How to paint a cubby house and build a base?

[Josephinedp]

Hi 🙂

- Base

I have just bought a cubby house - Kidkraft Bancroft (no floor, base dimensions 121.44 x  107.32)

I would like to install it in our garden which is made of grass. 

For the base, can I just use a palette and cover it with H4 treated pine sleepers. If yes, do I need to put something over the grass before? 

- Painting

I also have a question regarding the painting that I will do before assembly. The playhouse is already stained. 

I am planning to buy Dulux Weathershield Vivid White Semi Gloss, do I still need a storm sealant on top? And can I paint it with a roller? 

Thank you for your advices 😊

[Akanksha]

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, @Josephinedp. We're thrilled to have you join us and hope you find the site a handy resource for all your D.I.Y. projects.

Many thanks for your question. Our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. expert @EricL will be back online later today and will be happy to assist you. In the meantime, let me tag our ever-helpful members @LePallet, @Jimi, @JoeAzza and @Jewelleryrescue for their thoughts. 

While waiting, I recommend checking out this popular related discussion in case it helps: Cubby house base ideas? by @SxcMnx 

The top 10 most popular cubby house projects shared by our creative Bunnings Workshop members might also spark some ideas for your base. 

Hope this helps. Look forward to seeing more updates of your cubby house project as it progresses!

Akanksha

[Josephinedp]

Thanks for your reply Akanksha

For the painting, I am looking for a waterproofing wood protector that I can apply on top of the painting. But is it necessary if I use a Dulux Weathershield paint?  

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi  @Josephinedp 

There are several ways to paint preserve and mount your cubby.  You will be given a few ideas to follow so read through and pick the soloutions that suit you your budget, time  budget and skill set.  It can be a play house till they  out grow it or it can  be so robust build there kids might play in one day too.

Firstly I wouldnt  use a timber pallet as it has limited  life span against rot etc. Ideally a concrete slab. poured slightly larger than cubby. you can use  abunch of different concrete rectangular and square pre made  pavers and simply place then on a bed of sand and grass to level. The Pavers will  lift cubby off the ground out of water.(grass needs no preparation) You  can  buy some  vinyl flooring or  carpet and simple lay it out tacking to the sides under bought skirting board as a  rudimentary solution over concrete.. (You can  use any house  like flooring methods just prepare floor for it.)  Use treated  pine  timbers and make a box shape and fill it with sand I would still loose vinyl over that ,  xtend the box section and you have a sand pit next to cubby.

@Josephinedp  You are  very wise too paint that timber as rarly will it last more than 5 years from wood rot.

If you have the time and the desire to preserve the cubby for extended years I would pre paint all the I am assuming precut timbers?  on all sides especialy the ends where water wicks in.  Dulux Weathershield Vivid White Semi Gloss is a very good  paint it  says it is self priming ie no primer required. But I suspect minimum 2 coats on all the pieces maybe 3 as  it is a darker timber shade.  Later  you may wish to paint over any extenal fastening points (screw  nail holes ) to for a  seal over them too.  Use you pallet to lay the drying pieces on and do them in batches lucky acrylic  paint  touch dries fast to speed this process up. I might do extra 3rd coat paint of base board timbers closest the ground water and rain slpashes.

The  roof once painted will cause the water to run off fast  feel  free to clear or white silicon storm seal the top ridge line at the joins and the roofing edge  covering timbers to the roof boards.   You can also add  sarking aluminium foil heat reflector/  water proofing over the frame before you  add the top roof slates Use  dobs of liquide nails (outdoor) between sarking and roof to stop sagging.  Plastic sheet works well top but will remove the nice timber ambiance inside the cubby.

Water proof the joins the top ridge and edging  on the top of the roof slates and Boards on the roofings sides.  And see how that goes first. before needing sarking and  plastic or any addition water  blocking.

Another tip is consider the location of the cubby so summer it gets shade from house or tree or shade cloth, and winter  it is in a sunny spot as the  sun angle lowers.

This project can be done in 100  ways other than just my way I know you wiil get more ideas to follow.

Have  funn dong the kit

[EricL]

Hello @Josephinedp 

Thanks for sharing your question about building a base and painting your cubbyhouse. 

It's great that you've received excellent advice from @Jewelleryrescue. Unfortunately, timber pallets don't last very long when exposed to the weather. They often start to deteriorate when left out in the open with no protection. If you are thinking of using sleepers, I suggest using MicroPro or ACQ treated timber as these are safe for playgrounds.

When building a cubbyhouse base, I often think about safety and longevity for example, my friend suggested building a frame out of sleepers and using Merbau decking panels on top. Since the sleepers are treated its ok for them to have direct contact with the soil. Merbau panels are quite popular and are often used in decking, it can also be used outdoors.

In regards to the turf underneath, anything covered by the base and the cubbyhouse will perish as sunlight will no longer reach it. 

Here are several discussions about cubby house bases you'll find useful:

• Cubby house base recommendation wanted by @helencaceres 
  
  
• What to use for cubby house base? by @katew1 
  
  
• How to build a cubby house base? by @Takatala 
  
  
• Cubby house base ideas? by @SxcMnx 

In regards to painting the cubby house, I recommend going with Jewelleryrescue's recommendation by using Dulux 4L Vivid White Semi Gloss Weathershield Exterior Paint. It's self-priming on most surfaces, tough and hardwearing. It has long lasting colour and UV protection. Plus, it helps resist mould, dirt and stains.

Should there be gaps in the roofing where you feel that rain might enter, I recommend using Selleys 310g Translucent Roof And Gutter Silicone Sealant. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Josephinedp]

Thank you both for your replies 🙂 

I have started to paint the cubby house, before assembly and with a roller, and it is easy and quick! I have bought the Delux outdoor Semi Gloss in Vivid White and in a light grey and I really like them! 

Thanks a lot for your recommendation for the base. I am still hesitating. I saw the decking modular panels which seem easy to use but are quite expensive as I would need 8 of them to have a deck big enough for the cubby house. 

i have attached pictures of the painting

 

 

(nearly finished now, about 3.5 hours for 2 coats, outside and inside) 🙂

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Josephinedp,

I thought I'd just mention that the modular decking panels are H3-treated for above-ground use, but if they are placed on the ground, you will likely see their lifespan reduced. What about laying pavers and covering them with play mats both inside and out? That will ensure a nice soft surface for the little ones.

Mitchell

[Josephinedp]

Thank you for your message Mitchell! 
I’ll follow your idea as it is the easiest  -and cheapest - option 🙂 

should I put anything under the pavers to level the ground? 

[MitchellMc]

That depends on how un-level the area is @Josephinedp. A few bags of paving sand would be helpful if you have some low spots, and they will allow you to adjust the paver height over the area.

Mitchell