Little Cottage Victorian Playhouse User manual

Little Cottage Co.
PO Box 455
Berlin, OH 44610
330-893-4212
www.cottagekits.com
© 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co.
Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
®
Tools Needed:
-Cordless Drill (12V or higher)
-#2 Square Drive Bit
-Hammer
-6’ Step Ladder
-Tape Measure
-Square utility knife
w/ blade & hook blade
-Speed Square

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 1
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Lay (2) 4x4 flooring sections side by side.
Make sure it is on a level area.
Make sure the plywood is even before
fastening! If it is not you will have an
uneven floor.
Screw the sections together. Put one screw
towards the plywood, and the other toward the
top. Put 4 screws on each side roughly 8”-10”
apart.
Next add additional sections. Note: 8x8 floor
will be larger.
Again, make sure the plywood is even or you
will have an uneven floor.
Fasten these in the same manner. Space
screws in sets of two 8”-10” apart.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 2
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This shows optional 4x4 runners, you will need three in order
to have one under the joint. If you use only 2 the floor will sag.
Note: these aid in moving the building later, but are optional, unless
you are adding the deck & rail, then you MUST add them or the
child door will not clear the deck.
Turn the floor on the back with the plywood
facing up. Make certain the ground is level
where the floor sets or you may have problems
with the panels or roof.
Install section A. make sure it is even with the edge of the floor.
Push the wall in as shown so the siding is
against the floor. Fasten the panel to the floor.
Install header block B.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 3
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Fasten, make sure it is even on top. Install panel C onto the header block.
Measure from 2x3 to 2x3 in the doorway. not
from the door stops. This should measure 20”.
Fasten panel C.
Fasten front of the header block. Note: the edge on panel D. Panel E’s edge
will fit over panel D.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 4
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Fasten this panel. Install panel E to panel D.
Fasten onto the floor. Install panel F. Keep top even with the other
panel.
Keep the siding in against the floor Install panel G, keep level with the other
panel.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 5
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The edge of panel G will fit over panel F. Make sure these are even, and fasten on top.
Note: If your floor is uneven, it may start to
show up here.
Fasten on the bottom. Fasten 1 screw approximately 8”-10” apart
from each other.
Fasten panels H&I to each other. Make sure
they are even on the bottom. Fasten. Piece
may bow slightly, this can be made straight in
the following steps.
Fasten the top together.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 6
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Push in the top of the gingerbread together and
fasten.
Install these on top of panels G&F.
Align, mark by the edge of the 2x3 and put a
screw in to hold in place. Note: If there is no
mark you can measure in 5.5” and make your
own mark.
Have someone push the trim in against the
siding. This will take the bow out of the top
piece.
While the other person pushes from the outside,
fasten on the inside. Put screws on either side
of the splice. Do this on both splices.
Install panel J.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 7
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Install panel K. Next fasten panels L&M together. Note keep
the edge even. This will be the top of the door
so this is very important.
Put these on top of panels J & K. Keep the edge of the door frame even and push
in trim against the siding.
Do the same thing on the other side of the door. Install (3) 2x3x36” pieces over top of the door
and sides over joints. This will provide strength
for the door. Keep even with the edge of the
door.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 8
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Install screws over the joints as shown. Install 2x6 gingerbread, match sets of 3 with
numbers on the pieces.
Install the other side. Next install the center piece.
Note: the speed square will keep these edges
even. Fasten, be sure to use enough screws.
Fasten the 1x3 to the center section using black
screws. This will straighten the 2x6 and make
it stronger.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 9
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Put the truss angles together. Note: 8x6 angles
are the same, but you will need to match the
correct 8x8 angles that match the truss scabs.
Do not use the rear truss it is slightly shorter.
Fasten the truss scabs, keep top even. Install
one scab on either side of the truss.
Install the trusses in the premarked spots. Place
them to the edge of the 2x6 as the picture
shows, not on the gingerbread.
Install dormer piece. Keep gingerbread even
in the front.
Fasten the dormer. Fasten the dormer on the inside.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 10
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Fasten 2 pieces together to form a T-bar. Use
premarked center to make sure it is centered.
Make sure to use the correct pieces.
Slide the T-bar piece on top of the dormer, and
in between trusses.
Slide to the front against the gingerbread and
fasten.
Center the T-bar on the trusses and fasten.
Install the rear truss centered between the
trusses and on the T-bar.
Now fasten the rear truss.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 11
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Put 4x4 piece of OSB on trusses. Fasten only
on the bottom outside corners. Use black
headed screws.
Install the next piece of OSB.
Fasten only on the bottom outside edges. VERY IMPORTANT: Center the OSB on the
rear truss. A mistake here will throw the whole
roof off!
Once centered as the picture shows fasten. The
rear truss must be in the center of the overall
building.
Then fasten onto the edgewall truss. Note the
gap between the 2x2 and OSB. The picture
shows as it should look. Then fasten onto the
rest of the truss.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 12
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Install the top 2 sheets. Install the front dormer
piece.
Fasten this piece on the bottom.
There should be a gap between the 2x2 and
OSB like there was on the back side.
Install the front piece of OSB with angle cut.
Note: see how it “shoot’s up” into the corner
of the T-bar.
Next install the top piece.
Install the dormer piece and fasten. Then re-
peat the steps on the other side of the dormer.
These are the V-channel roof braces.

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6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 13
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Have someone hold these in place from the
inside. Make sure all 3 pieces of OSB are
included with the correct angle of the V-brace
to the top of the roof.
Fasten using black headed screws from the top.
Next install the dripedge, purchased at a local
home improvement store.
Next cut the tabs off of the shingles and install
a strter strip. Use 3/4” roofing nails.
Install more shingles allowing them to go up
the dormer as pictured.
When you have installed the shingles up one
side, snap a chalk line down the cneter of the
valley.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 14
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Install the shingles on the dormer side, then use
the hook knife to cut the excess shingles. Do
not cut into the next layer of shingles. Do this
on both sides.
Next shingle the back side.
Cut pieces for the ridge cap. See instructions on the
shingle package. A regular utility knife will work
good to cut this, cut the shingles from the back side.
Then install on the top using 7/8” roofing nails.
When you reach the center make the cuts as
the picture shows.
Install more ridge caps making cuts as needed. Cut a ridge cap with a rounded edge as
pictured and install.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 15
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Finish the ridge cap with the tab as pictured. Install the small pieces of siding beneath the
door.
Place the provided spacer bar by edge. Place the door on the spacer bar. Fasten us-
ing only one screw per hinge. This way if
adjustments are needed you will not have to
undo all of the screws.
Next install the top door piece. Try to center
the door between the header block and the bot-
tom door. If both doors work well, install the
rest of the screw and remove the spacer bar.
Install the 3 door pulls and turner knob.

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6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 16
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Install the top door piece on the large door. Install the siding beneath the door and put the
spacer bar on top. You may have to screw it in
place to keep it from sliding away since it is a
larger door.
Measure 34” between the door. You may
have to loosen back wall slightly to obtain this
measurement. Install the top of the door, centering
between the top door trim and the bottom half of
the door.
Install the latch.
Install the shutters, then the top of the window
and the flowerboxes.
Install the heart window using the small OSB
strips. Then install the corner trim using small
white nails. Be careful to not “wrinkle” the
corners when installing.

Victorian Playhouse Manual
6x8 and 8x8
Construction Manual © 2007-2008 Little Cottage Co. Page 17
Thank you for purchasing from Little Cottage Co.
We appreciate your business and hope that you enjoy your
building for years to come!!!
If you have any questions or comments please contact us at
330-893-4212
or
[email protected]