Before you choose this build

These are the outside dimensions of two adjacent 48-inch framed cubes. Trays rest on the approved supporting floor. Paired bottom rails create a central threshold, so this is not an uninterrupted 96-inch floor or a deep-substrate retaining structure.

Before you start

  • Choose this arrangement when the shell must pass through a doorway in separate sections. Measure the entire delivery route and confirm that each finished module can actually pass through it.
  • An independent assessment must establish floor support, any required anchorage, expected furnishings and the suitability of the smaller usable interior for the intended animal. Timber dimensions do not establish a load rating.
  • Use straight stock measuring 1.5 inches square. All panel clearances assume that actual size. Select panel thickness, movement allowances and accessible-surface compatibility with its supplier before cutting.

This is an original construction guide assembled from the references below. This exact project has not been physically built or independently load-tested by The Creature Corner. Follow the current instructions for the products you buy.

Tools

  • Tape, square and diagonal-measuring tape
  • Saw with a fence, clamps and deburring tools
  • Drill, depth stop and countersink
  • Socket tools and torque guidance for selected hardware
  • Level, independent environmental instruments and appropriate PPE

Materials and supplies

Framing timber
23 lengths
Actual 1.5 × 1.5 × 96 inches, dry untreated stock; includes allowance for blocking and cutting losses.
Replaceable wall and roof sheet
3 sheets plus one 48 × 24-inch piece
48 × 96-inch sheets of supplier-approved nominal 0.25-inch rigid panel; mechanically captured, with no claimed structural diaphragm capacity.
Floor trays
2
Manufactured removable trays no larger than 44.75 × 44.75 inches externally; assess material, wall height and actual internal area.
Door infill and vent mesh
4 door sets and 4 vent cassettes
Supplier-sized glazing or welded mesh, with aperture and wire diameter selected for the animal and protected edges.
Joining bolts
10 sets
Bolts, broad washers and locking nuts suited to paired 1.5-inch members; select diameter, edge distances and finished length with the hardware supplier.
Door hardware
12 hinges and 8 positive latches
Three hinges and two inaccessible or lockable latches per door, compatible with actual frame thickness.
Frame and lining hardware
210 feet each of removable bead and fixed stop; 1 scheduled connector and gasket set
Matched timber connectors and corner plates, compatible gaskets and screws; bead allowance includes split rear, ends, roofs, sills, divided doors and small vents.
Threshold cover and timber finish
1 cover and 1 calculated coating kit
Smooth removable cover measured after joining; compatible finish used at manufacturer coverage and cure conditions.

Measured parts

Dimensions use inches unless stated otherwise. Confirm the actual material thickness, joint layout and delivered hardware before cutting. Allow for the saw kerf, the material removed by each cut.

Ring long rails
Quantity: 8 · 48 × 1.5 × 1.5 in
Four per module, running the full outside width.
Ring end rails
Quantity: 8 · 45 × 1.5 × 1.5 in
Butt between long rails to make 48-inch square rings.
Uprights
Quantity: 12 · 45 × 1.5 × 1.5 in
Four corners plus front and rear center posts in each module.
Front sill rails
Quantity: 4 · 21.75 × 1.5 × 1.5 in
Two per module, between front corner and center posts.
Door stiles
Quantity: 8 · 35.75 × 1.5 × 1.5 in
Full door height.
Door crossrails
Quantity: 12 · 18.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 in
Three between each pair of stiles; completed door width 21.5 inches.
Outer-end and roof panels
Quantity: 4 · 44.75 × 44.75 in
Two of each; nominal 0.125-inch perimeter gaps in 45-inch openings, adjusted to selected material movement.
Sill panels
Quantity: 4 · 21.5 × 7.25 in
Captured within the 21.75 × 7.5-inch lower openings.
Rear panels
Quantity: 4 · 21.5 x 44.75 in
Two per module, one each side of the rear center post; fit 21.75 x 45-inch openings.

Step 1 of 14

Set the support and service plan

Mark a level 96 × 48-inch footprint on the approved floor and leave working room in front of all four doors. Locate external equipment and the route for removing each tray. Include water, substrate and furnishings in the support assessment. Resolve anchorage and room moisture control before ordering materials.

Step 2 of 14

Prepare and label the stock

Measure the actual timber, reject twisted pieces and cut matched parts together. Label each module and its front, rear and joining end. Allow for saw kerf when nesting cuts. Sand accessible edges and drill connector pilot holes to the hardware manufacturer's dimensions rather than relying on screws driven without preparation.

Step 3 of 14

Assemble four square rings

Place two 45-inch rails between two 48-inch rails for every ring. Clamp on a flat surface and compare diagonals before fastening with the selected timber connectors. Check that each ring is 48 inches in both directions. Fit corner plates where the connector schedule requires them; decorative paneling is not a substitute for joint restraint.

