Indoor slides are an awesome way to create an exciting house feature for your children, and there are lots of ways to do this on a budget. I’ve done a little research and come up with a few ideas based on the designs I’ve seen scattered across the web.
Now, for bigger slide projects, such as installing one into the structure of your house, you may end up spending more than $1,000 depending on what structural changes need to be made to the area you want to install the slide, but I’ve got some cheaper options for you that can turn out to be just as cool.
Laying a Slide Over Your Stairs
Now, I’m not suggesting here that you go out and buy a big old plastic slide and set it on your staircase. That would be complicated, and, depending on your staircase, it might not work. No, what I’m suggesting is that you build a slide that you can lay over your stairs.
Here’s how you can do this:
- Measure the length of your existing stairs. Be sure to calculate if there are any turns in the staircase.
- Find the length of material, such as a light plastic and some cheap long wooden boards, that you will need for your individual staircase (keep in mind that your child should be able to slide down with ease).
- Slot the wooden boards to match your stair’s shape.
- Attach the plastic to your wooden boards using screws.
- Place over your stairs and let your child enjoy.
I know this seems like an overly simple explanation, but I’m not the first person to suggest creating a slide this way. You can find examples all over the internet of this very thing.
Plus, this is probably one of the most cost effective ways of building a slide because you can control the expense of the material and the overall design.
Building an Indoor Slide Using a Closet
If you have a house where you could easily make some structural changes and include a slide, this one is for you. Now before I go into detail about this option, I want to preface this by saying this project may require you to do some construction, and construction requires building permits.
This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to add this feature, but it does mean that the feature will need to be approved by your city or town building office. Be sure to verify that you are clear to do a project like this in your home before you build anything.
Also, be aware that you should budget a little money for the permit itself.
Okay, now that we have the nitty-gritty details out in the open, let’s talk about the fun stuff.
The best way to approach this is to find an area of the house (a two-story house) where you can easily connect the upstairs with the downstairs. If you have a closet that does this, even better.
Now, I can’t really give you the building details because I am not trained in architecture or construction, but I will suggest that you hire someone to take a look at the area and determine if it is safe to build there. Hopefully, the individual can also do the work of creating the opening.
Once you have the area, purchase the slide you plan to install. A straight metal or plastic slide will probably work best, but you could also use a slide that is looped.
When the project is done, be sure to try it out with your child!
Building a Play Fort with a Slide
One of the easiest methods for building an indoor slide your children can use is to build a little structure of some kind that they can climb up and sit in and then slide down. Not only will you have a slide, your child will also have a fort where they can sit in and play pretend.
This type of slide also works well for houses that only have one story. You can easily build this in your home without needing an upstairs or a big back yard.
There are two ways that you can go about this project:
- You can find and purchase a play fort kit that you can set up in your home.
- You can build a fort on your own.
This kind of project will require a little creativity and handy work if you can’t find a small play fort kit that will fit in your house. You will also need the proper power tools and building material to make sure the structure is sturdy. Building the fort yourself also means that you will need to find a slide that fits your fort.
If you build the fort and slide yourself, be sure to do all of the measurements ahead of time so you know the exact dimensions of all of the parts. The worst thing you could do is start building a slide or fort only to discover it’s too big or small.
If you aren’t too confident with your handyman skills or just want a simple project, buy a small fort that fits the space you want to build in.
Related Questions
What kind of materials are slides made out of? Most slides are made from materials such as plastic or fiberglass, but older slides are often made from metal. Metal slides are usually composed on steel so that they are highly durable.
Can you buy playground slides? Playground slides are often available for purchase at home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Ace. Also, you can purchase slides at Walmart. Some online stores such as Amazon also sell slides.
What do you need a building permit for? Most home renovations will require a building permit, especially if you are changing electrical, plumbing, or the house’s structure. A permit ensures that the changes made to the house comply with the local zoning and coding standards and keep you from getting into any legal trouble. Cosmetic projects, such as painting, do not require a permit.