Building new home for Ralph

DAC8671

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We are in the process of building Ralph a new house. I am wondering about insulation. Is it okay to use insulation that would normally be used for a house? The kind you can just get in a roll at Home Depot? My husband is going to build the house with insulation between the plywood walls. We will have a door, hinged roof, and the whole thing will be shingled. Size will be approx. 4x4x4. Heat fixtures will be inside. What can we coat the plywood with to make it fluid proof on the inside? Would it be recommended to drill drain holes on the floor to make it easier to clean? Or would that defeat the purpose of keeping it warm? We are in San Diego. 27654711_10157010182933056_6538233353233031109_n.jpg 27658115_10157010229188056_6936905591723813033_n.jpg 27971706_10157010229243056_7339212966251605621_n.jpg
 

Yvonne G

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If you use some sort of substrate, you can just pick out the wet substrate with a shovel. I'll let someone else speak to the water proofing as I don't ever worry about that.
 

Big Charlie

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My tortoise's house has the kind of insulation you are talking about. Since it is between two layers of plywood, none of it comes into contact with the tortoise. Some people have put vinyl flooring in their houses to make them easier to clean. If you are using a heat pad on the bottom, like the Kane, it is plastic and fairly easy to clean. I used to pour water in and scrub nearly everyday. Lately I've been just scraping and sweeping out of the poop every day.
 

Dizisdalife

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I live in San Diego too. I used 1 1/2" rigid foam (styrofoam) insulation between plywood panels. Don't forget to insulate the top and bottom of the house. I left the inside unpainted. My sulcata "digs" into the corners so I figured he would dig away any paint that I use. The house has been in use for more than 5 years with no problems. The dimensions of the house are 4' wide x 6' long x 2 feet high. It is heated with an mini oil-filled radiator with a Zilla 1000 watt thermostat.
 

DAC8671

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I live in San Diego too. I used 1 1/2" rigid foam (styrofoam) insulation between plywood panels. Don't forget to insulate the top and bottom of the house. I left the inside unpainted. My sulcata "digs" into the corners so I figured he would dig away any paint that I use. The house has been in use for more than 5 years with no problems. The dimensions of the house are 4' wide x 6' long x 2 feet high. It is heated with an mini oil-filled radiator with a Zilla 1000 watt thermostat.
Do you happen to have pictures?
 

DAC8671

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10 Year Member!
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Aug 9, 2008
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Location (City and/or State)
San Diego CA
My tortoise's house has the kind of insulation you are talking about. Since it is between two layers of plywood, none of it comes into contact with the tortoise. Some people have put vinyl flooring in their houses to make them easier to clean. If you are using a heat pad on the bottom, like the Kane, it is plastic and fairly easy to clean. I used to pour water in and scrub nearly everyday. Lately I've been just scraping and sweeping out of the poop every day.
Do you have any pictures?
 
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