Make a dog house inspired by geometry to make your yard look good and keep your outdoor dog comfortable. You do not have to spend a lot of money or invest a lot of your time in the project. You can use some basic building supplies or scraps left over from other projects to make a triangular dog house. These simple dog houses have one big advantage over other dog house styles; water and snow cannot pool on the roof of a triangle-shaped dog house.
A-Frame Dog House Tutorial
Put the sides, which also form the roof, on top of the base so the 24-inch long edges line up. Ask your helper to hold the pieces in position.
Set the screws every 4 to 6 inches, 1/2 inch up from the bottom edge, all the way along each side panel. Do not worry if you notice a small gap where the boards meet. You will be caulking the gaps in a later step.
Line up the top edges at the peak so the edges form a small V-shape, and set screws every 4 inches. Drive the screws through the side panel closest to you and into the other side panel. Make sure the tips of the screws do not stick out.
Squirt a thin line of weatherproof caulk into the inside of each joined seam, leaving 1/2 inch on each end plain. Allow the caulk to dry for several hours.
Measure your dog's shoulder height and hip width, then draw a rectangle this size on one of the triangular end pieces. Use the jigsaw to cut out the door.
Slide one end piece in each end of the triangular dog house. If the pieces do not slide in easily, use the pencil to mark how much you need to cut off, and use the jigsaw to trim down the shape.
Ask your helper to hold the end pieces in place and drive the screws through the roof sides and into the end pieces. Roll the dog house 1/3 turn to set the screws through the bottom edges.
Set the dog house upright and run a line of weatherproof caulk along the external peak of the roof and to seal any gaps you see where the end pieces meet the roof sides.
Tips
If you have a hard time inserting the screws, put a 1/8 inch drill bit in the drill and drill pilot holes (http://www.designsponge.com/2009/05/diy-wednesdays-tea-shelf.html) before setting the screws.
Make sure to paint or stain your dog house in a color that matches or complements the color of your house, using a product designed to stand up to the weather.
To give your dog extra protection from the weather, apply shingles to the roof-sides and apply a clear rain flap to cover the door hole.
If you need a larger or smaller dog house, you can adjust the dimensions suggested here to suit your needs.
Warnings
Serious injuries can occur when using power tools, such as a saw or a drills, so make sure to wear safety glasses and ear plugs (http://www.toolcobber.com.au/safety/ppe/). Also, keep children away from running power tools.
Warnings
Serious injuries can occur when using power tools, such as a saw or a drills, so make sure to wear safety glasses and ear plugs (http://www.toolcobber.com.au/safety/ppe/). Also, keep children away from running power tools.
Tips
If you have a hard time inserting the screws, put a 1/8 inch drill bit in the drill and drill pilot holes (http://www.designsponge.com/2009/05/diy-wednesdays-tea-shelf.html) before setting the screws.
Make sure to paint or stain your dog house in a color that matches or complements the color of your house, using a product designed to stand up to the weather.
To give your dog extra protection from the weather, apply shingles to the roof-sides and apply a clear rain flap to cover the door hole.
If you need a larger or smaller dog house, you can adjust the dimensions suggested here to suit your needs.
Items You Will Need
- One 2-foot square of 1/2-inch thick plywood base (http://www.freeplansonline.com/print/print-doghouse3-plans.html)
- Two 2-foot by 22 1/4-inch pieces of 1/2-inch thick plywood sides
- Weatherproof exterior caulking (http://www.inspectapedia.com/BestPractices/Exterior_Caulk.htm)
- Two plywood triangle ends (24-inch base, 22.25-inch sides, 18.7-inch rise)
- 1-inch wood screws
- Drill with screwdriver bit installed
- Yardstick
- Carpenter's pencil
- Jigsaw
References
Resources
Tips
- If you have a hard time inserting the screws, put a 1/8 inch drill bit in the drill and drill pilot holes (http://www.designsponge.com/2009/05/diy-wednesdays-tea-shelf.html) before setting the screws.
- Make sure to paint or stain your dog house in a color that matches or complements the color of your house, using a product designed to stand up to the weather.
- To give your dog extra protection from the weather, apply shingles to the roof-sides and apply a clear rain flap to cover the door hole.
- If you need a larger or smaller dog house, you can adjust the dimensions suggested here to suit your needs.
Warnings
- Serious injuries can occur when using power tools, such as a saw or a drills, so make sure to wear safety glasses and ear plugs (http://www.toolcobber.com.au/safety/ppe/). Also, keep children away from running power tools.
Writer Bio
Laure Justice is a professional copywriter, since 2008. Justice has a broad-based business education, holding an AA in business administration and a Bachelor of Arts in management, plus certifications in accounting and international trade. She has written for GMC, Bounty Paper Towels, Purina's Petcentric, Colgate, Type F, Kudzu, eHow and many others.