How to Build a Dog House Out of Landscape Timbers

Building a doghouse with landscape timbers is not the most economical way to build a home for your pet, unless you have landscape timbers lying around. But it can lend an old-time aesthetic to your dog's habitat. In essence, the process is akin to building a log home, only on a smaller scale. The most difficult part is cutting the timbers so the door is even and sturdy; beyond that, the process is simple stacking and hammering.

Things You'll Need

  • Landscape timbers
  • Large galvanized spikes
  • Steel mallet
  • Wood saw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the length and width you'll need for your doghouse. Cut two timbers to the determined width and two to the determined height.

    • 2

      Make a two-timber high base for the doghouse. Form an L with a width timber and height timber, then drive a spike through. Form a second L, driving a spike through at the joint there as well. Put the two Ls together to make a rectangle, and drive spikes into the two additional corners.

    • 3

      Repeat the first two steps and place this rectangle atop the first.

    • 4

      Cut two 2-foot sections of timber, and two 2 1/2-foot sections. Use spikes to form a rectangle with these pieces, then attach it to the doghouse base at one of the corners.

    • 5

      Measure the distance from the edge of the doghouse door frame you just made to the far edge of the wall to which it is attached. Cut remaining timbers to this width for the wall. The other three walls will consist of landscape timbers cut to the actual width of the wall they correspond to. Once the timbers on the door wall reach the top of the door, you'll need to revert back to full-length timbers for this wall as well.

    • 6

      Take six landscape timbers cut to the height you desire for the doghouse. Four of them will be placed on the inside corners of the doghouse walls, and then nails will be driven through on both sides to brace the exterior walls. Two will be placed in the middle of the longer walls to provide additional support.

    • 7

      Form a simple triangle roof. Cut six landscape timbers so they can meet in the middle of the doghouse at an angle and leave a little wood overhanging the walls. On one side of each timber, cut a 150-degree angle with a mitre saw. Then hammer the angled sides together to form the peak of the roof.

    • 8

      Hammer each angled truss to the actual doghouse, then use plywood sheets to fully enclose it. Shingles will add longevity, but are not essential to the design.