Last week I was asked to build a custom platform for a small pet. The platform was to be flush with the windowsill, allowing the dog to see outside. Steps would also be needed, made to a rise and run appropriate for a small sized, friendly beast.
I hadn’t done anything comparable to this before, but it seemed a pretty easy project so I said I’d do it. I spent a couple hours scratching my head and ruining wood, not quite able to attain the clarity I expected to come more easily. The first attempt, which didn’t get too far before a moment of eureka spared me, was ill conceived but brief.
As simple as such projects are, experience, at least with similar things really helps. The only thing similar that I built previously was a few sets of stairs only 2, 3, and 4 steps high, and I used 2×12 lumber. This was smaller and would be supporting much less weight than a proper set of stairs or platform.
Once I got the right idea, things moved along well enough. Above is the almost finished version. The platform comprised 2x4s and plywood, with a 2×4 ripped to make the 2×2 crossmembers between the legs. The legs, made of cheap but still expensive pine, were tapered for aesthetics, with slider shoes on the bottoms. For the stairs, I used a mixture of 2×4 and 1×4 for the… stringer function, with one extra 2×4 as a support beam.
I was reminded that the platform portion would need some kind of railing to prevent slips or falls. Struggling to conceive an elegant solution made of scrap wood, I went with a dowel method, as can be seen below. I then used a white stain to finish the project before making the delivery to the new user.
For a first project of its kind, it came out well. Despite the supportive lumber being cheap, it was surprisingly expensive. The end results are adequately sturdy, with the stairs being the sturdiest, but platform surprisingly light and stable. It works well and for what it is, isn’t ugly.
However, without a dedicated shop and buying lumber in bulk, this would be a good way to earn minimum wage, as the cost (and time if you’re an amateur) make it a less than lucrative source of income. But I enjoy building things and making happier people and pets. I expect more projects to come along and when I can, I will build them.