How to Make a Kennel Roof

All kennels should have a good, protective roof, even if the dog only uses the kennel part time. Most locations have laws requiring that dogs have shelter from rain, sun and wind at all times. Additionally, it is much safe and healthier for your dog to have a roof to protect from the elements and to discourage intruders that might try to climb over the kennel fence.

Things You'll Need

  • Corrugated plastic roof sheets
  • 6 -by-4-inch boards
  • Screws
  • Nuts
  • Manual post driver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drive the U-channel stakes into the ground at the corners of your kennel, as close to the corner posts as possible; the bottom 3 feet of the stakes should be in the ground. Two adjacent stakes must be a few inches taller than the top of the kennel and the other two should be the height of the kennel, making one side of the roof a little higher for rain run-off. For example, if your kennel is 6 feet high, two adjacent stakes should be 6 feet and 2 inches high.

    • 2

      Screw a 2-by-4-inch board across the top from the top of one of the higher posts to the top of the other higher post. If this side of the kennel is more than 4 feet long, you must add one or more additional u-channel posts between the first two, so there is a post every 4 feet to support the 2-by-4-inch board. The u-channel stakes and the 2-by-4-inch board forms an upside-down "U" to support one side of the roof. Repeat this step for each side.

    • 3

      Lay the corrugated plastic roofing across the frame you made, and adjust it so all sides overhang the kennel by at least a few inches, and a foot would be better. Check that one side of the roof is two to three inches higher than the other, for rain to drain off, and mark the roof where the screws will go.

    • 4

      Screw the roofing into the wooden frame you built loosely at one corner first, then the opposite corner and then the last two corners. Then screw the sides and finally tighten all screws.

    • 5

      Screw a sheet of corrugated plastic onto at least one side of the kennel and one end of the kennel to provide better shelter from wind, rain and snow.