DIY LOOKOUT POINT

This is a very easy project that should not take longer than week to complete.
The result will be a lovely lookout point for having sun-downers and watching wildlife if you are as lucky as me to have a little getaway to African paradise!


After identifying the location we started by digging holes 600mm deep and planting the four main poles (6.6meter) that would become my lookout point's "legs".

Note: DO NOT CONCRETE poles into ground!

Water that runs down the pole will funnel in between pole and concrete resulting in rotten poles. Instead you could dig the holes a little deeper than 600mm and throw some concrete for the poles to stand on.

After making sure the posts were level, we decided on a height for our platform. Make sure you leave enough length on your posts for constructing a roof (approx 2400mm).
Drive some 9 inch nails halfway into the posts at the desired height for the cross poles to lay on. Make sure that everything is level with some gut and a level.

We then cut the cross poles to size and placed them into position. Then drilled 10mm holes through the poles and the posts and fastened everything with 10mm threaded rod. Note: use galvanized threaded rod to reduce rust.




We used pine planks with tongue in groove for the floor. This is for extra strength.
Then screwed it to my cross poles.

Also see the poles we installed to make the whole construction rigid.







Had some relatives over... Always thought I was adopted.









After deciding on a height for the roof, we cut the posts to size. cutting one side a little lower than the other so our roof would have a small angle for rain.
We then installed the cross beams on the same principle as the floor's.

We used corrigated sink for the roof as this was an inexpensive option. You can then cover the underside of the roof with lathes like the ones in the foreground.



Hand rails were made by cutting lathes to size and nailing them into place approximately 150mm apart.

See that there are no entrance yet. This was to make sure everything was kept straight and in position.







We used two lengths of pine 230mmx35mm for the stairs. Then cut out the actual stairs and made the uprights.
We then marked out the positions and screwed everything together.

Note: Caution should be taken when marking the stair positions, so that the height between the landing and the stairs would be the same.

Also remember that this is a lookout point, so you don't have to make the stairs very broad.


After nailing the completed stairs into position we cut out the opening and made a hand rail from a piece of pole.

We then sealed the floor with a sealer and we were done!!








So there you have it. Completed in four days.