2 Level PVC enclosure

[baker247365]

I splurged and made myself a PVC enclosure.

Took months of designing, planning, and getting quotes for the materials and a week to build (with my husband and kids' help).

I'm so happy with how it turned out and our little Russian is getting used to his new space.

 

[wellington]

Nice job, looks great. But I would put substrate on that second level. The slippery floor isn't good for his muscle and walking.

 

[SinLA]

HOLY COW that is nice. Agree with wellington, maybe you can put anti-slip strips down under substrate but that looks great

 

[baker247365]

There's substrate on the second level and non-slip strips on the ramps but not the landing area between the ramps. Do you think I need substrate as well as non-slip strips or would strips do? He seems to be managing fine.

 

[SinLA]

There's substrate on the second level and non-slip strips on the ramps but not the landing area between the ramps. Do you think I need substrate as well as non-slip strips or would strips do? He seems to be managing fine.

I think its not good for them to be slip sliding around. I would at the very least put no-slip stickies on it.

 

[SonyaSofi]

Please tell me the dimensions and thickness of the sheet. I also want to make one, I am collecting information, thank you

 

[Anastasia 22]

That looks awesome!!!!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Please tell me the dimensions and thickness of the sheet. I also want to make one, I am collecting information, thank you

Hello!
You can start here: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/b...-pvc-enclosed-chamber-–-for-beginners.159220/

10-12mm PVC sheets are fine, no need to use 20mm. For cut sheets planning you can use CutList Optimizer website. PVC is not 100% rigid, it bends under load so a good sturdy base and some reinforcement elements are required, especially for enclosures larger than 120x60 cm.

Also, check SerpaDesign YouTube channel. I believe, he has some videos with examples of PVC enclosure builds.

 

[baker247365]

Hello!
You can start here: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/building-your-own-expanded-pvc-enclosed-chamber-–-for-beginners.159220/

10-12mm PVC sheets are fine, no need to use 20mm. For cut sheets planning you can use CutList Optimizer website. PVC is not 100% rigid, it bends under load so a good sturdy base and some reinforcement elements are required, especially for enclosures larger than 120x60 cm.

Also, check SerpaDesign YouTube channel. I believe, he has some videos with examples of PVC enclosure builds.

I'm happy to answer any questions but I would start with the above mentioned post. It has a lot of valuable information and a more basic structure than what I made. My 2 levels come apart in case we ever need to move it and the planning/building is much more complex than a 1 level.

 

[SonyaSofi]

Hello!
You can start here: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/building-your-own-expanded-pvc-enclosed-chamber-–-for-beginners.159220/

10-12mm PVC sheets are fine, no need to use 20mm. For cut sheets planning you can use CutList Optimizer website. PVC is not 100% rigid, it bends under load so a good sturdy base and some reinforcement elements are required, especially for enclosures larger than 120x60 cm.

Also, check SerpaDesign YouTube channel. I believe, he has some videos with examples of PVC enclosure builds.

thank you! I reread the topic you dropped more than once. in my country, from the thick ones you can only buy 10mm or 19mm right away. so I’m wondering if 10mm will work for a double.
and I'm also interested in the author's dimensions and the thickness of the material, to be absolutely sure.

 

[COmtnLady]

What a wonderful enclosure!!!

(But, yeah, make the "slick" part nicer to walk on.)

 

[SonyaSofi]

I'm happy to answer any questions but I would start with the above mentioned post. It has a lot of valuable information and a more basic structure than what I made. My 2 levels come apart in case we ever need to move it and the planning/building is much more complex than a 1 level.

yes, and I think that two levels are more difficult. that's why I want to clarify the nuances. and how did you connect them? you probably didn't just assemble two, and then put them on top of each other, cutting out holes for the transition

I have already read all the topics about cases on this forum. In general, for any question I first use the search, reread everything for a long time, and then ask

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

thank you! I reread the topic you dropped more than once. in my country, from the thick ones you can only buy 10mm or 19mm right away. so I’m wondering if 10mm will work for a double.
and I'm also interested in the author's dimensions and the thickness of the material, to be absolutely sure.

Sorry, if I've posted this link more than once.

From my experience 19mm is not worth it. It's heavy (obviously, twice more than 10mm) and bends under its own weight. I have two enclosures with floor and ceiling made of 20mm PVC. I was really disappointed to see them bending in the middle.

Probably, next time I will try to make "sandwiches" of 3-5mm PVC with insulation and supporting ribs inside.

Yet, it would be great to know the details of this two-level build.

 

[baker247365]

To be honest, I had to wing a lot of it because my measurements ended up a little off and I had no experience. I had to glue some smaller pieces together (like for the window frames) to cut down on cost too because I was essentially making 2 enclosures. The material is not cheap plus I paid for cutting fees.

I used 1/2" EPVC. My enclosure is about 6 feet by 3 feet. I used 3 support beams for the tops so the ceilings wouldn't sag. I have no idea if it would work with thinner sheets.

The top level puzzles into the lower level. It sits on the lower level in a few places - front and back walls, a support beam in the middle near the ramp, and at both ends I have 2 wide panels that act as supports that run from front to back. (See photo below, not including the middle beam that helps support the ramp and the floor of the top level.)


The top layer slots in between those side panels, with a cut out for the ramp. I overlapped panels on the inside of the top layer so that the floor is complete, except for the ramp cutout. You can see the left side in the picture below.

 

[SonyaSofi]

To be honest, I had to wing a lot of it because my measurements ended up a little off and I had no experience. I had to glue some smaller pieces together (like for the window frames) to cut down on cost too because I was essentially making 2 enclosures. The material is not cheap plus I paid for cutting fees.

I used 1/2" EPVC. My enclosure is about 6 feet by 3 feet. I used 3 support beams for the tops so the ceilings wouldn't sag. I have no idea if it would work with thinner sheets.

The top level puzzles into the lower level. It sits on the lower level in a few places - front and back walls, a support beam in the middle near the ramp, and at both ends I have 2 wide panels that act as supports that run from front to back. (See photo below, not including the middle beam that helps support the ramp and the floor of the top level.)
View attachment 387234

The top layer slots in between those side panels, with a cut out for the ramp. I overlapped panels on the inside of the top layer so that the floor is complete, except for the ramp cutout. You can see the left side in the picture below.

View attachment 387236

Thank you very much! You explained it very well and clearly

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Woah this is such a nice build!!

 

[TheTortoiseKing]

I love your enclosure. What did you use to cut the boards?

 

[baker247365]

I love your enclosure. What did you use to cut the boards?

I had the big main pieces cut by the company I bought the sheets from (they jiat charged me for cuttingservice). They gave me all the scrap pieces after cutting it and I used these to build the smaller details like the supports for the ramp.

I used a jigsaw and really coarse sand paper for the smaller pieces. It was really messy project.

 

[TheTortoiseKing]

Thank you!

 

[RandyTortoise]

I splurged and made myself a PVC enclosure.

Took months of designing, planning, and getting quotes for the materials and a week to build (with my husband and kids' help).

I'm so happy with how it turned out and our little Russian is getting used to his new space.

That is very nice! Great job!