If you have a large areas in your back yard that also have a quick flowing small rivers or even water being created after heavy rainstorms, you would be able to make a bridge over them so that your children will not be playing in that particular areas. This small bridge project can be a do-it-yourself garden bridge that you can make on your own or even with the help from your children.
To make a bridge for children, you need:
- Two 2-by-6-by-12-foot boards
- Wood-marking pencil
- Electric saw
- Electric drill/screwdriver
- Thirteen 2-by-4-by-36-inch boards
- Straight-edged ruler
- Water sealant
Making a Bridge for Children
How to Make a Bridge for Children
- The first thing that you need to do is to take one of the 2-by-6-by-12-foot boards and lay it down on an even surface.
- Take a wood-marking pencil and mark each of the bottom corners of your board. Make sure you measure at least 18 inches from the left hand bottom corner and create another mark over there.
- The same step needs to be done on the right hand bottom corner.
- The two marks that you have made earlier in the outer corners of the board will be made as the beginning of the outer curve to make the arch of the bridge.
- The two 18 inches marks made on both of the board’s side will be the beginning of the inner section of the curve.
- Take a wood-marking pencil and mark each of the bottom corners of your board. Make sure you measure at least 18 inches from the left hand bottom corner and create another mark over there.
- Then, you need to draw an arch starting from the right-hand lower corner of the board until it reaches the left-hand lower corner.
- After that, you need to repeat the same step with the same angled arch on the lower part of the board between the two inner marks.
- After that, you need to repeat the same step with the same angled arch on the lower part of the board between the two inner marks.
- Next, you should cut the arch from the board before setting the scrap wood aside or discard it away.
- Take the arch that you have cut and place it over the second board.
- Trace the arch onto it by using a wood-marking pencil.
- Then, you need to cut the second board along the drawn arched lines.
- Take the arch that you have cut and place it over the second board.
- Ensure that you set the two arched boards at least 32 inches apart
- Next, you have to use concrete blocks so that you would be able to keep the pieces in the right positioned.
- Next, you have to use concrete blocks so that you would be able to keep the pieces in the right positioned.
- The next step is for you to prepare each of the thirteen 2-by-4 floor planks where each of it should be cut to at least 36 inches wide.
- In order to enable the two inches to hang over the arch supports on both side.
- Each of the boards needs to be marked with a wood pencil at least 2 inches from both sides. Then, you have to drill two pilot holes on the left and right sides at the marks that you have made for each plank.
- In order to enable the two inches to hang over the arch supports on both side.
- Next, you should start from one end of the bridge by securing a foot plank onto the arches with 2.5-inch deck screws.
- In order to keep the planks apart so that you can allow water to drip through and not collect on the bridge is by creating a spacer. A straight-edged wooden ruler can act as a spacer by just placing it against the edge of the first foot plank and then lay the second foot plank against the ruler.
- Make sure to secure the planks onto the arches using deck screws on each side.
- In order to keep the planks apart so that you can allow water to drip through and not collect on the bridge is by creating a spacer. A straight-edged wooden ruler can act as a spacer by just placing it against the edge of the first foot plank and then lay the second foot plank against the ruler.
- Once you are comfortable with the task, repeat the same steps with the ruler and the next foot planks until you finished and reach the end of the bridge.
- After you have done the above steps, you should proceed with painting the bridge using a generous coat of water sealant.
- Make sure to leave the coat to dry thoroughly before you can start to apply the next layer of coat.
- Make sure to leave the coat to dry thoroughly before you can start to apply the next layer of coat.
- Finally, you can pick the bridge up so that you can move it to the area of your garden that you want it to be placed.
- Always do this final task with the help of your family or friends because the bridge is definitely going to be heavy.
Always remember that whenever you want to make a bridge for children
- Make sure you check with your local authority officers whether it is legal enough for you to install a movable bridge within the compound of your garden or back yard.
- You need to confirm with them first before you start to do the project. It is not wise for you to build the bridge if you know it is illegal because once you have finished doing it and the authority came to know about it, they will ask you to tear it down.
- Always do this final task with the help of your family or friends because the bridge is definitely going to be heavy.
