Thread: need help with kids cubby

Scubabob,

built similar thing eons ago. Was in a job where had to move around so cubby had to be dismantleable. I used 2nd hand patio decking boards as the outside walls, they were a freebie but being outdoor timber, they lasted though any thing nature threw at them.

I used galv bolts to bolt the four walls together, then built standalone a frames for the roof, which bolted on, and used tin sheets for the roof, once again, standalone attached to frames that fit onto the a frames. I even managed to incorporate a balcony in the front wall section. Another thing you could use for the outer cladding would be treated pine lengths, would keep costs down and should last a good few years worth of tea parties.

Hope this helps,

h2k3.

Oh and good luck with the kids, sounds like they lucked out with the grandparents

Originally Posted by scubabob

i am not sure if this is the right place to be but anyway. My daughter is Godmother to two gorgous girls 9 and 2. Now their dad has done a bolt and their mum is struggling on a single wage (no sign of child support) so we have kind of adopted them in an unofficial capacity (pay for their swimming lessons; school uniforms; "the fairies" send presents every so often, etc).

We want to build them a cubby house and plans seem simple enough but we are not sure what to clad it with. We are on a bit of a budget ourselves but still want to do a good job with it. It will be painted and built so it can be easily dismantled and rebuilt should they need to move in the future.

Has anyone built a cubby lately and could offer some suggestions? My daughter and i are business partners and work around the building game so we know a few builders who can throw in some nice timber here and there (yes, they do know about it) but we would like any advice anyone can offer. thanks.

G'dday Scuba; have built 2 cubbies, definitely not masterpieces but certainly a lot cheaper than bought ones! I used Hardiplank walls on the first one, and (rough) western red cedar on the second one. WRC would be better if it is to be relocated, as you cold build the panels and bolt them together. Not that Hardiplank could not be done likewise, but it's very much heavier than WRC. As I recall, WRC worked out about 15% more expensive.

Hope this may help.

Involve them in the making.

With eager to help little hands I have made cubby houses out of large and sturdy cardboard boxes; our first ones measured about 1.5 metres cubed and originally held drinking straws. We first assembled the box and cut out a door and a couple of colonial style windows. Then the fun started in drawing bricks and door frames and knobs and flowers growing up the wall and whatever we wanted. With a bit of extra cardboard we even had a pitched roof, a chimley and a servery out the back. Our later models had two or three boxes combined in some way. The beauty of these things is they cost nothing, they can be used on the lounge floor inside on a cold rainy day, grandma can easily keep an eye them, they can be folded up flat and put away quickly and easily, and they are owner designed and built making them a little bit more special.

i could visualise the cardboard castles and the smiles on the kiddies faces as they painted on bricks and stuff. Unfortunately there isnt the room in their house for such a palace so it has to be outside.

i like the idea of WRC and not a great fan of treated pine or Hardiplank when it comes to kiddies. i have been thinking of external ply but not too sure if it may be too heavy. Galv bolts would certanily be the go. Thanks all

Oh, maternal grandparents live interstate and so sign of the paternal ones, seems the apple doesnt fall too far from the tree after all

Originally Posted by scubabob

Oh, maternal grandparents live interstate and so sign of the paternal ones, seems the apple doesnt fall too far from the tree after all

Yep, been here and done that too...care in some quarters seems to be fading faast

I have seen exterior ply used for garden sheds, and if primed and painted will last for years, also by using bolt together wall panels and plastic angle trim on the corners to keep the weather out.

USe Gal Screws for fastenings, and roof with Gal roofing or whatever is availible.

jeff

Originally Posted by scubabob

...
i like the idea of WRC and not a great fan of treated pine or Hardiplank when it comes to kiddies. i have been thinking of external ply but not too sure if it may be too heavy. Galv bolts would certanily be the go. Thanks all

...

I clad my kids cubby house with hardiplank - can't see what the problem might be?

on another note, someone made a comment to me that when you build a cubby hoouse make sure you can stand up in it, ie you not the kids, because you'll be in there.

Built a cubby for the kids when they were 5 and 3 years old. They are now 25 and 23. The cubby was passed on to a friend and now serves as a respectable chook house 20 years later. Construction was radiata pine gluts for frame, Structural radiata pine plywood for wall and roof cladding well painted with solarguard. Nobody was more surprised than me that it lasted this long.
Get the kids involved in the build. And if they're old enough, let em paint it.