How do you build a platform?

[pedro del sol]

Hi all building burners!

A guy camped right next to me (3:15/Hysteria) put up a great shade structure and platform with a view. It was made pretty much of just ply wood 2X4s and bolts. It was about ten feet high 12X12 feet on the top.

I should have asked him how he built it. Does anyone know good resources out there to build such a structure :?

[ZaphodBurner]

Hi all building burners!

A guy camped right next to me (3:15/Hysteria) put up a great shade structure and platform with a view. It was made pretty much of just ply wood 2X4s and bolts. It was about ten feet high 12X12 feet on the top.

I should have asked him how he built it. Does anyone know good resources out there to build such a structure

Do you have a photo? Our "platform" is viewable at http://www.zaphodburns2005.org.

Turns out it was a wee bit overbuilt even for the additional people we allowed on over our projected capacity, but a gentleman from the Burning Band took our 2x6s and 4x4s so they weren't wasted.

I liked the hourglass thing on 3:30...simple, unique and they had a great view.

-c

[pedro del sol]

No photo, but it was very basic. I've seen books on building basic decks, but need details on elevating the deck(platform) and making it strong/safe.

[robotland]

Use 4x4 posts (or two 2x4s bolted together) for the cornerposts, and add triangular crosspieces if shear's a factor. Guying it at the corners is advised. Build and test at home FIRST. Use bolts instead of nails or screws where possible, to make breakdown easier and safer. (Especially if burning afterwards!) Before burning at a communal platform, look for people collecting clean building supplies- There were some guys building a house that gleaned a small fortune in lumber from the com-plats this year!

[pedro del sol]

Yes, bolts would be critical for strenght and for removal ease afterwards. I like the photo example of the one mentioned above by ZaphodBurner. The four corners are boxes for extra strenght.

I guess transport would be a pain, but these platforms look great. So useful for view and shade and as a place to create more space, to hang a shower, etc...

Thanks. I still wonder if there's a template out there....

[unjonharley]

GO to a builders outlet. They will have good books on building decks. Be very careful that you build it so it wll not colapse and no one gets hurt. You sound like you have never built before. If that is so, get some one to help. Be safe

[ZaphodBurner]

Yes, bolts would be critical for strenght and for removal ease afterwards. I like the photo example of the one mentioned above by ZaphodBurner. The four corners are boxes for extra strenght.

Actually, that structure was a triangle--only three corners--although the pillars were 4' squares.

http://www.zaphodburns2005.org/CastleTopView.gif shows the top view.
http://www.zaphodburns2005.org/CastleSideView.gif shows the side.

The drawings don't reflect the addition of triangular supports on the bottom that mirror those on top which were crucial additions for stability.

For fasteners we used wood screws, lag screws and bolts exclusively. Absolutely no nails, staples or metal went into the burn platform and since we had assembled it my backyard in advance, construction and teardown on the playa went fairly easy with hand speedwrenches, two cordless drills and two AC drills. Every other day we checked the bolts to make sure they were still tight.

No problems despite assembling it during the dust/windstorm on Monday.

The white pillar coverings were simple unbleached cotton which cost about $65 for the bolt, of which we still have quite a bit of material.

The weight of the structure was substantial...probably not something you'd want to haul on a small trailer. We used a moving truck to drop the stuff off. Fortunately, some folks from the Burning Band wanted our 4x4s and 2x6s so all that wood will be repurposed, and the only parts we had to burn were the 2x3 handrails and the 2x4 angle supports that were two drilled-up and oddly-shaped to be reuseable.

We tied the whole structure together with 2x6s, which are hidden under the red cloth.

At those most we had 13 or 14 people topside, but as long as they spread themselves out reasonably there was no increase in wobble, and the wind was no factor. The structure was freestanding and did not require guy cables or ground stakes, although we had these materials onhand just in case.

I'd say the structure and covering cost about $700 total excluding power tools and a new sawblade. One trick that worked was covering the recycled OSB top with old carpet, which worked like Kevlar and distributed the weight so we didn't have to worry about somebody's foot going through the deck or replacing it with heavier, more expensive plywood.

Cheers!

-zb

[pedro del sol]

Actually, that structure was a triangle--only three corners--although the pillars were 4' squares.

http://www.zaphodburns2005.org/CastleTopView.gif shows the top view.
http://www.zaphodburns2005.org/CastleSideView.gif shows the side.


Great information. Many thanks!