Lady Logamorph
Mama Doe
looks brilliant so far !
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Secondhand wendy house conversion FINISHED internally
- Thread starter keletkezes
- Start date
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
Ha ha, I was going to update yesterday but I forgot! Thankyou for finding my thread for me XD
Now Lopsy's inside post-illness over Christmas, things are less desperate, but it's been either too cold or wet to get anything done. Here's my current list:
- Glue insulation to roof
- Treat rotten wood
- Fill holes in corners
- Fit roof
- Felt roof and add eaves covers
- Glue lino
- Batten lino edges
- Mesh window and door-window
- Plywood door, maybe insulate with thinner polystyrene
- Rehang door, remove existing padlock (with a saw or similar...) and find that carabiner I've got somewhere...
- Make plywood pipe 'trap' like the Welfare Hutch ones
- Acquire tables/stools for height and different levels
- Add bunnies, post-rescue check and Lopsy-dating; hoping run has arrived by this point
- Make acrylic or similar window covers
- Strip/sand the outside
- Waterproof
- Paint
- Enjoy!
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
I had all these grand ideas about fitting and then assembling until I realised how it fitted together! :roll: I'll keep updating with pictures, promise
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
No, not an update about how I magically made everything happen and all that (oh I wish!), but how it feels!
It was sunny-ish yesterday, but the wendy house is still in the same condition (loose, mostly-waterproof roof, covered in a holey tarpaulin which flaps in the wind, with no windows or door). It was also cold: there was still an inch-round slither of snow in one of the pots! So I went in the house to check it...
Blinkin' 'ell, it were warm! Can't've been far off 5-6°C (bear in mind, it's only 8.5°C in the attic this morning, where Lopsy currently resides!), if not more!
I also checked all the wood for soundness: no water ingress anywhere, just a pile of leaves blowing about. So pleased about that! Made it worth the effort
It was sunny-ish yesterday, but the wendy house is still in the same condition (loose, mostly-waterproof roof, covered in a holey tarpaulin which flaps in the wind, with no windows or door). It was also cold: there was still an inch-round slither of snow in one of the pots! So I went in the house to check it...
Blinkin' 'ell, it were warm! Can't've been far off 5-6°C (bear in mind, it's only 8.5°C in the attic this morning, where Lopsy currently resides!), if not more!
I also checked all the wood for soundness: no water ingress anywhere, just a pile of leaves blowing about. So pleased about that! Made it worth the effort
jenniferanneharris
Young Bun
Looks fab! Can't wait to see it all kitted out- i do love threads like this. well done
well done 
Laura325630
Young Bun
I cant wait to see this finished. My daughters are too old for their wooden play house now. I'm going to turn it into something similar for my rabbit in the summer
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
Nor can I! ;P
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
Aw man, yesterday was a great day to spend outdoors! So we did: we had a million things to do, but while I only achieved about 5% of what I WANTED to do, I reckon we managed 100% of what was feasible :mrgreen:
Not a huge amount to update on the wendy house: I dry-fitted the lino and decided I shouldn't need to glue it down so long as I cut it correctly (it's now slightly too big since I insulated the thing) and batten it. I also treated the rotten holes in the two front corners with this wood sealant stuff and filled them: I doubt it's a pretty job but it can't be seen so I don't care :twisted: There are no longer holes, importantly! Anyway, here's the only picture: dry-fitted the lino
I've left it in there so it's not getting in the way in the garage. And so I don't have to sweep blinkin' leaves out...!
Only other thing I did was cut the rotten end off one of the external roof supports and cut the pieces for the pipe clamp-bit (two bits of plywood), and I bought some bolts and wingnuts for that too: will need to cut the hole-y bit at my parents as I gave the jigsaw back, but we're going end of the month and I'm not going to manage to finish anything that will demand the pipe be securely fitted before then!
The reason we didn't get that much done wendy-house-wise yesterday was because we moved Lopsy back outside (woohoo!), and that was the most important thing
Not a huge amount to update on the wendy house: I dry-fitted the lino and decided I shouldn't need to glue it down so long as I cut it correctly (it's now slightly too big since I insulated the thing) and batten it. I also treated the rotten holes in the two front corners with this wood sealant stuff and filled them: I doubt it's a pretty job but it can't be seen so I don't care :twisted: There are no longer holes, importantly! Anyway, here's the only picture: dry-fitted the lino
I've left it in there so it's not getting in the way in the garage. And so I don't have to sweep blinkin' leaves out...!
