C&C Looking to expand from a 2x4 to 3x5 can I sill do it and have the storage underneath?

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

My girls are growing and I feel they need more room. I'm going to try and make it a 3X5. I have all the materials to do it but wondering how hard it's going to be? I need to have it on the cube base for storage and I have lil dogs. Is it possible?

 

[piggypuppylove]

Yes! I have a 3x5 with storage very similar to yours. Just do it the same way as you did the 2x4 and it should be fine.

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

I'm hoping so.. Lots and lots of zip ties.. Lol I have never scored my own coroplast and my husband took his knife to work with him :-( is there any way I can use my rotary cutter?

 

[Raine59]

I've never tried a rotary cutter but it might work. It looks like your fleece just fits perfectly in your 2 x 4 so are you going to have to get new fleece? I'm planning to upgrade my cage soon too. I have a cage almost identical to yours but on a table. I didn't want to have to completely redo everything so I am going to leave my cage as is but remove the loft. Then I am going to make a 2 x 3 and attach it like a U shape with 1 grid square in between. The 2 x 3 is going to be the kitchen area and I will use wood shavings there (like I do now in the loft) and put the hay/water/food bowls there. But my table won't fit anymore so I will be making a grid stand like yours.

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

I did make the fleece fit.. I am cutting and sewing strips down the center today that way I don't have to redo the corners (I'm cheating!)

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

Oh.. I love it on the grid base! Used a LOT of zip ties so I can move it away fro
The wall if my piggies get a lil crazy with hay and I need to clean. I'm thinking of doing a 2x2 loft but not sure if my short arms can reach underneath.. One of my girls likes to run and hide.. Little stinker!

 

[Raine59]

Agreed that a 2 x 2 loft would be hard to clean under. I have enough trouble just reaching the far corner under my 1 x 2 loft and for some unexplained reason, that is always the messiest corner!!

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

I may end up doing the u shape.. Or a run down the middle.. With a 1x3 at each end... hummm.. Bottom first I suppose.. Lol

 

[piggypuppylove]

It is pretty difficult to reach parts of the cage with a 3x5... at least, it is for me. I would imagine that a loft would make cleaning even more difficult.

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

You have the same size cage I have now! Very cute! I actually cut my liners in half and ran a strip (of the same pattern) down the middle.. Turned and did it the long way too... Turned out pretty good and if I decide the 3 wide is too much I'll just take it apart..eeek.. I can't purchase any mor fleece this week (my husband would freak)! I'll make more but they will work fine for now.. I'm a quilter so it fits pretty well considering.. I may do the 1x3 loft on the ends and a run down the middle.. Still deciding on the top.. Thanks for the info

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

I've made all my girls things too! Yay us!!

 

[jacqueline]

so, i have 3 boars, currently in a 2X5 and am planning to expand to 3X5 this weekend. no i'm a little worried, because it sounds like 3X5 is hard to clean? and since i'm asking (sorry of i'm hijacking this- but my question is on topic!) i have the 2X5 on a 6 foot folding table. i really don't want to do the base of grids. can i just use some plywood on top of the table with the 3x5?

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

I'm sure it will be a little harder to clean.. But I'm going for it! As for the plywood base .. Absolutely..! Just secure it to your grids or I would.. I have a kid and small puppies..

 

[piggypuppylove]

It's really not that bad. Especially if you are using fleece. Sometimes it's a little hard to reach and sweep the middle/back of the cage against the wall... but it's not impossible. I do it everyday and I'm not tall!

Believe me, the extra space is definitely worth the small increase in work.

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

Thank you for saying it isn't that bad! I figured I already spend time cleaning it... So what's a little more stretching .. And maybe some cardio.. Lol I have 3 girl and they are growing so they need room to RUN!!

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

Ok... I did it!! And I LoVE it.. Even better.. My girls are soo happy!!

 

[Raine59]

Wow, what a mansion! Nice job. How do you get the fleece tucked in so nicely along the sides, especially on the side that looks like it's against the wall?

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

I sewed boarders so it folds over the edges.. It is a little large.. But we are pretty happy with the way it turned out.. I did reuse the fleece I had for my 2x4.. I cheated and made strips and sewed them each way down the center.. Fleece can get spendy..

 

[potatoman]

well done! i recently expanded my 2x4 to a 3x4. but spot-cleaning the 3x4 was too tough for me. switched later on to a 2x6. still worked out and easier to sweep.

 

[PeeweesPiggyPalace]

Thank you.. It does take a little extra effort to clean.. But my girls are soo happy it's worth it! I just (half) sit it in to sweep twice a day. They are starting to crawl all over me when it's sweeping time :-)