Plans for a new build

[WakoNako]

So my snakes are growing. Growing big and fast. Its time for a new house.

Considering I have a new house, I figure they both deserve some new digs to.

Right now its only in the plan stage until finances are better (im getting married next month, the fiancee needs a new car after totaling hers tonight etc...).

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg83/qakonako/Snake%20Enclosure/basecabinet.jpg

I'm going to start by building a base cabinet approximately 6' 6" x 2' and approximately 3' high. The corners will most likely be made of 4"x4" wood for strength and it'll be covered in 1/2" pine that I'll stain.

The cage(s) will be 6' long in total and just over 18" wide and 12" high. There'll be a divider in the middle making each cage 3'x18"x12". They too will be built out of pine, then stained and sealed for protection. The doors will be made from plexi and pine.

On the back wall of each cage, I will add texture using pieces of wood and then covering it in grout. I may do the same on all sides, i'm not sure yet.

The floor will be tile with a 11" x12" piece of flexwatt for UTH in each.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[marvelfreak]

Sound really good to me just one thing "Pine". I would use something else for the cage. Pine and cedar are toxic to snake. Even with sealing it i still would chance it. What kind of snake do you have?

PS sorry to her about your fiancee car getting total i hope she ok.

[Marica]

Out of the safer woods birch is probably your cheapest compared to maple and oak, though it depends on what kind of grain your looking for in the wood esp. if your staining.

[Freebody]

you can just use wood decore malemine and seal all the edges with a non toxic sylicone for bathroom use like i did :) then you dont need to stain and seal the hell out of the wood :P all in all its the cheepest way to go. gl

[percey39]

As long as you seal and paint/stain it you will be fine. I have used pine in reinforcers in my new tanks but i painted it with two covers of undercoat, 3 covers of black and tehn 2 coats of a clear waterproof sealant. So there is no way the snake will be affected by the use of pine.

[WakoNako]

I know the pine will be fine. I can't find a cheap enough supply of melamine unfortunately, i don't like the look of it anyway. Stained grain wood looks nice.

I have found Aspen sheets I can use though, or I might use MDF.

[percey39]

MDF is a material that needs a lot of work to make it resistant to moisture, especially if you keep tropical snakes.

[WakoNako]

I keep Ball Pythons, but I know I could make it resistant by first painting it with a primer called PrepRight, its used for sealing and bonding.
I can then use tile grout to go over than which would seal and and texture. The only downside will be the added weight.