DIY Coroplast for a Loft/Ramps/Kitchen

Mikknu

Mikknu

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Hi guys!

I've just found an awesome new c&c website earlier today. For the price of a 2x5 w/ a lid on the old site, I can get a 2x6 with a lid on this new one! Very exciting, so obviously I'm going with the upgrade.

Though the two websites use the same grids(14" 9x9 grids), in order to cut costs some more and have extra coroplast for expanding, I've decided to buy a single full sheet from the old store to make my half-height lofts+kitchen/litter box.

I would like to know, for anyone who has made a DIY base, what are the best materials for attaching the edges to each other?I'd like to make a 1/2 height loft on either side of the cage, and preferably one will become a hayloft for them to roll around in. Then a kitchen. So something that's going to be closer to waterproof than not? The only thing I've heard about doing DIY bases is to use packing tape.

I figure with all the coroplast that is left over from that, I should be able to make some nice ramps and then attach some carpet tread to them. Is there a good way to do that? The same for attaching sides to a coroplast ramp, is there a way to do that so that they're stable?

I've got some heavy duty scissors, fabric shears, a large box cutter from work(an EasyCut 2000), and a pair of aviator snips. Do you think this will be enough to cut through the coroplast without much trouble?

All advice is appreciated!
 
I used tape to hold the edges together. With the ramp, you can cut it wide enough and score it so there are sides to it. I used carpet tape to attach the carpet tiles to the boys' ramp.
 
Hi- its pretty easy to cut with scissors if not too thick & can be scored to bend sections. I use small cable ties to fix sheets together onto the bars to stop it moving & also used some to create a ramp (you can attach fleece, towel.or thinnish carpet to create a non slip base). I just make sure any cable ties are tucked away to avoid them poking anyone as the ends can be pointy. I use a pencil to poke a hole in the correx/coroplast & feed the ties through...same with material or use tape as recommended above. Works for me anyway!
 
When I use 4mm correx I use basic thick clear cellotape. When I use 2mm correx or if I was very concerned about waterproofing, I use better waterproof gorilla duck (duct?) tape.
 
Awesome! Thank you for the advice everyone. The coroplast is 4mm thick, I just checked @Black piggies

Thank you @Siikibam for the suggestion of using carpet tape and scoring the sides for a ramp.I should be able to that. Is there a certain way to make sure they stand up straight and strong though?

@Darcey15 The cable ties idea sounds especially good for making sure my base and everything is really stable. Thank you!
 
Mikknu said:
Awesome! Thank you for the advice everyone. The coroplast is 4mm thick, I just checked @Black piggies

Thank you @Siikibam for the suggestion of using carpet tape and scoring the sides for a ramp.I should be able to that. Is there a certain way to make sure they stand up straight and strong though?

@Darcey15 The cable ties idea sounds especially good for making sure my base and everything is really stable. Thank you!
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Hmmm not sure! Someone who’s done a correx ramp will be better placed to help you. I used guttering first the boys’ ramp.
 
Lol I cant remember. It was hard to bend the grids. My piggies were too fat for the guttering. My piggies have always stood at the top of the ramp and wee-ed down it so carpet tiles wouldn't be suitable for me.
Have you checked the posts and photos of ramps on the site? If you enter ramp into the search thingie.
 
It was already shaped so bad sides. All I had to do was stick on the carpet tiles and attach it to the floor of the top level. No faffing around with scoring correx and bending it etc.
 
@Black piggies I did look around the ramps area, but it shows pre-made ramps, not how to make them. Glue and screws are used in there. Would those work with 4mm correx? I wasn't really that sure about it. And if it's glue- does any kind work?
 
I'm the worst person to ask about ramp building :))
I'd use waterproof duct tape rather than glue, as my piggies like the occasional chew on correx.
I attach my ramp to the loft with cable ties, I wouldn't use screws myself. So if I was using guttering or correx I'd make holes in the top of it, and attach with cable ties.
 
