wilson Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Hi I haven't started to build a dollhouse yet. I am getting conflicting information about decorating. Do I decorate (paint etc) first and then assemble or assemble and then decorate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 It depends on the type of kit you have and if you want to use tapewire. I build my houses first, install the tapewire then deal with any gaps with spackle. Then I know exactly where to place and apply my paper. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inge Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Hi: I built the Harrison first and now almost finished the Garfield. When building the Harrison I put it all together like the instructions said EXCEPT I did not put in the windows until I had made curtains for all the rooms. I thought about it and wondered how I would get the curtains in with the windows in. Glad I did it my way. I did put the inside window trim on though. I then had to make a template of each wall to wallpaper which I thought was a lot of work. Soooooooooooo when building the Garfield I put all the wallpaper on first. I would never do that again. When gluing the outside walls together all the overlap got stuck in between. I allowed 1/4" overlap. It created more work for me as I had to replace a lot of the wallpaper. I was glad I bought rolls of wallpaper from the wallpaper store so I had lots and lots and lots to work with. lol. I also tried to finish as much wallpapering, door trim, baseboard and crown moulding that I could before putting the next floor on. You just have to think about what you can get done befoe gluing it all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted February 11, 2017 Author Share Posted February 11, 2017 Thanks I bought The Laurel. Any suggestions for putting it together as it is my first house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Don't used hot glue. Dry fit everything together before glueing. In other words, put the whole house together using blue tape and cut tabs as needed to get a snug fit. You can prime the wood before glueing but don't prime it before punching the pieces out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 The Laurel I got had been built with hot glue, so it was falling apart; I finished taking it apart and scraped off all the hot glue and rebuilt it with carpenter's wood glue: http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/?app=gallery&module=gallery&controller=browse&album=1103 Because everything that was there was glued in, removing the windows and doors destroyed them, so I made all new ones from mini millwork and basswood (thanks to Hobby Lobby) and flat acetate packaging. I made a bedroom closet, a wall for the bathroom, which also made an upstairs hall, and I had to build the missing porch from scratch; so I used foamboard for both the extra walls and the porch roof. To answer your questions, I dry fit the house with painter's tape (the blue stuff) and traced where I was going to glue wood to wood. When I took it all apart again I cut strips of tape 1/4" wide to mask off the places I wanted to glue and primed the walls & ceiling. I made templates of the floors and used the Greenleaf self-stick tiles & flooring strip downstairs and recycled the surviving ceramic tiles I had scraped off part of the downstairs floor to make the bathroom floor. I put up the walls with the first floor and did the downstairs interior décor. I installed the second floor and walls and did that interior décor and installed the first floor stairs. When I installed the third floor I put in the second floor stairs. Then I installed the doors' and windows' interior trims and built the kitchen bay. Then I did the exterior décor and installed the exterior trims along with the windows & doors; then I added the porch, and finally I installed the roof and shingled. I don't wire my houses for electricity, so you will probably want to take photos of your tape runs/ wiring before you cover them up with wall treatments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 Thanks for the suggestions. What type of paint is best for painting dollhouses. There is a alot of information out there. Some say semi-matt, some say semi-gloss, others say acrilyic from a hobby store can be used. I live in an apartment so I dont have paint sitting around from painting a regular house and I want it to be inexpensive. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 I use flat or eggshell finish interior latex paint in the 4-ounce sample pots from the hardware store. If I have a lot of exterior area to cover I mix it with some of the quart of flat white interior latex paint I use for primer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Flat or satin craft paints are fine. Keep in mind painting usually requires a thin coat of drywall mud first to eliminate the wood grain. Wait 24 hours to dry. Then a lot of sanding with a sanding sponge to make it smooth. I sand outside. Then primer, then dry for a few hours because the primer will moisten the drywall mud. Then paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Ann Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 On 2/11/2017, 11:29:16, Inge said: Hi: I built the Harrison first and now almost finished the Garfield. When building the Harrison I put it all together like the instructions said EXCEPT I did not put in the windows until I had made curtains for all the rooms. I thought about it and wondered how I would get the curtains in with the windows in. Glad I did it my way. I did put the inside window trim on though. I then had to make a template of each wall to wallpaper which I thought was a lot of work. Soooooooooooo when building the Garfield I put all the wallpaper on first. I would never do that again. When gluing the outside walls together all the overlap got stuck in between. I allowed 1/4" overlap. It created more work for me as I had to replace a lot of the wallpaper. I was glad I bought rolls of wallpaper from the wallpaper store so I had lots and lots and lots to work with. lol. I also tried to finish as much wallpapering, door trim, baseboard and crown moulding that I could before putting the next floor on. You just have to think about what you can get done befoe gluing it all together. I am currently remodeling a Garfield. I thought I would remodel one before building one. Anyways, do you have any guidance when it comes to the steps ? I need new windows, siding, shingles, wall paper. Do I put the windows on first and then siding? Also, what size siding did you use? I took the roof off so I will be using the strip shingles to go a little bit faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 I lay the trims for doors and windows over their openings and trace round them, them set them aside and butt siding strips up to the tracing line. If you use component window & doors, you will likely need to adjust your openings to fit. Also, the replacement component are made to fit 3/8" wood, and the Greenleaf kit wood is 1/8" thick, so for the Garfield you will be OK to bring the siding strips up even with the door & window openings. I really like using the Greenleaf siding strips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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