Browse Forums Building A New House Re: {Dawn} SE Melb Custom Build - Ever After :) 2494Sep 26, 2017 10:27 am DIY Cat Run
My DIY cat run is fully installed, though not yet fully fitted out, so I thought I'd share the costs and what we did for anyone looking to do the same thing. I purchased all the netting materials from www.catnets.com.au[url=www.catnets.com.au]http://www.catnets.com.au[/url]. Total price for the netting including all the fittings (except for the metal arches and wood planks at either end) was $400 including delivering and delivery was about 2 days. To put it up, we drilled dynabolts into the mortar along the house side and then ran a wire along them. We then edged the netting and used c clamps to attach the netting to the wire along the house side. On the fence side, we again edged the netting with the provided rope and then hammered it into the fence using u nails. For the ends, we bought some treated pine and hammered the edge of the netting into the wood which was then wedged into place. We had a bit of a mishap, as the gap between the house and fence is about 1.2m and the netting is 1.8m wide.. whoops. So we added the metal arches to remove the sagging in the net. My dad had old cray fish nets which is where the metal came from. He drilled holes to place the metal arches into and cable tied the netting to them. We then cable tied the excess netting to one side all along the fence to give it a neat finish. I installed the zipper door at one end (note the $400 includes 2 doors but we decided to only use one). There's a very useful and easy to follow YouTube video on how to install the zipper door, and given I managed to successfully do it myself I think it is quite easy to do To finish off the cat run I got some synthetic turf (which hasn't finished being laid out as it needs some cutting). I paid $119 for 1x4m from Bunnings, and then my dad found a somewhat similar sized piece for $60 from the markets. To make it fun for the cats, I filled the cat run with outdoor toys and also got an outdoor bench (which will have two plants soon). The bench was $50 from Kmart and quite easy to put together. Later on we will add some sky walks on the house side. For entry into the cat run from the house I have a pet patio door from my laundry. This door is fully secured and lockable. The pet patio door cost $194 from Bunnings (and Dad installed). Pictures below: From inside looking towards the front of the house. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Zipper door Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Other side with no zipper door. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Looking towards the back of house. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ From outside the cat run. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The best part is from the front of the house you can't see it at all, the netting is low vis. If you are looking to put in a DIY cat run after your house is built, I suggest you consider where you are going to put it while designing the house. I picked the long side of the house, and I purposely put my laundry there to make an entrance. As an FYI professional installation of the cat run I was told to expect it to cost $2000+. Re: {Dawn} SE Melb Custom Build - Ever After 😀 2495Sep 26, 2017 10:38 am aloenyx We got the grass from Melbourne Brick, but I don't think it was very good. Looked dead when we got it. I think my dad misunderstood the 'lightly' part of covering with sand.. Hoping it recovers, because I can't afford to replace it. I gave it a good watering yesterday to try and break down the sand a bit. My dad said he'd come over today and take some off, but its pouring with rain.. Re: {Dawn} SE Melb Custom Build - Ever After :) 2497Sep 26, 2017 12:29 pm Feeling better. Finally cleared my paperwork out. Building a house generates so much paper!! Contracts, and loan statements.. but when you move in, the builder gave me a massive pack, and then there was all the instructions and warranties.. and then piles of receipts for my new purchases. I was drowning in paperwork!!! So I finally went through and threw most of it out. Only kept he manuals/waranties for the bigger ticket items that I may need some help using in the future, fridge, washer, etc. I figure out I can handle a kettle XD Finally got my three boxes of paperwork back down to one carry case.. and a short term draw for things I only need to keep for a few weeks/months before I toss them out. *sigh of relief* Re: {Dawn} SE Melb Custom Build - Ever After :) 2498Sep 26, 2017 2:47 pm aloenyx Feeling better. Finally cleared my paperwork out. Building a house generates so much paper!! Contracts, and loan statements.. but when you move in, the builder gave me a massive pack, and then there was all the instructions and warranties.. and then piles of receipts for my new purchases. I was drowning in paperwork!!! So I finally went through and threw most of it out. Only kept he manuals/waranties for the bigger ticket items that I may need some help using in the future, fridge, washer, etc. I figure out I can handle a kettle XD Finally got my three boxes of paperwork back down to one carry case.. and a short term draw for things I only need to keep for a few weeks/months before I toss them out. *sigh of relief* Hahaha, you're just like my husband... I, on the other hand, keep everything for twenty years, at the very least. That cat run looks, dandy, by the way! Re: {Dawn} SE Melb Custom Build - Ever After :) 2499Sep 26, 2017 3:19 pm Oh, your poor husband PP I hate paper! I'd throw it all out if it wasn't like legally required to keep some stuff.. D I really want to throw out my land contract, its HUGE and my broker accidentally unbound it when she borrowed it.. so its got a giant clip on it. Some of the stuff I put in the drawer I'm only keeping because my dad likes to keep looking at the landscaping invoices and telling me just how much its cost him once its all over they are going! Thanks I'm a little proud of the zipper door, since I did it myself this morning. I'm all DIY now! Though to be honest the rough edges and not quite straightness are KILLING me. I just have to remind myself that I saved $1500+ doing it this way. I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15265 I am in the same situation, would you be able to give some insights in to this? I am in SA 8 17047 Depends what you're current inclusions are, but we're not including wardrobes and will just use second hand ones until we can save later on to get them built. Also have a… 3 11631 |