If you purchase a real house, you wouldn't think of grabbing the first one you look at. You take your time, chose a house with a style you like, check to see how well it's built, compare prices with other houses for sale in the area, etc.

 

In some respects you should be just as careful when you purchase a dollhouse. Most folks live in more than one real house in their lifetime but many only choose one dollhouse per lifetime. It should be a well-constructed one with a style you really like.

 

 

Not everything comes with your kit. Before you begin, make certain you have the following on hand:

 

There are two basic types of house kits on the market and any number of build-your-own plans, both good and not so good. Because 3/8 inch plywood usually has to be special ordered, building from scratch often does not save much money, although the house that Grandpa built from scratch has its own very special meaning to the recipient. If you want to tackle building from scratch, my advice is to check very carefully to determine the proper size of available, ready-made windows and doors. Unless you wish to invest in a whole new workshop of miniature tools, you really don't want to build your own windows and doors. You will find they will work on your very last nerve before you finish.

 

 

Style is a personal choice and we leave that up to you. Just remember, the more roof lines there are in a kit, the more difficult it will be to assemble, not to mention the more expensive. Still, if your desire is a house of seven gables, line up an extra pair of hands and go for it.

 

Now on to commercial kits.

 

 

The first type of house we'll discuss is the die-cut kit. Some folks like these kits, but I don't. I kept an assembled die-cut cottagein my shop for years until it disentegrated. All I ever had to do was show it to a customer and it was enough to convince them they would prefer a pre-cut kit, even though it might be a bit more expensive.

 

The wood in the die-cut is 1/8 inch thick mahogany, the lowest grade of mahogany. It splinters forever, soaks up paint like a sponge, is too thin to nail, and offers a near zero surface for gluing. Most of these houses are built directly onto the staircase, making them difficult to decorate and almost impossible to re-decorate.

 

 

The best Pre-Cuts are constructed of 3/8 inch, cabinet grade plywood, usually birch.  Some manufacturers may use some 1/4 inch wood in some areas, such as "A" pitch roofs where the structure increases the strength but it should never be used for floors or partitions.

 

The thickness of the wood allows for nailing. This in turn allows you to use wood glue or carpenter's glue, a stronger glue than the quick drying onesrequired for dye-cut kits..

 

All parts are cut, all angles and bevels are accurate in these kits. Most have good, easy to follow  instructions and a "help line" phone number, just in case you have questions about the assembly. In addition, any kit purchased from us comes with our almost 25 years experience behind it. We're only a phone call away..