Little Cottage Gingerbread Cottage User manual

Gingerbread Cottage
Manual
Little Cottage Co.
PO Box 455
Berlin, OH 44610
330-893-4212
© 2007–2008 Little Cottage Co.
Tools Needed:
-Cordless Drill (12v or higher)
-#2 Square drive bit
-Hammer
-6’ Step Ladder
-Tape Measure
-Square utility knife with blade & hook blade
-Speed Square
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Gingerbread Cottage
Manual
Construction Manual © 2007 –2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 1
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To begin construction start with the oor.
Lay (2) 4x4 ooring sections side by side.
Make sure it is on level area.
Make sure the plywood is even before fas-
tening!! If it is not you will have an uneven
oor, and it could cause problems later.
Screw the sections together. Put two screws in
from each side for a total of 4 screws, one towards
plywood and one toward the top. Repeat this
roughly 8-10 inches apart.
This shows that there should be screws
from either side. Be sure to screw close to
where the corners meet.
Continue adding sections till you have the
size that you need for your house.
Add (3) 4x4 pressure treated runners on
the bottom. Screw these into the joists.
Once this is done you can turn the oor
around and prepare to build on top...
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Construction Manual © 2007 Little Cottage Co. Page 2
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This shows the optional 4x4 runners.
You will need to have 3 in order to have
1 under the center joint. If you use 2 the
oor will sag in the center. Note: these
are optional, but will aid in moving the
building later. IE: you can put a chain over
then and use then to slide over the ground
or onto a trailer to move to a different
location. IF you are adding a deck and rail
you MUST add the runners! Otherwise the
small door will not clear the deck. Make
certain the ground is level where the oor
sets or you may have problems with the
panels or the roof.
You are ready to begin setting up the walls.
Install the rst section. Install in alphabet-
ical order according to the layout diagram.
Keep even with the edge of the oor as
shown. Push siding in against the oor
with your foot. fasten with 2 1/2” screws.
Fasten the other side of the wall.
Install the next section. Be sure to keep the top edge even as
shown. Fasten together at the joint.
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Gingerbread Cottage
Manual
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 3
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Finish with your last section. This is an
8x10 shown. Refer to the layout diagram
for your size.
Keep the top even and fasten at the joint
and at the bottom plate into the oor.
Install the wall on the other side in the
same manner.
Install the front panel. Again keep even on
the top.
Fasten together. Make sure the wall is
pushed in against the oor.
Install block panel above the child door.
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Construction Manual © 2007—2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 4
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Be sure to keep top even with the rest of
the wall. Screw together as shown.
Install the next panel.
Make sure the child door opening measures 20” from
the 2x3 to the 2x3 (not doorstop). If this is different
adjust it until they are the same. You may have to
loosen the outside walls and move them slightly.
Install the panel beside the adult door.
Fasten corners together. Install the next panel beside the adult door. The
measurement between this door frame should
be 34”. If it is not make the same adjustments
as with the child door.
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Fasten the gable tops for above the adult door.
Note: where the square is to show where it
needs to be kept straight. Also note the way
the siding is running.
Fasten together in the center.
Fasten the truss at the top. Fasten the trim together. The top is kept
loose during construction so it is easier to
match up.
Install this on top of the panels beside the
door.
Make sure it is even by the edge of the
door and fasten.
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Do the same thing on the other side of the
door and fasten.
In combination with this, measure in 5
1/2” from the outside edge. The inside
wall to the outside edge of the truss should
measure 5 1/2”.
Install (3) 2x3x36” pieces over the top of
the door and sides of the joints. This will
provide strength for the door. Keep even
with the edge of the door.
Install 4 screws over joints as shown.
Assemble the gable top next. Us the same
method as the previous top.
Install this on the top of the wall.
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Fasten on the inside. Keep even as shown
with speed square. Fasten on the inside, be sure to measure 5
1/2” like the other gable top.
Install one side of the 2x6 with attached trim. Be sure
to use the correct pieces. You should lay the pieces
together and match them up with x’s and o’s. You can
lay them upside down to match up.
Install other side of 2x6.
Install the last piece of 2x6. Please note
that you should look at the layout diagram
for your size playhouse. This is an 8x10
shown.
fasten each block underneath. This will
provide strength. On the 8x12 you will
need to install one of the blocks over the
joint.