Ah you maybe need to glue the carpet to the ramp ... :tu:
You can buy fleece tunnels which are to be used on ramps to help them climb up and make them feel secure etc.
 
I would use carpet tape, did the job for me.
 
Alright, I think I know what I'm going to do now. Thank you both so much for your help @Siikibam @Black piggies ! I really do appreciate it. I think that's about all the questions I have, but if I think of any more, I'll be sure to ask.
 
Mikknu said:
@Black piggies What made you give up? And @Siikibam What about guttering works for you?

I don't suppose either of you two know someone who made coroplast ramps? 😅
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Hi- sorry I only just saw this. I made a coroplast/correx ramp. I used 2 C&C wire squares and bent them to form a U shape with a flattish bottom. I used cable ties to connect them together as 1 piece didnt give enough of an angle (to steep). I then measured the correx to make sure it would fill the ramp & lightly scored where the base/sides were going to be. I then connected the top of the ramp to the upper level & secured with ties (and anywhere else I could to secure depending on the design).

Then I used a t-towel to line the base of the ramp using a couple of ties at the top. I.only do this so I can cut it off & replace when it gets dirty but carpet would work just as well 👍 i kind of made it up as I went so just do what works for you.

The only thing I would say is to make sure there are no gaping areas at the top where a piggie could fall off instead of going down the ramp. I used a frosted square & cut an entrance hole out of it (they have nibbled slightly but have lost interest). I have seen smaller pieces of C&C in pictures but I never found any to buy so just improvised.

Not sure if that helps 😂 good luck!
 
Thank you @Darcey15 ! I can see what you did in the photo, and it looks pretty good. I'm not sure I'll have that many extra grids to spare(I'd need 4, and the 4 extra I do have are going towards making the bases for the upper level), but I can easily get more for not that much.

The one thing I've got on my side is that these will only be half grid height, so that won't be dangerous for a a piggy to jump off of, or so I've been told.
 
Mikknu said:
Thank you @Darcey15 ! I can see what you did in the photo, and it looks pretty good. I'm not sure I'll have that many extra grids to spare(I'd need 4, and the 4 extra I do have are going towards making the bases for the upper level), but I can easily get more for not that much.

The one thing I've got on my side is that these will only be half grid height, so that won't be dangerous for a a piggy to jump off of, or so I've been told.
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Good luck! Please post your final masterpiece once its finished! 😊
 
@Darcey15 I will! I'm actually ordering things today in just a couple hours, and I'm very excited! Obviously I've got to wait for things to be shipped still, but it's much sooner rather than later now!
 
Mikknu said:
@Darcey15 I will! I'm actually ordering things today in just a couple hours, and I'm very excited! Obviously I've got to wait for things to be shipped still, but it's much sooner rather than later now!
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Fantastic! Just don't sit there for hours like I did surrounded by all this new stuff wondering where on earth to start 😂 in the end all the measuring went out the window & I just cracked on with it....if it ends up wrong in any way the good thing about it is that you can easily alter it as you go along.
 
Sitting there does sound like me though xD I'm definitely going to open everything and just set it out first, that way I can touch it and look at it. I still have difficulty wrapping my head around how big Guinea Pigs are.
 
Mikknu said:
Sitting there does sound like me though xD I'm definitely going to open everything and just set it out first, that way I can touch it and look at it. I still have difficulty wrapping my head around how big Guinea Pigs are.
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Well if they get stuck in your ramp it's too small 😂😂
 
That's true xD What's the normal width for a ramp?

The sheet of coroplast I'll have to make the ramps out of will be about 29"x48". I'm planning on making two ramps per loft, so I can give each ramp 12 inches including sides. If they're 6 inches wide, the sides of the ramp would be about 3 inches.

I've got a whole bunch of DIY potty pads that are 14"x9" I've decided to line the ramps with. So if they could be less than 9" wide, that would be cool.
 
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