The Cabin build - part 1

Well, the cabin build day went on its third rescheduled day due to the storm we had on the 28th October! 

The build was scheduled to take one day, but the main cabin man under estimated how big the cabin was and it actually took a day and a bit! So, we were good to go on the 29th October and it didn't rain! Three men arrived appropriately dressed, it has been cold here in Norfolk!

We were so relived to find the wood that had been stored was bone dry...our rain and amp protection worked! Phew! Our garden resembles a builder's and lumber's yard, because we are having bathroom one completely refitted too...yes all at the same time! No, we didn't plan it like that....just the way it happened! lol  

The pieces had already been checked and sorted prior to wrapping it up till we were ready to build.

 The ready pressure treated preserved floor beams are put into place.

 It looks like a floor! lol 

I'd still be looking at the instructions....I would have no idea! lol

Once the walls started to go up, it was rather like a giant Lego build! lol 

Window frames going in!

 More still! It's starting to take shape!

 Getting there....still only mid morning at this point!

 The walls nearly done...

The roof and ceiling beams go in...

The sun shows its face! lol

I'm having the flooring insulated after the wooden flooring. You can insulate at this point and then lay your wooden flooring on top of that.

The cabin is fully double-glazed with toughened glass etc. The cabin came with many spares and we had no missing parts or damage...a huge relief! The spare wood will come in handy and my window boxes will be made with some of it. ;o)

It's looking good! 

The roof starting to go on...

 Half on...

 Getting there with the roof...

 YAY! It's on! 

The Georgian bars still need to be added to the doors and narrow windows. 

After the first day, inside. 

This photo is taken on the second day with the internal Storm Braces on. They bolt all the way through to the outside wall. I am going to check to see if its a good idea to have ones that bolt from the outside floor into the ground for good measure. I have been told though that its so heavy it won't move...I will see! 

Another partial interior view to all the mess outside! lol

Before the men came back to add the roof felting (it's on in this photo), my Dad and Mum started to apply the fire retardant. No protective paint can be applied until this is on. It needs an hour to dry between coats and 24 hours there after if possible. It's very watery and goes on frothy and sinks into the wood, it has a milky look to it, rather weird! lol

Because of the size of my cabin and where it was, to meet UK Building Regulation fire retardant needed to be applied. I did months of research and checking to make sure everything was as it should be. 

The supplier of the cabin were very good at advising what checks needed to be made and what the requirements were etc. All cases are different, it isn't a case of just buying a cabin...homework must be done too. :o)) 

The second day. The roof felting is applied. Good job we had no rain overnight! The front fascia will be put on. There will be a small gap between the felting and the fascia to allow the rain to run down in between so the rain can escape quickly from the roof. The cabin man and the bathroom chippie advised this.   I was going to have guttering on the back of the roof, but my Dad says its not necessary.

The fire retardant goes on first..under the undercoat which is seen here on the side and and part of the front. There's enough fire retardant for 3 coats and more. It's been a race against time to get this on, so we could apply the weather protective base coat.

On the narrow windows, the Georgian window bars have been put in the wrong place (top and bottom of the windows lol ). They all have to come off to be painted, as they are only nailed in with panel pins they will easily come out. 

No change since the photo was taken. Fire retardant and paint is still being applied. Almost four sides now painted, just that far corner needs to be painted (see in this photo) as that was the last part to have fire retardant applied to it. 

I'm having a path going to my cabin...we are also having a pergola. The plan is to plant with cream and pink roses. I love this photo as inspiration....we aren't having the gate though! lol  

More soon! Oh and I will be back to re-check and edit...I always do typo's galore, I think faster than I type! lol 

I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx 

The garden cleared and the cabin's base is down!

Just a tiny post with an update! The cabin base has been laid and since this photo was taken is dying very well! It's not until you see the size of the base down that you can truly visualise what the cabin will look like, or more importantly how much space I have to play with! The ideas of the surrounding area are being planned, along with plants, tall shrubs and trees (and behind the cabin, we hate bare fences or roofs in view!).

Both the shed and summerhouse have found new homes with the base layers as we decided to buy a new shed a bit later on. ;o)

I was able to buy exactly the colours I wanted for my cabin, both the exterior and interior. This was a massive relief and a dream come true because I did not want to have a repeat of colours and looks as my previous Summerhouse. 

For the outside I have Farrow & Ball exterior wood paint (I've bought and ordered the primer and undercoat in the recommended colour - bone. It is also acts like the top coat and thus gives a protective coating etc), both for the actual building, doors and window frames. I want my window boxes a soft pink, the colour on the test pots is not at all accurate, and it is infact the pink I want - pale! lol I've had to order the Farrow & Ball paint as a special order. Farrow & Ball do their entire colour range in any finish you want; not many if any ranges do that. So I have pale apple green for the main cabin, a warm cream for the doors etc and pale pink for the window boxes. :o))) 

I have to confess a monitor or phone screen doesn't quite show the true colour, but you have an idea here.

For the inside I have pale pink for the walls and a pale cream for the ceiling. I found white in my summerhouse rather cold in the winter and I want to give the feeling of warmth to the walls this time. Yes, it will be heated! lol :oP

I will have pink and white check curtains that show on the outside of the cabin windows (cream roller blinds for the doors), but for the inside a mix and match of fabrics to give a shabby chic feel, as this will match all my furniture and accessories that I will have on shelves etc.

