Cubby house

**Gooz** · 27th July 2009, 11:06 PM

Inspired by Wongo's magnificent edifice, needing to take the edge off some new tools, and under some pressure from the girls as to where they could play outside, I have started to build a cubby house.

Couple of steps back - we had some building work done a couple of years ago. The builder was just about to cart off all the 4 x 2" timbers used for formwork to the tip when a little voice said "that may come in handy..." I stacked it behind the garage for a rainy day. I guessed it was going to be a little over the top for framing, but figured I had already paid for it one way or another.

Anyway, the design brief was fairly simple - big enough for two growing girls to lie down, a balcony with a view (looks like a pole/tree house then), and a window. Oh, and big enough for Mum & Dad to come in if we invite them. How difficult could it be?
The house renovations had given me the same sense of "that doesn't look too hard" that I supect many of us get when watching a building project close up. So a bit of internet surfing, some shameless borrowing of approximate designs (thanks Wongo & Mr Mitre 10), a quick sketch, and we were off!

First - pick the site in the garden, then come up with foundation method/s. Poles should work, they used to build some pretty sturdy forts in council playgrounds until the CCA regulations came in https://www.woodworkforums.com/f11/cca-treated-pine-legal-30909 Hmm, just the posts then, I will have to seal those fairly well

Getting the uphill pole holes squared up was quite a challenge, going to need some careful adjustments once the frame goes up.

**Wongo** · 27th July 2009, 11:33 PM

Its going to be fun. Trust me they will love you for a little while.

Have fun building it and have fun building together with them. We did.

**wheelinround** · 28th July 2009, 09:53 AM

and under some pressure from the girls as to where they could play outside

What no garden to play in and if they have a cubby house aren't they back indoors

Look's ok so far Gooz but surely the Ozito can work a little harder than that

**Gooz** · 28th July 2009, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Wongo

Its going to be fun. Trust me they will love you for a little while.

Have fun building it and have fun building together with them. We did.

Thanks Wongo, it has been difficult to keep them away, especially when the borrowed nailgun was in action.

As the project takes shape, there have been a number of design changes based on what was on the plan, and how it appears "in real life". The latest twist has been specifying a trap door in the floor instead of planned steps/ladder. Certainly keeping this novice builder on his toes...

I had a week off work and had my sister & brother in laws visit us from Vic. He is a very handy fellow to have around, having been involved in a number of house restorations. The advice and extra pair of hands were invaluable.

Here are a few more photos from last week or so - some good progress getting the floor down, frames up, and windows in place. These were picked up from a Building Materials salvage yard for very little money. This is the first time I had ever been to one of these places - you could build an entire house from 2nd hand bits if you had enough spare time.

The rain on the weekend didn't help - I had to scramble to get some trusses in place to hold up the tarp so the ply floor didn't get too wet.

**murray44** · 28th July 2009, 04:12 PM

Looks great.

I'm glad it looks better than your first sketch.

**orraloon** · 28th July 2009, 06:31 PM

Lucky kids but who is having all the fun.

**Ozkaban** · 7th August 2009, 02:33 PM

Hi Gooz,

Watching with interest - so far looks really good. My kids only have a small open cubby which was inherited when we bought the house. They seem happy with it, but I've just got to convince them that thyey need the upgrade!

Cheers,
Dave

**tea lady** · 7th August 2009, 05:15 PM

That's not a cubby if an adult can stand up inside it.

Looks pretty good though.

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