Only other thing I did was cut the rotten end off one of the external roof supports and cut the pieces for the pipe clamp-bit (two bits of plywood), and I bought some bolts and wingnuts for that too: will need to cut the hole-y bit at my parents as I gave the jigsaw back, but we're going end of the month and I'm not going to manage to finish anything that will demand the pipe be securely fitted before then!
The reason we didn't get that much done wendy-house-wise yesterday was because we moved Lopsy back outside (woohoo!), and that was the most important thing
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
Loads of stuff has happened!
A couple of weeks ago I dragged the door out and meshed the window bit: much easier than meshing the vent hole as there was little resonance to counter!
Then, on Monday this week it was glorious weather for a Bank Holiday so I forewent going to the cinema and got the damn roof sorted! Matt helped by getting the roof off and then we stripped what we needed to before putting it back up and finishing stripping:
We also turned it round as previous owner had it on backwards: the roof is made of two panels which are designed to sit on the front, one making the small overhang and one making the main roof!
Then I carried on on my own I laid that radiator reflective foam stuff on the roof to reflect some heat! OK, it's covered by dark roofing felt but it's better than nothing. I used solvent-free impact adhesive and I had just enough to do a 'panel and a half' each side:
Then I cut the felt to size and laid it on: it was difficult to stop sliding off! I could have done what previous owner did: laid the two sheets so they just fitted and overlapped at the top, but I didn't. I laid them with lots to spare and then put a third so it well-overlapped!
For the overlaps I used roofing felt adhesive and clout nails: it never feels right just using nails! Then i went back and put the right amount of nails all round
We also removed the window so I can mesh the hole easier: it also really needs moving about 2mm to the left as there's a gap. I nearly meshed the window the other day, then realised I should be meshing the hole! Idiot. Still yet to cut and batten the lino, but I've decided I need to seal the inside first (as in using that wood sealant I've got) and I think I shouldn't be getting that all over the lino! I can seal the battens separately. Matt says we should paint the door and window separately too, as I want them different colours, so painting has gone up the list generally. I don't think I'll paint the inside but I might, we'll see how I feel.
Colours will be white for main stuff, black for window frames and roof posts. So like our house, sort of: the eaves planks will be white to reflect heat though, unlike ours! And our windows are white
So, the to-do list now looks like this, in approximate priority order:
There's also other things to do like add furniture but a lot of that depends on where they want their litter tray: Lopsy's been pretty happy with it wherever it's gone so far but new bunny may be different. I should actually buy some furniture for them too, so they can have multiple levels! Currently they've got litter trays, digging trays and a cat-tree, but another table or two wouldn't go amiss, one of which I can board off as a hideyhole.
So, there's not THAT much more to do, and a lot of the early stuff can be done offsite (in the garage etc.) so doesn't need a whole day of good weather Maybe we'll be going bunny dating in June?!
A couple of weeks ago I dragged the door out and meshed the window bit: much easier than meshing the vent hole as there was little resonance to counter!
Then, on Monday this week it was glorious weather for a Bank Holiday so I forewent going to the cinema and got the damn roof sorted! Matt helped by getting the roof off and then we stripped what we needed to before putting it back up and finishing stripping:
We also turned it round as previous owner had it on backwards: the roof is made of two panels which are designed to sit on the front, one making the small overhang and one making the main roof!
Then I carried on on my own
I laid that radiator reflective foam stuff on the roof to reflect some heat! OK, it's covered by dark roofing felt but it's better than nothing. I used solvent-free impact adhesive and I had just enough to do a 'panel and a half' each side:
Then I cut the felt to size and laid it on: it was difficult to stop sliding off! I could have done what previous owner did: laid the two sheets so they just fitted and overlapped at the top, but I didn't. I laid them with lots to spare and then put a third so it well-overlapped!
For the overlaps I used roofing felt adhesive and clout nails: it never feels right just using nails! Then i went back and put the right amount of nails all round
We also removed the window so I can mesh the hole easier: it also really needs moving about 2mm to the left as there's a gap. I nearly meshed the window the other day, then realised I should be meshing the hole! Idiot. Still yet to cut and batten the lino, but I've decided I need to seal the inside first (as in using that wood sealant I've got) and I think I shouldn't be getting that all over the lino! I can seal the battens separately. Matt says we should paint the door and window separately too, as I want them different colours, so painting has gone up the list generally. I don't think I'll paint the inside but I might, we'll see how I feel.
