Things You'll Need
- Plywood
- Insulation
- Studs
- Screws
- Miter saw
- Screwdriver or drill
Instructions
Use a 1/2-inch plywood sheet to build the floor, which will measure 30 by 33 inches for an average-sized dog. Alter measurements if your dog is much smaller or much larger.
Take a base of solid, decay-resistant wood, and screw in walls about 6/8 inch thick to each side, to form a frame. In the bottom of the frame, insert a slab of insulation, and hold it in place by applying duct tape.
Screw the plywood sheet to the decay-resistant base of solid wood. The base is complete.
Use studs to act as a wall frame for the sides and back of the dog house. Use 2-by-3 inch studs for the frame of the side walls, and 2-by-2 inch studs for the front and back. Screw these side studs together.
Attach plywood panels, whose length runs the same length of the floor, to the studs using six or seven 2-inch screws. Also, screw the side walls to the base of the doghouse.
Obtain a piece of plywood that is the same width of the floor of the doghouse with the side walls in place. This should be between 29 to 30 inches. Then, cut two pieces to form the front and back wall pieces of the doghouse. These need to be about 35 inches in length, depending on exactly how you cut and made the other dimensions.
Place these two pieces together. Draw the lines that will make the dog house angled peak. You can simply sketch these out on the wood to make a guide by which to perform the cuts necessary. These lines should be made beginning at the exact height of the installed side walls. Use a straight edge to mark the radial saw distance once the lines are made. Then, perform the cutting.
Measure the length from the front and rear walls. Using this length, cut a ridge board, and split it into two even pieces. This board will act as the roof. Then, measure the necessary angles for your rafters, which will form the frame for your A-type dog house roof. The top edge of the rafter should be about 17 or 18 inches in length. Judge the angles appropriately, and use a miter saw to cut the four rafters. Make sure they fit against the walls of the dog house cleanly and tightly.
Use screws to fasten the ridge board over the rafter beams so as to construct the top of the roof.
Take the plywood pieces for the back and front walls from before. Attach the studs to the house. Then, cut a rectangular doorway in the front panel. Finally, attach the rear and front panels to the dog house, using screws.