1. Assemble shell – determine where you would like your partitions, designate rooms, adjust door opening and any other structural changes
2. Prime shell – We use Guesso; it will preserve your wood and help the adhesive strength when gluing wallpaper, siding, floors, etc.
3. Wire dollhouse – Since this can be a dusty and dirty job, it is preferable to install lighting at this time to avoid damaging or smudging the exterior later.  At this step you should also complete ceilings.  You can paint or install ceiling paper.
4. Install wallpaper
5. Install flooring
6. Paint and install baseboards, crown molding, chair rail, wainscot, door and window casings.
7. Paint exterior – May require installation of siding, brick or stucco.
8. Paint exterior windows, railing, doors, porch floors, and ceilings, eaves, and trims.
9. Shingle Roof
10. Install foundation – Can be stucco, brick, flagstone or just paint.
11. Glue on all exterior pieces; glue on rear capping to clean up all rough edges.
12. Touch up painting

White Tacky Glue is a water-based glue, which is sandable and paintable.  Use it for assembling RAW wood houses, room boxes, furniture kits, plastic flooring (ie: tile and linoleums), plastic ceilings and some fabrics (always test patch for color fastness).  Avoid using for hardwood floors because this water-based glue will cause warping of the wood strips and painted woods.  Painted wood will not permit a good bond with this glue.

Omni Stick or Quick Grip is a permanent non-water based glue.  Good for primed/painted wood assembly, window and door trims, crown molding, baseboards, hardwood floors, asphalt shingles, die cut houses (where no nails can be used), attaching light fixtures to ceilings or walls (never Use double faced tape provided with some light fixtures as they will fall over time), clay bricks and siding.

“Yes” Glue is a water-soluble glue with a Vaseline consistency.  Use for wallpapers (including pre-pasted), carpeting, ceiling paper and plastic flooring (a second option to white tacky glue).  When using “Yes” glue for plastic floors, I also recommend using a weight press for a few hours to ensure a tight bond.

Hot Glue is ideal for shingling your house because it sets quickly.  Liquid Nails is also a great option.  Never use hot glue to assemble a dollhouse.  It’s also useful to temporarily tack items such as doors and windows.  Heating the glue with a blow dryer will soften the glue to remove them later.

Mini Hold and Blue Tack is a non-permanent bond used to tack down vases on tables, pictures on wall and other accessories.  Movable glue is also great to use.  It dries clear yet remains tacky and does not leave a residue on your furniture or wall.  Items can be moved hundreds of times without loss of tackiness.

BSI or Zap-a-Gap are forms of super glue and is fantastic to repair broken furniture or for metal-to-metal bonding because it sets up very rapidly.  This is also great product for those necessary mini repairs.

Zip Kicker works with most “Super Glues” or cyanoacrylates, such as BSI or Zap-a-Gap to accelerate drying or curing time.  It also provides extra reassurance that your joint really bonds.

Silicone Glue is a great wire insulator, as well as a temporary “hold” for windows, doors and other items.  It also works well on plastic linoleum or plastic bricks.

Plastic Miniature Cement Solvent is used on acrylics, polystyrene and plastic windows.  It’s a great product for “un-sticking” those difficult plastics.

When you’re assembling a dollhouse kit, it is much easier to prime (both sides, inside and out) first, before assembly.

Before wallpapering a room, spray both sides of the wallpaper with a matte sealer, such as Krylon matte varnish. Two light coats are  the best.

After making an electrical connection with one of those tiny brads, (and making sure it’s a good connection) brush a dab of clear nail polish onto the brad. It acts like glue but won’t damage the wires.

Hot glue does NOT work for assembling dollhouses!