Ever been in a dog house? ? This one is Air-cooled, self deodorizing, washable and has a porch and a training door. Would you like to build this dog house? Okay then let's get started. This dog house is for a medium size dog.
You will need:
2 12 feet rounded decking planks this will give 6 flooring boards.
1 8 feet rounded decking planks this will give 2 flooring boards.
We need a total of 8
1 4X8 siding sheet
2 Wafer boards or ½ inch ply board for the roofing deck.
13 2X2 WW (White Wood) do not use pressure treated it contains arsenic.
2 2X4 8 feet Pressure Treated
1 Roll Roofing white or silver
1 Roofing nails
1 4X4 piece of lattice panel or 2 inch wire mesh
1 box 2 ½ inch spiral decking nails
1 31/2 inch spiral decking nails
1 2 ½ inch decking screws
1 siding nails
1 pair brass hinge and a latch.
If you plan to paint use ONLY no lead primer and paint
First, let us build the base on which we will install the floor. To do this cut 2X4 into two four feet pieces and two pieces 33 inches. Place them into a rectangle with the shorter pieces on the inside and nail them to gather with 3 ½ inch decking nails. You should have approximately 2 feet of 2X4 remaining. Cut it into four six inch pieces and screw them in so as to form the four legs to the rectangle.
You now have a platform 4 feet by 3 feet to which we need to attach the flooring. Cut the decking planks 3 feet in length. This will fit snug on the platform. At this time make sure the platform is as square as you can get it. To do this measure the diagonals, they must be the same length. Then start nailing in the planks on to the platform with the 2 ½ inch nails. It is okay if the last piece hangs over a little bit. It will be fine for it to hang up to two inches over. Use this side as the porch.
Next, we need to build a frame to which we will attach the walls eventually. When you build a house or storage you build the frame out of 2X4s in this case we will use 2X2s. Cut two 2X2 46 ½ inches long. Then cut four 2X2 21 inches. Lay the two long pieces down parallel to each other and then lay two of the short ones on inside at the two ends and nail them in. Then measure 16 ½ inches from one end and attach third short piece there and finally measure 16 ½ inches from the other end and attach the last short piece there.
This frame is the wall on one of the four feet side of the house. Let us construct duplicate frame for the other side. Once done we need to construct frame for the back of the house. That one is simple to do. Cut top and bottom pieces 33 inches and three short verticals 21 inches. Attach as you did before two of them one at each end and one in the center.
We will now erect the frames. Place one of the long frames along the four feet sides. Align it to the back edge of the deck. Again frame should be flush to the back side of the house. It should also be flush along the length too. Put one nail in half way down so as to keep the frame standing up. Place the back frame (the short frame) and nail one nail in half way down. Adjust the last frame and nail it with one nail half way down. Note there will be 1 ½ inch leave off from the front edge, that's where you will install the door frame later.
Check your overall alignment. If all is okay then nail all frames down using four to five nails. Again, be sure the frame is flush to the edges of the deck. Then use screw to brace the corners of the frames to each other.
We have one more frame to make and that is the one between the porch and the dog room. Cut 2 piece of 2X2 21 inches and one 22 ½ inches. These three are your verticals. Now cut one for the header 33 inches and last piece for the bottom at 24 inches. Lay the 24 inch parallel to 33 inch piece and attach a vertical at one side and another at the end of 24 inch. The last piece; which is longer than the other two verticals, should be attached at the end of the 33 inch so that this header piece rests on it. This makes 12 inch doorway into the dog room.
You attached the first vertical piece from the front at 16 ½ inches from the front of the frame. That is where you will line up this frame. Check alignment and measure that it is even 16 ½ inches at the other end too. Nail it down and attach it with screws to the side frames. See the picture as you go along you will understand where I am going with this. You are now done with framing the walls.
Next let us do the roof of our dog house.
First we need to make the beam. This is a 2X2 that goes along the length of the roof. Since the roof must over hang the beam should extend beyond the house decking. Also, note your dog is going to be sheltered in its house during the rains. So you do not want the water to readily splash into the house. So the roofing deck should extend only six inches on the back side but at least 12 inches beyond the porch and on the sides.
At the center of the three feet walls and on top of the header attach a 9 inch support posts. On this attach a 2X2 piece 5 ½ feet long using screws. At the back side of the dog house let it project 6 inches, that way it will project 12 inches beyond the porch.
Next we will install the rafters. Cut 8 pieces of 2X2 2 ½ feet long with a angle cut on one side of 30 degrees, adjust that on your circular saw. Now rest one piece on the top of the frame at the back corner of the dog house and attach the angled side to the beam right where you have the post for the beam. This will be tricky as you will have three screws in that little area. The next screw is going to come in from the rafter on the other side. Install the next set of rafters at the next front post of the beam.
The next set goes centered between these rafters spaced evenly. Be sure to secure the rafters where they rest on the frame.
Walla! You just finished framing your dog house. Now let us finish it.
Measure twice cut once. We are now going to do the roof deck. Cut the wafer board 5 ½ or 6 feet depending on how much roofing shelter you want for the dog house and 2 ½ to 3 feet wide it must go over the edge of the rafters by at least 1 1/2/ inch. Cut the next piece the same size and nail them in to the rafters.
Cut the roofing felt so that it hangs ½ inch over the edge of the roofing deck to the back and front and then at the lower edge. Do the same on the other side and cut the last piece and lay it so that it lays over the hump or the center of the roof and on top of the other pieces. Be sure to nail the roofing felt with roofing nails and on or as close to the rafters.
Cut siding to cover around the dog house and attach to the 2X2 framing. You will have to cut two triangles to cover the attic area. Don't forget the two feet area in the front.
This part I am going to let you figure out. Make the door with 2X2 and lattice panel.
Warning, if your dog has a habit of chewing then use a 2 inch wire mesh on the inside.
Finally let's talk about the features of your dog house:
1. It is air cooled. The air passes from the floor and up and out through the attic.
Air also passes across the attic as cross ventilation through the attic.
2. By the same token it is self deodorizing.
3. It is washable. Water will not stand on the floor after you hose it and brush it.
4. The porch is great as the dog can cool it on a real hot day
5. If you are into training your dog then the door is a boon. Keep the dog in for 30
minutes inside and it is ready for training giving you undivided attention.
6. For cooler days in fall and spring lay down a blanket inside the dog house.
Good luck.
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