child to recognise and adjust to the risks.
Schools in paricular and Local Athority Playgrounds come under ROSPA inspections for insurance purposes, but i dont know all the details in your case .
So long as you buy Equipment that has a proper stamp on it or at least a manufacturers Certificate of Conformity and Safety then you wont go far wrong.
TUV testing does not mean its safe or conforms to UK law and standards.
There are lots of cheap play equipment out there thats come in from abroad and its cheap and nasty, sometimes downrite dangerous!
Badly finished of Welds etc that could rip open a childs skin.
Ebay is full of this cheap rubbish!
Getting back to your playhouse base, then i would simply lay it on 600x600 slabs with a mix of sharp sand and ordinary Portland cement at 6 to 1 ratio.
Dont use cheap thin slabs as this is just false economy, at least 20mm thick if not 25mm.
Depending upon the soil type, drainage etc, then you may want to use some subbase first (limestone chippings) or type 1 and compact , then lay the mortar on this.
If the playhouse is of a resonable weight then i would effinately advise on a good subase or it might sink or move in winter.
So long as your playhouse has no fingertraps or trip hazzrds then you should be ok.
No splinters, exposed bolts, screws etc.
all edges should be champered, rounded with no protusions that could cxause injury.
Check for possible Torso traps where a child might climb through and get stuck or trapped.
Less of a problem at ground level, but as you get higher there is a risk of a child getting there head stuck and hanging themselves!
If your Playhouse has an upstairs, then make sure the staircase has either enclosed stairs/steps or a solidsided full height Banister/handrail that could avoid the above situation.
If you need any further advice on this just ask.
Because we live in a culture of Billy Blame and Charlie Claim, then its best to protect yourself as much as you can to avoid Legal action resulting from a childs injury.
If you planning on using play equipment under 1.5 meters in max height then you dont need a tested play surface underneath ei, wet pour rubberised surface or tiles.
Under this height then grass itself, or Rubber matting with holes and grass grows through it if fine.
If you need any help in designing some sort of play trail or sensory garden then i can help if you need it.
As to design software then , to be honest i still use pencil graph paper and a scale ruler.
Hope this helps you a bit and if you want more answers then just shout!