I have been far too busy this week to do any mini work on my tiny 1/48th retro caravan, it's been entirely manic and my little head has been spinning just like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist! lol! I am hopeful to progress further with the tiny furniture in the coming days! :oP

The cabin is due to be constructed this week...everything crossed and then we can get painting etc!

More soon! 

I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx 

Update on my 1/48th scale retro caravan...

We are preparing to take down the shed in the garden in readiness for the cabin’s base to be laid at the weekend…ever hopeful for dry weather! I have bought two 25 feet x 18 feet sheets of tarpaulin. One to cover over the base just incase it rains whilst its drying (it needs a least a week to dry before the cabin can be constructed on the top of it). 

Once the cabin is up, two sides of the cabin require fire retardant…I haven’t checked how long this needs to dry. So…..if it does rain, I am hoping the tarpaulin sheets can be laid over the roof (and held down!) and hang down the cabin’s sides to protect it. Whether we will need it I don’t know….will the tarpaulin work or stay put? I don’t know! Lol  

Anyhow, I have managed to resume work on my tiny caravan. I’ve been putting it off because I knew some of the next stages were going to be tricky and I needed to be in the mood for trickiness!

After all the required pieces were sprayed and dried the base needed to be assembled. The base consists of 4 parts and they must all be glued one piece at a time being extra careful each time that they were all even and aligned on all four sides.

The third piece being glued on. I used my fingers to feel my way around the edges to makes sure they were all aligned and then I put the clamps on. Be warned, the wood is soft so don't leave them on for too long otherwise you will be left with marks on your wood. 

Check the underside to make sure your pieces are correctly glued.

 I didn't leave my clamps on for longer than 10 minutes.

I used my fingers to check alignment of the pieces all the time. This is crucial for ensuring your wall pieces fit snugly. 

The floor base. I sprayed under my base (the instructions didn't specify this), the reason being is that I didn't want bare wood showing around my wheels! The side is not glued in at this stage, it's placed in situ to ensure the flooring is glued in alignment.  

 I used clamps behind the side to make sure it pushed the flooring in the right place.

 Both pieces in place to ensure the flooring is glued down correctly!

I constantly referred to the instructions to make sure I knew what went where.

The first piece of interior decoration is cut. It looks raw at this stage. The instructions state to cut right on the line, this was tricky indeedy! However, the pieces are generous and you do have room for minor errors either before or after the line.

I did carefully sand down any uneven edges (of the card/paper) before I glued it onto the wood. I also used a curved pair of scissors to cut the curves, I found the swivel craft knife too challenging on such small pieces.   

Trying the interior decoration with the tiny step cut out! That was mighty tricky!

The outside decoration glued on next (straight away infact!). 

The large pieces (and small pieces!?) of card/paper are glued on with YES! paste. I was mighty impressed with it given it was the most expensive glue I've purchased! This was only because it isn't readily available in the UK. It doesn't damage the card at all, no stretching or water marks. It also doesn't warp the wood, this is because it has a very low water content.

For those in the UK who are unable to purchase this glue or you don't want to pay over the odds, it's very similar (although much smoother) to a Pritt-Stick. I suggest if you want to use the latter, is that you work some of the Pritt-Stick glue onto a china dish to smooth out any lumps before you apply to your card or paper. You could also use a glue suitable for decoupage.  

 Trying for size, making sure it all looks okay.

 Now the window frames! You actually start on the interior frames first and then....

You insert your tiny pieces of plexiglass or acetate depending what country you come form! lol The Plexiglass is inserted from the exterior side of the window frame and only then can you glue on your exterior window frame. The windows were hideously fiddly..not enough glue meant some had to be glued on twice, too much glue would result in a very messy look!  

All of the interior frames glued on...first!

 Two more window to complete on the side of the caravan.

Each piece of the plexiglass has to be severed from the mother-board and then sanded lightly on each side and then have each of the protective covering peeled off on two flat sides!

After the protective coatings removed.

Phew! I did not apply any glue to the cross bars of the windows, this would have made a mess of the plexiglass, so only the initial square frame is glued.

 All done.....this side....more to go yet!

The curtains or blinds are applied. I have to say they were a bit mean with the lace! I pre-measured my lace strip before I cut it and there was only enough for blinds and not curtain panels for the tiny window on the left and the other tiny window on the front opening part. However, I actually like them all the same and I think it would have almost covered the whole window if I had made curtains (the lace wasn't as dainty as in the photo's). You do have to trim the lace down otherwise it would be too wide! I didn't waste any lace at all.  

If you do want to make curtains etc, I would suggest you buy some of your own lace that way you will have enough! :o)  

 One more window to do on the front and back of the caravan. 

Now for the sides! I will overstate that  you must constantly refer to the instructions and photo's whilst you make this kit, otherwise you will run into trouble! Only the interior decoration is applied at this time!

You must check that you have the correct windows for the different sides of the caravan and also make sure you have the correct pairs together (they look very similar but they are not!).

The floor glued in place!

At this stage I am ready to glue the door side on (both the ends are glued on). However, I have looked at the decoration of the interior and have noticed teeny tiny plates and pictures on that wall! It does not excite me in the least thinking I'm going to have to glue those on when the sides are all glued on, so I'm waiting.....till I have made some of the pertinent pieces of furniture up, so I know heights of items to go in there! :o))  

I have already coated some of the pieces with either the gloss or matte varnish ready for ummm cutting out! I am absolutely dreading cutting those teeny tiny plates out!

Ready for the next stage! 

The next update will either be my cabin's base down..or my caravan...or if you're really unlucky...both?!!? LOL

I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx