Friday, July 11th
2025 Playhouse Reviews
Cedarshed
- Prices starting at $2,829
- 4 playhouses
- Comes in a kit to build yourself
- Made of Western Red Cedar
- Non-toxic and safe for all ages
- Free shipping
- "A+” Better Business Bureau rating
Cedarshed is a leading gazebo and shed kit manufacturer that manufactures their products in Canada. The company was founded in 1980, but was acquired by CS Manufacturing in June 2017 by a father and son team, Cohl and Craig Fleischhacker. The company ships thousands of gazebos and shed kits around the world annually. Aside from these products, you can also shop small storage solutions, playhouses, garden products, and pergolas at Cedarshed.
Sparse selection of playhouse kits
In the playhouses category of Cedarshed's website, we only had 4 choices. The first and least expensive one was the Gardener Shed starting at $2,829. The price for this playhouse could easily be as much as $5,839 if you opted for a cedar roof in an 8'x16' size. Depending on the size (6'x6', 6'x9', 6'x12', 8'x10', 8'x12', 8'x16') and roof type, the price varies quite a bit for any given playhouse. This one in particular is geared more for adults needing a place to store their gardening tools or any other lawn maintenance products you'd normally put in a shed. There is one photo of kids popping their heads through the window, which is why they must have listed it as a playhouse. This would work as a children's play place, but in truth it wasn't designed for that.
Basic structures
The other three playhouses listed range from $3,669 to $5,359 and are actually meant more for kids. Again, depending on the size and roof type you choose, a couple of these could cost closer to $10,000. One of them is a kid's bunkhouse cottage with flower beds on the exterior and a small porch, and the others look like tiny cabins. You can view a series of photos of each playhouse kit to see how different people painted theirs and what additions you might choose to add for fun. However, we wish they showed photos of the interiors. We assume they are completely empty with no shelving, pretend kitchens, or any other features, but it would be nice to see a picture.
DIY project
The prices of these playhouses reflects the high quality of the Western Red Cedar that you're getting along with a strong structure that will last outside for years to come. It lays flat and stays straighter than normal treated lumber, and is non-toxic and requires no chemical treatment unless the wood is in direct contact with the ground. However, it's pretty expensive considering that you're really only buying materials and you still have to do quite a bit of assembly yourself once it arrives (although, shipping is free). The company doesn't list exactly how long it will take to put together your playhouse, but for reference, the pre-cut gazebos sold by Cedarshed take between 2-4 days to complete, panelized gazebos take 5-8 hours to complete, and garden sheds take 2-4 hours to complete (this is probably close to what the playhouses would take).
Final sales
All sales from Cedarshed are final and no returns will be accepted by the company unless they are damaged in transit and cannot be salvaged. All structures purchased from Cedarshed are covered for a period of one year for defects in manufacturing and workmanship. If you have missing pieces for your product or any other issues, you're asked to call their customer service line directly and they will sort it out for you.
Glowing testimonials and ratings
Along with glowing testimonials (which aren't unfiltered) on their website and a big thumbs up from some other third-party reviewers, the Better Business Bureau gives Cedarshed an "A+” rating. People are thrilled that they offer free shipping, since some companies charge exorbitant delivery fees. Others say that they've had their sheds for years and they've held up amazingly well. Cedarshed has many long-term customers who have made repeat purchases and are happy every time. We're completely confident in the quality and reputation of Cedarshed.
Great company, small playhouse selection
The reason Cedarshed hasn't earned a great rating from us has nothing to do with their business model, policies, customer feedback, or anything like that. In fact, they seem like a phenomenal place to buy a gazebo, shed, or really any type of product that they sell online. However, when it comes to their playhouse selection alone, you aren't getting as many choices as you might elsewhere. They have no indoor options, their styles are all similar, and the prices are a bit higher than someone might be looking to spend. We really like Cedarshed, but they aren't one of our top choices for playhouses.
More Playhouse Reviews
The 10 Best Playhouses
Where Can You Find the Best Playhouses?
Parents are always looking for ways to keep their children entertained for hours while nurturing their imagination. Playhouses are a great way to allow a kid to explore new worlds by playing store, kitchen, princesses, knights, or whatever their limitless minds come up with. They're plenty of fun for one kid alone or a bunch of siblings and friends who join in too.
Playhouses are one of those toys that never goes out of style and is enjoyed by those young and old - sure to be a huge hit for a birthday present, Christmas gift, or just for fun. And, there are plenty of different types of playhouses to fit the space you have and the style you're going for.
Playhouse FAQ
Continued from above...
Some people like having an indoor playhouse while others prefer to have one outdoors. You could even choose to move your playhouse indoors and then outdoors as the weather changes, to switch things up throughout the seasons. Be sure to consider the type of materials your playhouse is made out of if you choose to do this, to ensure it can withstand the elements on rainy, windy, or snowy days.
For simplicity, you may choose to buy a pop-up type playhouse. This requires almost no assembly and could even be stored away as your kid gets older or for times when you need a little breathing room and want some of your space back for a while. Others are made of wood, which gives the playhouse a beautiful, classic look, but may require some repainting over the years, especially if left outside. Plastic materials are popular since they often are good for all types of weather and are easy to clean.
Consider the ages of the kids who will be using the playhouse. Do you want something with a tall tower or rock climbing wall and big slide to add a challenge to playtime? Or would you rather stick with a simple structure with a play table and sink that's safe and fun for all ages? Some have water tables connected, a sandbox, little shelves for displaying trinkets, or bridges connecting separate spaces. These are great additions for kids young and old.
These days you can get so many types of features included with a playhouse, even super-realistic ones that resemble a home with flower boxes, drapes, a mailbox, and a front porch. Think about how mobile you'll want the playhouse to be, who will be using it, and what types of weather it will be exposed to to help you start narrowing the hundreds of fun choices you're about to explore.
There are many places online that sell playhouses. Some are stores you may be familiar with while others are smaller, family brands that have a fun variety of products. So who do you choose? Consider these key areas when shopping for a playhouse:
- Selection. Does the store have a variety of materials that their playhouses are made of? Do they have good size options that would cater to your indoor/outdoor areas? Are they mostly meant for toddlers? Or would big kids find these playhouses enjoyable as well?
- Price. Depending on the size, features, and material of the playhouse, prices can range quite a bit. Find a retailer that offers you options on the low and high end to give you the best selection. We like when websites have filtering tools that let us set our budget so we aren't tempted to spend more than we should.
- Delivery. How long does it take for the company to ship their playhouses? Are they made-to-order and require a lead time of weeks or months or are they ready to go? On top of the price of the playhouse, pay attention to how much the company might charge for delivery and see if it seems reasonable.
- Reputation. What have other customers said about the quality of playhouses from the retailer? Do they hold up well over the years? Is their customer service responsive and easy to deal with if you're trying to track down a shipment or if your playhouse happens to come with missing pieces or some other issue? How are they with cancellations and returns?
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the best, most fun playhouses available online. We hope this information helps unlock your inner child and find something that your own children will love and spend years playing with!
Compare Playhouses
Select any 2 Playhouses to compare them head to head
Trending Playhouse News
Related Playhouse Reviews
Since you're interested in Playhouses, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.
Newest Reviews
