4X2X2 viv Im building...DONE...

[Onlymediocre]

Hi, so I just got baby beardies and Im building them a 4x2x2 out of Blondewood from Lowes. I plan on using a divider until they get a bit bigger and by then Ill of alrdy built another 4x2x2. I had lowes cut the wood for me. and so far it seems to be coming out pretty well, If yall see anything I need to change or any suggestions plz let me know

The wood I had cut.. I think it was somewhere around $30 for a sheet

This is a white board Im going to use for the back ($10) and the vents were around $2/ea

I cut the vent holes with a box cutter, in hind sight, should of used something else cause it was a pain in the butt, lol

I used liquid nails to hold it together?? But im thinking I need to screw it or something too??? Any suggestions on how to do this????

I also made 2 hammocks out of a red satin pillow case, I simply folded over one corner to make 2 triangles that were the same size, then hand sewed the open sides (with it inside out) except for a small opening, then turned in right side out.. sewed up the openings, and cut small holes on the corners and went around it in embroidery thread to reinforce the holes.. Im thinking it will work.

AND I drew up cartoonish pics for them to go with their names (Athena and Persephone) to put up on the background in their vivs... I did this while waiting for them to come in the mail, lol... I kept busy as I could trying to get everything rdy

And finally Ill post a pic of the babies Just b/c they are cute, and all this is for them Fresh out the box today

I plan on just putting a clear sealant on the wood, I was going to stain it, but its rlly pretty as is i think, I believe I need to use a water based sealant? correct? And let it air out for a week? Ill update with more pics as it gets further done

 

[ju5t1n]

Wow that looks like nice plywood. Mine I just used some cheap plywood and painted it.
I think you should stain and seal it, I wanted to do that with mine but my wood was cheap and ugly lol. You could just swing by the staining and check it out. Then seal it and let it air out.
I also screwed mine all together I predrilled the holes with a little smaller drill bit then the screw then put the wood screw in every 6-8 inches. Then used some clear silicone all the edges and painted flat black with an out door paint. I aired it out for 2 weeks I think.

 

[Onlymediocre]

I looked at the stains, but wanted to keep everything water-based, Miniwax makes water based stains, and Lowes had the display thingie for them but not the stains, lol. So I just went with the clear semi-gloss poly acrylic sealant. I ended up getting it at home depot and paying a few dollars more cause it wasnt worth the stop back by Lowes, it was $20. I got some silicone, but IDK if its okay to use :dontknow: Its DAP Dynaflex 230, Premium indoor/outdoor sealant, so if ANY ONE knows if this is ok or not plz let me know. I may try to hunt down some aquarium sealant cause I read that some release toxins over time.. And I def dont want that! I also did go back and screw it together to, I had to reglue it cause the kids were playing around a bit too close and knocked it over! lol.

Heres with the strips across the front

And my husband got some Lexan from work, and this is with it cut to fit, and at this point it has 3 coats of the sealant on it

Oh and in the last pic, those cornering pieces that u see on top of the viv (the white things with the holes) I plan on using those to kinda outer frame it to cover the screws and I figured it would go with the white background...

 

[Onlymediocre]

Okay, so last night my husband put the doors in, we were having trouble finding the showcase track, so he used some trim and made his own (hes so smart ) Then this morning I put the tiles down, I broke up 8 1sq ft tiles I alrdy had, and just laid them out every which way they would fit, of course it isnt grouted yet, but I think its turning out good I also painted the vents pink yesterday, I had bought cheap attic vents and the edges were way sharp, so I painted them in a few coats and now they arent sharp at all..yay! so heres some updated pics.. I havent actually put the back on yet, so that way I still have a big area to work in..

 

[noelerhard]

That's very good! i wish I could build like that!

 

[Onlymediocre]

Im sure you can Honestly the only tools Ive used is a screwdriver, a box cutter, and a drill. I had Lowes precut everything for me So It all lined up. I cut the vent holes and cut all the the trim with the box cutter. We did decide to put strips on the front sides too, so we did cut those ourselves but if we woulda thought of it b4 then lowes woulda cut it. They drill was just to predrill the holes for the screws so the wood wouldnt split. Ill be posting more pics tomorrow, my husband is wiring my lights now, and tomorrow morning Ill grout the tile. (oh and I used the stirring stick they gave me for the stain to level out the mortar and Ill use it for the grout too).. why waste a bunch of money on tools Ill probably lose b4 I need to use them again, lol. But Im pretty sure anyone can do this, I took agriculture in high school (over 10 yrs ago) and built a little table,like a side table, and thats about all the woodwork Ive ever done, Im by no means a carpenter.

 

[troyncindy]

Athena and persephone are going to love it. so glad you put screws in it...lol

 

[troyncindy]

and the broken tile floor is awesome

 

[ju5t1n]

Wow looks good! I'm no carpenter either but I think everyone here will consider them self a hobbyist lol.
Thumbs up on the screws too!

 

[Onlymediocre]

and the broken tile floor is awesome

Thanks, It looks pretty good, That awesome broken tile floor did slice the crap outta a couple of my fingers yesterday when I was grouting it tho, lol. I have to say grouting tile plain sucks, I had the hardest time doing it...lol. But it is all put together now, and sealed, the hubby went and got me the ge silicone 1 since we arent sure about the silicone we had alrdy bought. Im gonna post some more pics later after I get breakfast cook. But its all put together except for those trim strips on the outside, but thats just for decoration, and Ive decided to paint them pink like I did the vents to kinda make the pink pop out a bit. The only thing I still have to do is figure out what I can use in there as a divider? Any ideas?

 

[Onlymediocre]

With the tile grouted...

And across the back we added another 3 in strip so we'll have something to screw the eyes into to hang the hammocks..

 

[Onlymediocre]

Okay, so I believe Im officially done, except for cleaning it out and decorating! and of course letting it air out, I used the last pieces of wood i had left to fashion a divider, its pretty tall so Im hoping my little boogers cant jump over it, Im just not going to put anything by it they can jump off of...

Then I had alrdy precut my trim strips to length and luckily it wasnt raining today so I took them outside and painted them pink... then attached them and tada Im done... so this is my finished product... what do yall think?

 

[noelerhard]

I love it!! The pink edges are a great touch.

 

[Onlymediocre]

Thanks! Im pretty sure my bigger one is a girl, so this will end up being her viv... the littler one, still looks like a girl, but shes still rlly little... so if its a girl, her viv will look the same, if she ends up being a he Ill trim it in blue.

 

[Lumpdog450]

That floor is sick! Can you explain more please..... Might steal your grand idea!