Dog House Plans 14

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NG : Dogs : Building a Doghouse : DIY Network http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lp_dogs/article/0,2041,DIY_14

22/02/2007

Take care of your outdoor pet by

building a high-quality doghouse.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

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BUILDING A DOGHOUSE

From "DIY Home Repair & Remodeling"

episode DIR-159

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Dogs are considered man's best friend, but we don't always treat them that way. Why

not show your love by building a doghouse the neighbors (or at least the neighbors'

dogs) would envy?

Materials:

Hammer

Shingle utility knife

Roofing nails

Nails

Pressure-treated lumber

Plywood

Roofing shingles

Table or circular saw

Tape measure

Pen or pencil

To determine the size of the doghouse, first assess the dog's size, and decide

how much space he or she will need.

1.

Now create a square base frame, using four 2" by 6" boards nailed together at

the ends (figure A).

2.

Cut 1/2" plywood to fit over the frame, making sure it's flush with the frame's

edges (figure B). To make the job simpler, you might want to paint the

plywood sheet now.

3.

To complete the base, nail the plywood to the frame along each side. For best

results, use a power nailer to secure all sections of the doghouse.

4.

Construct the wall frames with 2" by 4" studs. Cut the studs to the appropriate

length, and dry-fit the frames. When you're sure they're the right size, nail

them together. The side and rear walls should have a center stud for the best

support. On the rear wall, the center stud should be about 2" off-center to

allow easy access for securing the roof strut (figure C).

5.

Nail the 1/2" plywood to the outside of the frames, making sure the edges are

flush (figure D).

6.

Dry-fit the finished walls, and nail them in place through the bottom of the

wall frame (figure E). Toenail each corner for added stability.

7.

Because the entrance to the doghouse is centered in the front panel, the frame

of the front wall has no center stud. The entrance should be large enough to

allow plenty of room for the dog to pass through (figure F).

8.

Now it's time to attach a roof. The struts, ridge board and rafters will be cut

from 2" by 4" boards. The height of the roof struts will depend on the desired

roof pitch. You might want to set your pitch at 45 degrees, which means the

ends of all rafters are also cut at 45 degrees.

9.

Center the front roof strut on the top edge of the wall frame, and nail it in

place from the underside of the frame. Toenail the strut for reinforcement

(figure G).

10.

Center the rear roof strut on the top of the back wall frame, and nail it in place

in the same manner.

11.

Decide how much overhang you want on the front and back. Cut the top ridge

board to the length of the doghouse plus the amount added for overhang.

12.

Position the ridge board on the struts, and nail it in place (figure H).13.

Cut six rafters (three for each side) to the needed length. The ends of the

rafters will be mitered to the angle determined by the roof pitch. Use the

corner of the doghouse as a template to mark notches on the rafters where

they'll meet the top of the wall frames (figure I) to ensure that they fit snugly

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Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

Figure K

Figure L

Figure M

Figure N

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over the top of each wall.

For best results in attaching the rafters, hold each rafter so it's even with the

ridge board to determine the angle, then cut the boards and nail them in place.

15.

Secure the bottom of each rafter to the wall where its notch meets the wall

frame (figure J).

16.

Cut four 2" by 4" boards (two for each side) to fit horizontally between the

rafters, and nail them into place (figure K). These boards will fill in the gaps

between the overhang and side walls.

17.

Cut 1/2" plywood fascia boards to match the overhang along the sides of the

doghouse. Secure the fascia boards to the bottom ends of rafters with nails.

18.

Cut the overhang rafters. These should be cut from pressure-treated wood and

painted because they'll be exposed to the elements. Nail the overhang rafters

to the ends of the ridge board and side fascia (figure L).

19.

Cover the roof with 1/2" plywood cut to size (figure M

).20. Fill in the front and back roof openings with triangular plywood sheets cut to

fit the space.

21.

Attach shingles to the roof. Consider using 12" gray sheet shingles, which

absorb less heat than darker shingles and thus help keep the doghouse cool in

summer. When installing shingles, always start from the bottom and work up.

22.

Mark a horizontal chalk line 11" from the bottom of the roof edge: the

shingles are 12" in length and should hang over by 1" on the sides.

23.

Make a vertical chalk line 35" from the front edge of the roof: the shingle

sheets are 36" and should hang over 1" on the front.

24.

Draw another vertical line 29" back from the front edge. Having two vertical

lines will establish two "starting points" for the shingle sheets to create offset

rows: odd-numbered rows will start from the 35" mark, even-numbered rows

from the 29" mark.

25.

The first (bottom) row should be two shingles thick. Turn the first layer upside

down so the darker portion of the shingle sheet hangs over the edge (figure

N). The second layer should be positioned right side up, to match all

subsequent rows.

26.

Once all the shingles are nailed in place (figure O), use a utility knife fitted

with a shingle-cutting blade to trim the sides even with the edges of the

plywood roof .

27.

Trim any excess from the top of the roof (figure P). To cover the exposed

ridge board, cut shingle sheets into single shingles (figure Q), and place them

sideways over the apex of the roof so they overlap (figure R). Taper these

single shingles on the back end so that this black area doesn't peek out from

under the shingle on top (figure S).

28.

Cover all nail heads and edges with strips of molding to create a clean,

finished look (figure T). Paint the molding/trim a slightly darker color to add

extra definition, then customize the doghouse by adding a nameplate. To heat

the doghouse in winter, mount a high-wattage bulb on the ceiling (it may be

necessary to run an electric line for this purpose). Heat from the light will help

combat the chill. Add a scrap piece of carpet or a small rug to help your dog

stay warm and comfortable.

29.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:

Saltwater AquariumInstalling a Pet Door

Building a Doghouse

Caring for Pet Birds

Cat Perch


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Figure O

Figure P

Figure Q

Figure R

Figure S

Figure T

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Dog House Plans 14