In the Dog House: How to Build One

Building a nice dog house takes a minimal amount of time and the right building tools. If you would like to build your dog a nice quality dog house, here is a step-by-step guide to get you started:

First, you will need to acquire all the necessary tools. Some tools you may have around your home while you will need to pick up others from the hardware store. You will need the following tools:

· Shingle utility knife
· Roofing shingles
· Roofing nails
· Hammer
· Regular nails
· Plywood
· Pressure-treated lumber
· Table saw or circular saw
· Tape measure
· Pen or pencil

Begin building the dog house by constructing the base first. Determine how big you would like the dog house to be and create a square base frame using four 2x6 boards that are nailed together at the ends. Now, cute a ½'' thick piece of plywood flooring sheet to fit over the frame. Be sure to make the plywood flush with the base edges. Nail the plywood to the frame along each side to complete the base. Construct the walls of the dog house with 2x4 studs and ½'' thick plywood sheet. You will need to cut all the studs to size and form 3 square frames. The back wall will need to be 2 inches off center, to allow easier access for securing the roof. Now, nail the ½'' thick plywood sheets to the outside of the frames and make sure each is flush with the edges of its frame. Stand each wall upright and nail it into place through the bottom wall frame and use nails to secure each corner. Your framed dog house is now ready for walls, a roof, and other finishing touches.

The walls of your dog house need to include an entrance for your dog that is large enough for the dog to easily get in and out of their house. Measure your dog's height and width and create a door opening to accommodate them. A golden retriever would need about a 1-1/2'x 2' door opening. Attach a ½'' plywood sheet to the outside of the frame and make sure it is flush with the edges. Once you have attached all the walls, you will need to cut a sole plate to fit inside the bottom edge of the entrance.

The construction of the roof is perhaps the most delicate of all the dog house construction. The dog house is meant to keep your dog out of the cold in a warm environment. If you construct a leaky roof, you didn't succeed. The struts, ridge boards, and rafters all need to be cut from 2x4s. A typically roof height is about a 45 degree angle. Center the roof front strut on the top edge of the wall frame and nail it into place from the underside of the frame. Follow the same procedure for the back strut. If you are installing an overhang, you will need to decide how big you would like it to be and cut the ridge board to the length of the dog houses' depth. Position it on the struts and nail it into place. You will need to cut about 6 rafters to place the roof. Use the corner of the dog house to help you make the rafters fit snugly over the top of each wall. Secure the bottom of each rafter to the area where the frame and the notch meet. Cover the roof with ½'' plywood sheet. Fill in the front and back roof openings with triangular plywood sheets.

All that is left from here is to place your roofing shingles, paint, and decorate the dog house.

Price: dog house, build a dog house, tools, plywood, roof, walls, base, framed dog house

More products like this one: Build a Dog House    

« In the Dog House: Tips for the Beginner | Only Dog Beds | In the Dog House: Where to Find Instructions for Building »