Thread: No Cost Cubby House

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Magic work

Thanks Nick

There was still a door missing from the upper level and I asked the neighbours to see if they had something lying around that they could adapt. Nothing was forthcoming and I also had a concept of double doors to replicate the ground floor doors.

I had a hunt around and found some melamine offcuts of MDF and chipboard One wide piece and two narrow and all different colours. Two of the panels are HMR but I'm not sure about the third. The door opening is only1450 high and 545 wide and I realised I might be able to laminate the two narrower boards to the wide board and cut them down the middle later.

The whole thing seemed to be a little boring. Then I remembered I had some small panes of glass removed from our house. We have been systematically replacing the lights with clear glass. When the house was built in the 20s it was probably very fashionable to have dimpled or hammered glass, but you can't see through it.

Anyhow I had a few sheets which I could cut to suit and I made the double doors as shown in the pix below. I started to fit it this afternoon, but the light beat me so no photo in situ.

Initially the melamine was sanded to remove the sheen and glued with Selleys platinum something or other. It's similar to liquid nails and is in a tube dispensed from a caulking gun. I have also screwed the panel from the back (and not bothered to cover them up 'cos it is only a cubby house). I was going to hold the glass in with timber strips but I was too clever for myself in that when I rebated for the glass pane I left quite large round corners.

I quite liked the look of that but timber strips were going to be an issue with the rounded corners. I either had to square the windows or use putty. I used putty, but the tub I had was too old and hard and it was just as easy to buy a new tub as opposed to a bottle of linseed oil. Actually as I'm typing I have just remembered I have a tin of flaxseed oil (which is the same thing).

Rats! If I had a brain I'd be dangerous. The budget just took another king hit.

Lastly I painted the melamine surfaces with strsight penetrol so the neighbours could put whatever colour they want over the top.

Regards
Paul

I missed off a final pic.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Wongo

Great work. You sure have my approval.

What about the councils?
Neighbors have gone to war for much less. That is an epic cubby though!

Originally Posted by Lumber Bunker

What about the councils?
Neighbors have gone to war for much less. That is an epic cubby though!

I am the neighbour, but you're right.

Regards
Paul