The first steps in choosing your cubby are to measure your space. Measure out the entire space you are willing to give over to a cubby play area, including some area around the cubby for outside play. Next have a think about your budget.

Once you know the size and a rough idea of budget have a play with the options below and reach out to us - we can put together full packages and make suggestions for your exact space and needs.

Don't forget there are lots of ways you can reduce costs including doing the installation yourself or painting. Assembling our products is pretty easy, so why not task your staff or a gather a working bee!

WHERE CAN YOU INSTALL A CUBBY HOUSE? 

You can install a cubby house on most surfaces, as long as it is level and well drained.
The cubby base has 3 long legs, approx 10cm high. This means that on dirt, mulch, toppings and some small stoned surfaces we can dig the legs in so that the entrance to the cubby is flush with the ground. Otherwise, if you have a paved, concrete or other hard surfaces, as long as it is level we can sit the cubby on top and there will be a small (3 inch) step up into the cubby.

What surface are you installing onto? Follow our tips below for the preparation you will need.

Directly onto dirt/mulch? - Ensure that this dirt area remains mostly dry throughout the year, if when it rains the area drains immediately. If this is the case, as long as the area has been levelled you can install directly onto this surface.

Directly onto grass? - Ensure that the grassed area is very well draining and the ground does not get soggy and stay damp for extended periods. If this is the case you can install on grass, however you will want to place a weed mat barrier to stop grass from growing up into the cubby house, which it will do for a while until the grass dies.

Onto a concrete slab? - Our cubby houses come with a floor (10cm step up) and we do recommend leaving the floor on the cubby if installing onto a concrete slab. Ensure that the concrete slab has been laid properly, it drains water well and that water does not pool in any areas.

Onto an existing decking? - If installing onto an existing decking or a decking you are planning on building, you can install our cubby houses directly onto this without the floor (you can purchase through the site without floors which will reduce the cost). This means you will have a seamless entry. You can always add a floor later if you decide to move the cubby, move house or sell the cubby when your cubby days are done.

OUR BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION

We recommend placing your cubby in a well drained positioned to ensure the longest life of the timber feet. Our footings are made from Cypress pine which is naturally termite and weather resistant, but we still do recommend ensuring that they are not placed directly onto soggy ground.

We recommend you lay approximately 10cm of crushed rock under the cubby house.

If Castle and Cubby are providing the installation service it is our expectation that you will have already prepared the area and that the preparation will be in line with our recommendations.If you would like us to provide the ground preparation service please let us know ahead of our arrival.

You are welcome to pickup your goods from our Bayswater VIC workshop. You will just need to check with us what size vehicle you have to make sure that it can fit.

For deliveries we have multiple options at the checkout stage of your purchase. You can choose a local delivery or for distances further than 100km of our workshops please contact us for a quote. We use a freight agent that seeks the best rates, or we are more than happy to provide the freight measurements for you to organise your own supplier.

Our products are super easy to install for maintenance teams, landscapers, or even a school working bee! If time, tools, and want and desire are working against you, let us sort you out. Our network of installers Australia wide are qualified to install basic cubby houses as well as whole villages and play spaces. Installation costs are unique to each product and size, so if you would like installation please select this with your product on the product page.

What surface can I install my cubby house on?
You can install a cubby house on most surfaces as long as it is well drained. We recommend as best practice to have a 10cm barrier of crushed rock underneath to not only provide a self draining surface but to also provide a very level surface. Refer to our tab for preparation for more information on the types of surfaces and preparation techniques.

Can I pick up my cubby in my car?
None of our cubbies fit in cars. You can see the package dimensions on our Fact Sheets, but in general you will need a ute at minimum, or trailer, van or box truck.

Are the cubbies waterproof?
Our cubbies are not sealed - and we don't want them to be! Airflow is extremely important as moisture will always find a way in, and without airflow this can lead to mould. So while there are some small gaps at the window and door, and under the roof to allow airflow, rain very rarely finds it's way in (unless you have very specifically angled torrential rain!). You can certainly store your cubby toys inside without concern.

My kids are really tall - can you make the cubby taller?
We do offer a 30cm height extension on our Signature Cubbies for a fee (enquire for more details). Our standard internal height is 1500mm (although the roof slopes so it is 1600mm at the taller end) which is often ample height for most cubby-age kids. With additional height we also adjust the door height and window placement to keep it all in proportion, so this can make the window ledges unsuitable for younger kids.

Can I add another window?
Yes! This is not an option online as we like to chat with you about it first, but we can indeed add more windows if you like. Just leave us a message in the Notes section when you place your order, and we will send your edited order back to you to make the additional payment.

Can I add a skylight?
We can upgrade one of your roof panels to a clear panel for a fee. Just leave us a message in the Notes section when you place your order, and we will send your edited order back to you to make the additional payment.

I want to add decking around my cubby, how can I do this?
You can view our decking panels via the Cubby Accessories page in the dropdown menu. There are some example scenarios to help you work out the panels you require and quantities. You can then add to your cart from this page. Send an enquiry if you need some help with your calculations!

I'm confused about the painting options - can I just have a raw cubby and have the accessories painted?
In short, no. You can either purchase a raw cubby (with or without raw accessories) and paint/stain yourself, or if you would like us to paint/stain for you, you need to purchase the full Paint and Accessories Package and then tick the colours you want via the checkboxes.

I can see some recycled timber cubbies and accessories on your Instagram, can I request that?
We no longer use the recycled orchard crates that started our Castle and Cubby journey - they are essentially in very short supply these days! You can however leave your cubby raw for a period to weather and grey off, then when it reaches the stage/age you like you can seal it with clear oil to preserve and protect.

Can I have you paint the cubby in a particular colour to match my house?
We have stock colours that you can select via the checkboxes provided you are purchasing the full Paint and Accessories Package. If you would like a particular colour ordered in, you need to tick the Special Order Fee box and give us the colour name/code in the Notes section at checkout.

I want to paint my cubby myself, what products do you recommend?
We use Haymes Solashield exterior paint, however you can use any exterior paint that you can find readily available at your local hardware. You can also use a decking oil or tinted stain for a natural timber look, while protecting the cubby for years to come.

Can I have an extended verandah on a pitched roof cubby?
No, we can only do an extended verandah on our flat roof cubby houses.

I want to keep my cubby within budget, what are the best ways to save some cash?
The two best things you can do to keep costs down are to DIY install and to DIY paint! Both require more time than skill, and can be a fun way to include the whole family in the build.