Wow- this is impressive. I have been exploring the PVC options at home depot and this is a great example of how it could go thank you for posting pics. how I have a 3yo herman and a 10yo Russian in separate enclosures that I need to expand. I'm in Chicago and a condo dweller so outdoors is a no go. It is excellent in the simplicity of the plan itself i love the fold out door etc.
Home Depot in my area sells this in sheets but I don't have the knowledge or the equipment to cut or put together the pieces. How moveable would you say this table is- you said it was too big to get up the stairs but do you think this could be dismantled if you had to move? Also what the frame - was this also custom built or is this a coffee table or something? Are those real plants?
Thank you so much! You’re very lucky if you can get expanded pvc at Home Depot, that’s a big bonus right there. If you do have an enclosure built like this, that fold out door is a must in my opinion. It would be very challenging to spot clean, clean water bowls and food dishes, etc without that. I debated a bit between 1/2” and 3/4” expanded pvc because there was quite a price difference (3/4” was $300/sheet and I believe 1/2” was around $240/sheet), but I’m so glad I went with 3/4”. Especially because these are just screwed together 3/4” make it much more solid. My goal here was to invest more now so that it’ll last for the foreseeable future. I understand that expanded pvc is much more affordable in the US, so don’t let my $300/sheet scare you from pursuing this material.
Once the enclosure is put together it’s quite heavy. In the first photos you see it’s up against a wall under a window. When it was time to set it up I needed it moved to the other side of the bedroom (where the original enclosure was) and it took 3 adults to move. The individually cut pieces are not heavy, because I helped the guy haul them upstairs, it’s just not something you want to move while assembled unless necessary. Because it wouldn’t fit up the stairs (which thankfully I knew in advance) he didn’t use any pvc glue when he put it together. If/when the day comes that I decide to move, the pieces would just need to be unscrewed from each other and I would imagine the silicone on the seams would have to be cut too.
The frame is actually a steel platform bed frame that I bought for this purpose. I looked at having a stand built, but once I thought of the idea to use a bed frame, it just made sense to go that route. It’s sturdy and looks great. It was around $120 for the frame where as the lumber to build one that would look good, plus labour, paint, etc would have likely cost more. Bed frames come in all different sizes, so there’s likely to be one that would work for whatever size enclosure you make. I’ve enjoyed having that storage space under the bed frame as well.
As for the plants, it’s a mixture of real and fake. Dozer doesn’t seem to discriminate on the real vs fake...thank goodness. He loves using all of them as little hiding spots or trampling the fake greenery I have in the corners. I have some spider plants I’ve been growing out for a year or so that I need to repot and put in there yet.
If you have any other questions, don‘t hesitate to ask! ?
- Krista