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How to change cubby house floor?

When we bought our place it came with a cubby house but it was built in a bad spot

Moving it now to put a shed there but want to change the type of floor it had

The previous owner put timber fencing panels down under some treated pine timber. Especially in summer it warps and creates tripping hazards

What would be better to use instead of fencing panels? Something that will be smooth, safe for kids and won't warp or change shape in heat ?

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Marty_greenshed

Hi @PatDIY_Dad ,

Welcome to the community!

Is the cubby house ground level or on posts? If it's ground level, you could always put pavers down.. Nice easy cheap solution. If it's on posts and not on ground level, what about something like decking? Merbau, Pine decking or even Ekodecking. You may even use a piece of marine ply!.

Post a photo of the cubby house and we'll be able to offer the best solution.

Cheers

Marty

PatDIY_Dad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/28259#Comment_28259

I'll post one tomorrow. I'm half way of dismantling it but you'll.get the idea.

When I move it it will be ground level

The area I want to put it in has temp fake grass ( I got off cuts free and pinned them down for the kids)

So I am thinking I'll cut a large square out of that and dig a few Inches in and put sleepers with decking

Don't want to use the fake grass as a.floor as it will be uneven and not a solid base for the cubby house to sit on

Pavers is a good idea to but would want smooth ones so the kids don't graze themselves

Marty_greenshed

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/76680#Comment_76680

Hey @PatDIY_Dad ,

I get it now.. Maybe a sand base would suit.. enclose it with sleepers and deck it, or fill with sand, making it a sand pit!. Just ensure that you cover it each day.. Otherwise cats will get in there and use it as a toilet! Bunnings also have the rubber mats which i think would suit this project perfectly!

Cheers

Marty

PatDIY_Dad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/102314#Comment_102314

Yeh rubber mats should be ok to.

Not sure how solid they would be to hold the cubby house walls from moving around a bit

Here's the pictures of it currently half dismantled

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/118176#Comment_118176

Good Morning @PatDIY_Dad

I was looking at the cubby house earler and have ben mulling over some ideas,

I thought maybe

Blue tongue particle board

It can handle being wet for a short time (3 months) and I thought if you put down that rubber matting then it would be a lot more waterproof. It would also secure the walls and make it easier to prop it up off the ground so air can circulate and not rot the timber. What is the roof made out of?

Dave

PatDIY_Dad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/127459#Comment_127459

MDF (particle board) wouldnt last long at all out there?

Roof is colourbond sheet

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/118176#Comment_118176

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @PatDIY_Dad. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about constructing a base for a cubby house.

It's wonderful to see two of our experienced members offer some great guidance.

What about treated Pine sleepers for the base? They'd be perfect for screwing the walls into because they are nice and solid. You'd then need to cover them with rubber mats to prevent the kids from coming in contact with the sleeper treatment.

If this structure has an enclosed roof, the particleboard will last for a significant amount of time. But, if it gets regular moisture exposure, it's perhaps not the best choice of flooring materials.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133564#Comment_133564

@PatDIY_Dad

MDF would fail fast I would say. I generally try and keep away from it wherever I can and definently wouldnt be using it outside. The blue tongue is supposed to hold up. I wouldnt have it on the ground directly but put some timber or bricks to give air space to keep it dry. I was thinking more that the covering would keep the water off the board. I just had a second thought. What about laying your hands on some of the concrete board (tip shops usually have some) that should last longer yet again.

Nice roof 🙂 It seems to be a solid cubby house. Do you have a pic where you are going to place it?

Dave

PatDIY_Dad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/127460#Comment_127460

Thanks MitchellMc

Yeh I am good with either .

Because I am "moving it" I would see the quality of the sleepers holding the crappy fence palings ( floor ) that the previous owners used to make the floor. If its still good Ill use that and maybe put some decking. The floor would also be a perimeter ( kind of like a porch) around the cubby house so half of it would be fully exposed to weather

MitchellMc

Sorry @PatDIY_Dad,

To clarify, although MDF is a type of particleboard, it's not the particleboard flooring we were mentioning. MDF will disintegrate at the first sign of moisture. Particleboard flooring on the other hand is designed to withstand several months of being exposed to rain before it needs to be covered. Since some of it will be exposed to the weather, I'd recommend going with the decking or a material that is designed for permanent exterior use.

Mitchell

PatDIY_Dad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/28271#Comment_28271

Ah thanks. I thought all particleboard was MDF

so bluetongue can be ok outside ( to some extent?)

I am thinking of putting the cubby house here

You can see fake grass there. ( which is just basically a carpet I layed as a safer temp floor for the kids)

When we bought the house it was just all gravel. ( I think they may have stored a caravan or boat here)

so I was thinking of cutting a large square section of the fake grass out and dig up some of the gravel out and making deck that is level with the fake grass. Ill tuck some of the fake grass undernearth the deck to hold it in place to

What do you think? That should last ages right? Low Maintenace to right? I dont mind if I need to oil it or something but as long as its not all the time or regularly

PXL_20230703_010425976 (1).jpg

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/76689#Comment_76689

@PatDIY_Dad

If there is gravel underneath the fake grass I would leave it 🙂 It means free draining hopefully and then I would place some blocks on top. Say 4 or six bessa style blocks then a few lengths of H3 timber to support the floor. That way it will last for ages. If you can find some of that concrete sheeting to place across it that would pollish it off.

There are also these Foundation blocks That would work nicely to give areflow or for the deck itself.

Dave

PatDIY_Dad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/102319#Comment_102319

To clarify, Its just a thin layer of crush rock then dirt ( mostly clay ) underneath the fake grass

If I put it directly on top of the fake grass ( which is very uneven ) then blocks on top. It would raise the floor wouldnt it? I kind of wanted it to be level as much as possible with the fake grass around it. Just so they dont trip etc

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/118177#Comment_118177

What you're suggesting sounds like it would work @PatDIY_Dad and last for a significant amount of time.

Mitchell

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/118177#Comment_118177

@PatDIY_Dad

Feel your pain. If its clay just under the gravel and you dig it out to make it level then those areas will want to retain water.

How about half way? Dig small footing holes and keep the timber off the ground so it wont rot and then an earthen longish ramp to the front of the cubby house?

Otherwise I would be thinking of scrapping the stones out and put in some sand/gravel and large pavers to keep it level with the ground. Id still be making sure I keep the edge of the cubby house away from direct contact alongthe length of the walls with some small blocks ect

Dave

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