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Construction Manual © 2007 –2008Little Cottage Co. Page 8
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Put truss angles together. Note: Make sure you match
the correct angles together! You can also check to see
if you have the correct angle by holding them up to the
truss on a gable top.
Fasten gusset on the side. keep even at the top
points as shown with the speed square. Make
sure the gusset does not stick out past the truss or
the roong will not t.
Turn truss to the other side and fasten
gusset on the other side. Do this to all the
trusses.
Install the trusses in the pre marked spots. You may have to
pull them to the correct position. This is from not fastening
the gussets correctly (a gap in the top peak). It could also be
a bowing wall or other factors. If there is a great distance
you may have used the wrong angle when fastening.
The truss edge will only come to the edge
of the 2x6. It will not go over the trim.
Fasten the trusses from underneath through
the 2x6.
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Fasten the rst sheet of OSB sheeting. It will start at the
edge of the end wall truss. There will be a 1/2” gap between
the OSB and 2x2. Fasten only at the bottom for the time be-
ing. You can use the black headed screws for this.
Stand or otherwise press down the OSB
onto the truss. Fasten at the top by the
gable edge. This is necessary to form the
curve in the roof.
Note: the 1/2” gap between the 2x2 and the
OSB.
Measure over to the truss to get the correct spac-
ing on the top. It should be 2’ OC or to the cen-
ter of the truss. You can check this by measuring
the truss spacing on the 2x6. The spacing should
match from bottom to the top at the top.
Note: the gap in the OSB and the truss.
You can press this down with your weight.
Once you have pressed it down onto the truss
fasten with 2 1/2” screws. Use 3 screws roughly
6” apart. These longer screws will hold more
that the 1 1/4” black head screws. Use the lon-
ger screws in the middle where there is the most
pressure.
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Construction Manual © 2007 –2008Little Cottage Co. Page 10
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Continue with the rest of the roof. Next do the top part of the roof.
Finish the top part. Install drip edge only on the bottom edge
of the rook.
Once you have done this install a starter
strip of shingles and continue as shown.
Refer to instructions on shingle pack for
more detail.
Install small piece of siding beneath the
child door and the adult door. Keep even
with the oor.
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Place spacer bar by the edge. This will
provide the correct spacing when installing
the door.
Place the door on the space bar. Fasten
using only one screw per hinge. This way
if you need to make adjustments you will
not have to undo all the screws.
Next install the top door piece. Try to center
the door between the top trim piece and the
bottom door. If both doors work well, install
the rest of the screws and remove spacer bar.
You are now ready to install 3 door pulls
and a turner knob.
Fasten spacer bar with screw. This will
keep it from sliding while installing the
door. After you are done installing the
door remove the spacer bar.
Now install the top door trim on the adult
door.
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Construction Manual © 2007 –2008Little Cottage Co. Page 12
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Install the bottom door with the same
instructions as the small door.
Install the top section of the door, center-
ing it between the top door trim and the
bottom half of the door. Install the latch.
Insert the Plexiglas heart window and
install the heart window frame.
Next, install the gingerbread trim around
the side of the windows.
Install the top of the window trim a and the
window box.
Install the top of the window trim and the
window box.
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Manual
Construction Manual © 2007 -2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 13
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Install the gingerbread trim on the outside
corner of the building. Keep the rst part
even with the siding.
Next install second part of the outside
corner. Keep this even with the edge of
the rst part of the trim.
Your playhouse is now ready for paint,
play, and many years of memories!
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Gingerbread Cottage
Manual
Construction Manual © 2007 -2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 14
Thank you for purchasing from Little Cottage Co. We started this business in
our small garage in 1999. We hope you enjoy your building for many years to
come ! Once you have your building completed, you can enter our photo con-
test. WE give the winner of the contest $200. This is a yearly contest which
continues past the year in which you purchased your building. Just send us a
picture of your building either by e-mail or mail, along with permission to use
your picture and comments for advertising;
[email protected] or PO Box 455 Berlin, OH 44610.
Thanks Again from the Schlabach family and everyone at Little Cottage Co.
Pictured: 8x12 Gingerbread Cottage with optional chimney
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