Colours will be white for main stuff, black for window frames and roof posts. So like our house, sort of: the eaves planks will be white to reflect heat though, unlike ours! And our windows are white
So, the to-do list now looks like this, in approximate priority order:
- Devise perspex holders on windows
- Seal inside and battens
- Sand and seal window, door and eaves boards
- Devise plywood tube clamp to front; seal and paint separately
- Sand and seal outside
- Paint window, door and eaves boards
- Paint outside
- Reaffix window, door and eaves boards; move wendy house back to final position
- Devise door protection: probably a puppy panel (Wendy house technically now rabbit-safe)
- Repair roof post
- Sand and seal then paint roof posts before affixing
- Fix two broken perspexes or replace.
There's also other things to do like add furniture but a lot of that depends on where they want their litter tray: Lopsy's been pretty happy with it wherever it's gone so far but new bunny may be different. I should actually buy some furniture for them too, so they can have multiple levels! Currently they've got litter trays, digging trays and a cat-tree, but another table or two wouldn't go amiss, one of which I can board off as a hideyhole.
So, there's not THAT much more to do, and a lot of the early stuff can be done offsite (in the garage etc.) so doesn't need a whole day of good weather
Maybe we'll be going bunny dating in June?!
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
I was pottering about this weekend: I have put the mesh on the window (not the window hole: we're never going to open the window so not much point!), sealed the inside wood and devised the perspex holders: a 2.5-3" batten (the original ones off the windows) will allow it to slot into place nicely, I just need to attach a bolt so I can get the perspex in and out! Otherwise trapped fingers...
Also reseeded the lawn in bits Lopsy had finished with
Also reseeded the lawn in bits Lopsy had finished with
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
Have added the old window battens to the bottom of each window: each one is tight enough that it doesn't need anything else but a turnbutton at the top! Just need to add screws to the perspex (and fix one) so I can get them in and out then add it back to the wendyhouse, put the lino in and the place is basically bunny-ready! Hopefully this weekend, so I can start ringing round rescues for a wifebun early June!
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
This weekend I got the (almost) final jobs done to make it bunny-ready: it is no longer a wendy house and is now the bunny house! I just have to treat the bare wood on the door, window and battens which will take all of 10mins one evening and it's ready for occupants!
It is NOT finished: there's no furniture inside (I have some stuff already but need more) and I'm currently using it to store my tools which usually live in the (real) house. It's not been treated and painted on the outside. I haven't fitted the tube clamp thing. The roof 'supports' are unattached and one's still broken. The eaves boards are still in the garage. I've not found my carabiner clip yet.
BUT it's safe enough for the buns to move in (hence my post in Behaviour and Bonding) and we can do the rest while they're in there or out in the run.
I have only taken a few pictures, none of the so-far finished article, because it was too dark last night and I didn't have time this morning
And a couple of views from inside:
Window and tube hole:
Door:
It is NOT finished: there's no furniture inside (I have some stuff already but need more) and I'm currently using it to store my tools which usually live in the (real) house. It's not been treated and painted on the outside. I haven't fitted the tube clamp thing. The roof 'supports' are unattached and one's still broken. The eaves boards are still in the garage. I've not found my carabiner clip yet.
BUT it's safe enough for the buns to move in (hence my post in Behaviour and Bonding) and we can do the rest while they're in there or out in the run.
I have only taken a few pictures, none of the so-far finished article, because it was too dark last night and I didn't have time this morning
And a couple of views from inside:
Window and tube hole:
Door:
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
More pictures:
The windows:
The door:
Battening of lino:
The current article with mini tube in place to prevent rain ingress.
The windows:
The door:
Battening of lino:
The current article with mini tube in place to prevent rain ingress.
orangediva
Mama Doe
It's looking wonderful, I might borrow a couple of your ideas with the mesh windows.
Can I ask, did you raise the floor of the shed on rows of bricks? Looks like an excellent idea dfor reducing damp and cold.
Can I ask, did you raise the floor of the shed on rows of bricks? Looks like an excellent idea dfor reducing damp and cold.
