Playhouse to Pump House
6 Materials
When we had a deep well installed on our wooded property we needed a cover to enclose the mechanical components. The well is beside my potting shed and the plumbing runs from it to my sink inside. I wanted to have a well cover in keeping with the style and colors of my potting shed so I started looking for a used child's playhouse. I found one locally on eBay and we proceeded to turn it into a functional pump house. The concrete pad was already installed to serve as a base.
Before: after cleaning, before painting
I found this play house on eBay and was thrilled to see that it was only 20miles away!
Inside the pump house.
We added sheets of thin styrofoam to the inside of the door window openings. We also glued 1" foam board inside and filled any joints with expandable foam to insulate the tank and pipes to withstand our sometimes below zero winter weather.
Newly painted!
After washing the plastic exterior down thoroughly, I painted it with a plastic paint primer. I then was able to paint it with the same paint that I used on my potting shed.
Windows on all 4 sides.
I added a pink-painted vintage door knob with back plate in place of the plastic knob and loaf pan window boxes planted with annuals.
It sits just beside the potting shed.
I think it now blends nicely with the potting shed and landscape. The paint held up well for about 10 years of scrubbing and weather and I just had to clean and repaint it this spring. We've never had our well plumbing freeze during that time so it has worked well as an insulated cover. During the coldest weather, below 15 degrees or so, we do run a very low wattage heater to assure that it doesn't freeze.
Matchy-matchy!
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Comments
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3 of 181 comments
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WOW!! I have never enjoyed these little plastic playhouses but you made it look completely AWESOME!! This is a great idea even if it remains a playhouse. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
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Thanks, Susan!
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Brilliant! And I’m so envious of the matching potting shed - cottage! Your creativity shines through! Congratulations. 😎
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Thank you, Teresa!
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Frequently asked questions
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Where would I find a low wattage heater...I have several ferel cats that are always here and want ty o do this as a place for them to stay warm..kids playhouse..what a great idea
HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE PUMP IF FOR SOME REASON YOU NEED TO WORK ON IT?
I’m currently redoing my daughter’s playhouse, could you tell me how you attached the loaf pan window boxes?