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FretGrinder |
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FretGrinder World Chat Champion
Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 19:02 - 21 Sep 2017 Post subject: Project Catio |
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As some of you may know, me and Recluso have a pair of Bengal cats. Both of them live inside the house as we live right next to the main road, which isn’t very safe and they would probably find themselves in the arm of some stranger.
This is when we had the idea of a “Catio” which is essentially a patio for cats, meaning that they get to experience the outside world, while under our supervision.
The plan was to build a Catio in the area below, comprising of upright posts, aviary mesh, a corrugated polycarbonate roof and a gate either side.
https://s26.postimg.org/cjbbwfoix/Whats_App_Image_2017-08-10_at_17.08.32.jpg
“Why 2 gates?” you ask, well, where we live the area at the back of the houses is considered “communal access. Nobody has ever come through this way or have we ever needed to through it ourselves in the five years we have been here, but we felt we needed to provide said access just in case.
As for the materials, I do CNC machining for a job, the aluminium that we machine comes on very large pallets and attached to these pallets are long posts for when they get transported on the lorries. These posts are usually discarded once the aluminium comes in, so I managed to set 7 aside to bring them home.
We decided to use CLS timber for the outer construction as well as the rafters, treated timber worked out twice the price but we could treat the CLS with wood preserving paint as we went along, the CLS worked out to £2.19 per 2400mm.
The corrugated polycarbonate sheets were £5.45 per 2400mm length as we needed 7 of these to finish the roof.
It was while all the planning was being done that CaNsA mentioned that he would be in the area for a couple of days to lend a hand, so come the Monday morning of the following week we went and picked him up and set to work!
https://s20.postimg.org/tdzn1by0t/IMG-20170911-_WA0020.jpg
We fixed the posts against the wall of the house with a piece of timber on top of the posts as there wasn’t enough space to fix it to the wall without drilling into the lintels above the door and window, so this was the best option. We fixed the posts using frame fixings and raised them off the floor to save them from rotting away in the rain.
https://s20.postimg.org/lcbejff99/IMG-20170911-_WA0040.jpg
After a cup of tea or two, choosing some music and CaNsA doing some excellent inspection of the whole construction, we had the posts along the small opposite wall and the rafters installed.
This took the majority of the day as we had to adjust the plans because of the lintels and figure out all the correct sizes for the posts, rafters and the size and position of the gates. So we called it a day at this point and retreated inside the house for a decent helping of Spag Bol and then I went for a ride on Fistys new Hayabusa!
The following day we got to work installing the “noggins” on the rafters and measuring the frame for the gates to sit in.
https://s20.postimg.org/9xjisjsal/IMG-20170912-_WA0008.jpg
After this CaNsA had the idea of putting the aviary mesh on the roof underneath the polycarbonate panels as he pointed out that cats are the most talented escape artists. We had just enough time to install the mesh on the roof before CaNsA had to make his way back home.
https://s20.postimg.org/gcijp7z0d/IMG-20170912-_WA0013.jpg
https://s20.postimg.org/6uisp6dbx/IMG-20170912-_WA0015.jpg
After CaNsA had left I cracked on with installing the polycarbonate panels. Luckily everything was sturdy enough for me to climb on top to drill the holes.
https://s20.postimg.org/nxlkkou0t/IMG-20170912-_WA0019.jpg
https://s20.postimg.org/t02wfh3b1/IMG-20170912-_WA0021.jpg
Not long after I’d finshed the roof, it began to rain, which wasn’t a problem as I wanted to see how the roof would stand up to rain.
https://s20.postimg.org/q4pt8lzb1/IMG-20170912-_WA0040.jpg
https://s20.postimg.org/4h0uy5ywt/IMG-20170912-_WA0042.jpg
Unfortuanely there was a slight balls-up on my part. While installing the panels, in my haste to get them done quickly, I’d drilled some of the holes for the fixings in the “valleys” of the panels, meaning the rain could get underneath the fixing and leak down into the wood.
I could have put some adhesive beneath the panels and fixed them that way, but as they weren’t that expensive (and I’m anal about getting things right) we purchased all new panels to go on the roof the following day. It was a lesson learned and I plan to use the old panels on the sides of the catio if we really need the weather protection over the winter.
https://s20.postimg.org/uhsy4rxfh/IMG-20170913-_WA0030.jpg
https://s20.postimg.org/qmpk27e9p/IMG-20170913-_WA0032.jpg
Next up, installing the gates and sides ____________________ Yamaha MT-09
ಠ_ಠ |
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FretGrinder |
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FretGrinder World Chat Champion
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FretGrinder |
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FretGrinder World Chat Champion
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
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CaNsA |
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CaNsA Super Spammer
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 20:11 - 21 Sep 2017 Post subject: Re: Project Catio |
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YAY ME!
I really enjoyed working with you Fret, and I love building stuff with wood.
I still don't like you though, I only helped out because I like Recceh.
How can you forget me fixing the kitchen door in under 30secs... something you had been planning to do for sometime. |
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t121anf |
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t121anf World Chat Champion
Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Karma :
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 21:12 - 21 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Diagonals on a gate should go from the hinge up to the next horizontal.
https://s20.postimg.org/oiiz6cgsd/IMG-20170915-_WA0049.jpg ____________________ trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
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Polarbear |
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Polarbear Super Spammer
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Posted: 21:43 - 21 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Lovely looking cats. Are they very big because they look bigger than your average cat
Knowing nothing about cats, from what you said I take it they are valuable/expensive and therefore thief fodder? ____________________ Triumph Trophy Launch Edition |
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Tracer1234 |
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Tracer1234 World Chat Champion
Joined: 13 Sep 2014 Karma :
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Posted: 00:24 - 22 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Thats some great work there. Love the cats too, must have been pretty cool to see them using it right away.
And in terms of CaNsA being there. It feels a bit like when you read a book, and build up an image on what the characters look like but then find out that you have it completely wrong. I always had him down as some mythical creature that lurks in the shadows...
https://s20.postimg.org/9migidwst/Screenshot_2017-09-22_at_00.24.07.png ____________________ Riding: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Occasionally Riding: 08 Suzuki SV650, Potato: 2011 Yamaha YBR Custom.
Used to ride: 2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (smidsy) 09 Triumph Street Triple (P/X'd) 08 Yamaha YBR (Sold)
CBT 04/14. A: Mod 1 & 2 13/04/15
Last edited by Tracer1234 on 15:29 - 22 Sep 2017; edited 1 time in total |
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CaNsA |
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CaNsA Super Spammer
Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Karma :
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :
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Posted: 00:42 - 22 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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What bit do you feel you got wrong? ____________________ Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN. |
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FretGrinder |
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FretGrinder World Chat Champion
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Sapolsky |
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Sapolsky Borekit Bruiser
Joined: 05 Aug 2017 Karma :
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Posted: 09:04 - 22 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Cool, I have two bengals too, also one snow and one brown
Awesome cats. |
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Speedy2007 |
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Speedy2007 Renault 5 Driver
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DrDonnyBrago |
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DrDonnyBrago World Chat Champion
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bacon |
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bacon World Chat Champion
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FretGrinder |
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FretGrinder World Chat Champion
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FretGrinder |
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FretGrinder World Chat Champion
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DrDonnyBrago World Chat Champion
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bacon |
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bacon World Chat Champion
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Posted: 18:24 - 22 Sep 2017 Post subject: |
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Family of gingers really |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 188 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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