Step 4 of 14

Stand the modules separately

Fit 45-inch corner uprights between a lower and upper ring. Add front and rear center posts, producing two 21.75-inch front openings. Brace temporarily while checking plumb, then complete the specified corner connections. The two 1.5-inch rings and 45-inch uprights produce the stated 48-inch outside height.

Step 5 of 14

Install the front sills

Set the top of each sill rail 9 inches above the top of the lower ring. This leaves 7.5 inches below the sill rail and a 36-inch opening above it. Fasten both rail ends to the posts. Test the four small sill panels with their gaskets and removable beads before applying the timber finish.

Step 6 of 14

Dry-fit the joining faces

Place the modules together with their open ends facing. Clamp the paired front and rear posts and the paired upper and lower end rails. Confirm that both bases remain fully seated without pulling a twisted frame straight with bolts. Mark three bolts on each paired post and two on each paired horizontal rail, keeping supplier-required edge distances.

Step 7 of 14

Finish the timber off the floor

Finish all timber faces, ends and drilled areas using the selected product's complete procedure. Allow its specified service cure before installing liners and gaskets.

Step 8 of 14

Fit the removable wall panels

Fit separate rear panels on either side of each rear center post, then the outer-end panels. Capture sheets within the frame depth between compatible gaskets, fixed stops and removable beads. Preserve documented expansion space and cover screw points. The joining ends remain open; no central wall is included.

Step 9 of 14

Make and hang four doors

Assemble each 21.5 × 35.75-inch door from two stiles and three crossrails. Fit its infill using the panel supplier's glazing method. Hang within a 21.75 × 36-inch opening, leaving nominal 0.125-inch reveals. Install three hinges and two positive latches per door, then check clearances throughout the full swing.

Step 10 of 14

Join the finished modules

Return both modules to their marked positions and install all ten bolt sets. Use washers and tighten to the selected hardware requirements without crushing timber. Cover accessible threads. Retain accessible bolt heads for later disassembly. Record that separation requires an empty enclosure and removal of any fittings bridging the joint.

Step 11 of 14

Install trays and the threshold cover

Set each tray directly on the approved floor inside its 45-inch square opening. The paired lower end rails form a 3-inch-wide, 1.5-inch-high central threshold. Fit a smooth removable cover that cannot shift or create a trapping gap. If the animal needs ramps, obtain an appropriate supported design and include its occupied footprint in the suitability review.

Step 12 of 14

Provide ventilation and cable exits

Fit removable low and high vent cassettes in both modules, with all mesh edges captured. Their area must come from the ventilation and husbandry plan, not an assumed universal ratio. Use rigidly retained cable glands or protected pass-through plates, keeping any remaining gap below the animal's assessed escape limit.

Step 13 of 14

Fit the roof and equipment

Install the two captured roof panels or specified mesh cassettes so they can be serviced without disturbing the joining bolts. Support lamps, branches and heavy equipment independently as their instructions require. Keep heat sources clear of timber and plastic. Use supplied electrical equipment according to its installation instructions without modifying mains wiring.

Step 14 of 14

Commission both halves together

Run the complete furnished enclosure without an animal through repeated environmental cycles and a cleaning trial. Measure conditions in each half and around the center threshold. Remove and refit every service component. Investigate movement, moisture behind panels, difficult latches or differences between halves before deciding whether the project meets the separate care plan.

Final construction checks

  • Record outside dimensions, actual tray interiors and threshold geometry. Verify every joining bolt and latch is accessible for inspection but inaccessible to the animal.
  • Confirm the loaded support arrangement remains as assessed; these instructions provide no numerical load capacity.
  • Test all four doors, vent cassettes and equipment shutoffs with the enclosure empty.

Before introducing an animal

  • Measure conditions in both halves and around the center threshold with the final furnishings installed. Resolve differences or unmet requirements against the separate care plan.
  • Use the exact animal’s care guide to select the heating, lighting and furnishings. Run the complete setup, record measurements at the places the animal will use and resolve any unmet requirements before move-in.

Review your preparation checklist

Maintain and inspect the enclosure

  • Inspect joint bolts, door reveals and the center cover after cleaning and seasonal movement. Stop use if a frame or supporting surface changes shape.
  • Remove trays periodically to inspect concealed timber and the room floor. Replace damaged panels and gaskets using the documented original materials.

Limitations and decisions to resolve

  • No stacking, climbing on the roof, deep substrate bank or large water feature is included.
  • This shell does not establish suitability for any species or certify structural capacity. Moving or separating it requires complete unloading and secure temporary animal housing.

Sources and product instructions

These references support the specific methods and limitations listed. They do not certify this combined project or its suitability for a particular animal.

Writing is original; follow the linked source for its complete instructions.

Report a construction correction

Before you call it finished

Review the project’s final checks and compare the finished setup with the needs identified during your care research. Return to your preparation checklist and resolve anything that remains before introducing an animal.

Return to my checklistFind the species care guidePlan an enclosureShare your completed build