If you want to learn more about how to build a small dog house, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions describe din the article. Work with attention and select the right small dog house plans for your needs, before starting the actual construction project. Invest in high-quality materials that are weather-resistant and ask a friend to give you a hand with your project.
Make sure you pet will fit inside the dog house, otherwise take a look over the rest of the related projects, in order to see appropriate plans. Work with attention adjust the size and the shape of the dog house to suit your needs. Apply a few coats of paint over the wooden components in order to protect them from decay and to enhance the look of the dog house. Make sure the roof is waterproof and it has no leaks.
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Small Dog House Plans
Building a small dog house
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Materials
- 1 – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 24′, 3 pieces – 21″ JOISTS
- 2 – 1 piece of 3/4 lumber – 24″x24″ FLOORING
- 3 – 9 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 12″, 4 pieces – 21, 4 pieces – 24″ WALLS
- 4 – 2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 25 1/2″x32, 2 pieces – 19 1/4″x24 WALLS
- 5 – 6 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 20″, 1 piece – 24″ RAFTERS
- 6 – 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 21″x28 1/2″, 1 piece – 21 3/4″x28 1/2″ ROOFING
- 7 – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 21″, 2 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 28 1/2″ TRIMS
- 8 – 12 sq ft of tar paper and asphalt shingles ROOFING
- 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
- 6 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
- 1 piece of 1×3 lumber – 6 ft
- 1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 6 ft
- 100 pieces of 2 1/2″ screws
- glue, stain / glue
Tools
- Hammer, Tape measure, Carpentry square
- Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander, Router
- Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses, Respiratory Mask
Time
- One day
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Building a Small Dog House
Building the floor of the dog house
The first step of the woodworking project is about building the base of the dog house. As you can easily notice in the plans, we recommend you to cut the components at the right size and to assemble them together with 2 1/2″ screws. Drill pilot holes through the rim joists before inserting the screws, to prevent the wood from splitting. Check if the corners are right-angled by using a rectangular square.
Attaching the plywood floor
Attach a piece of 3/4″ plywood over the joists and secure it int place with 1 1/4″ galvanized screws. Make sure the edges are perfectly flush with the frame before inserting the screws.
Building the walls
Build the walls of the small dog house out of 2×2 lumber and attach them to the flooring, as shown in the plans. Assemble the walls on a level surface, making sure the corners are right-angled and the joints are rigid. Add waterproof glue to the joints in order to create a rigid structure. Plumb the walls with a spirit level lock them to the structure with 2 1/2″ galvanized screws.
Fitting the rafters
Build the 2×2 rafters and attach the to the structure of the dog house. Place the rafters equally-spaced and lock them tightly together to the top plates and to the top ridge. CUt one end of the rafters at 45 degrees and cut out a notch to fit them into place easily.
Building the rafters
Follow the instructions described in the image when building the rafters, if you want to get the job done in a professional manner. Work with attention and make sure all the rafters are equal in size and shape.
Building the exterior walls of the dog house
Building the exterior wall of the small dog house is a straight-forward process, but you need to work with attention and to invest in high-quality materials, such as 3/4″ plywood. Mark the cut lines with a pencil and get the job done with a circular saw. When building the door opening, we recommend you to drill a starting holes and to get the job done with a jigsaw. Smooth the cut edges before attaching the pieces of plywood into place with finishing nails.
Attaching the roofing sheets
Cut two pieces of 3/4″ plywood and secure them into place with galvanized screws. Align everything with attention and make sure there are no gaps between the sheets before inserting the screws, if you aim for a professional result.
Attaching the trims
Building the front and the back trims is a straight-forward process, as you just have to make 45 degrees cut at both ends of the 1×3 trims. Attach the trims into place with finishing nails and waterproof glue.
Fitting the side trims
Attach the 1×2 trims to the sides of the dog house, as show in the plans. Use a spirit level to make sure the trims are perfectly horizontal before inserting the finishing nails, to prevent the wood from splitting. Smooth the cut edges to enhance the look of the woodworking project.
Attaching the roofing to the dog house
One of the last steps of the garden project is to cover the roofing with tar paper. Make sure the strips of tar paper overlap at least 2″, in order to waterproof the structure. Secure the tar paper into place with staples before installing the asphalt shingles to the roof, starting with the bottom left section. Fit drip edges, if necessary.
Small dog house plans
Last but not least, you should take care of the finishing touches. Therefore, we recommend you to check if the components are locked into place properly and structure is rigid enough to support the soil. Make sure there are no protruding screws or sharp edges.
PRO TIP:Â Fill the holes with a good wood filler and smooth the surface with medium-grit sandpaper. Apply several coats of paint or stain over the components, in order to protect them from decay. Check out the rest of the project to learn more about building garden projects.
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