How to build an insulated dog house

This step by step diy article is about how to build an insulated dog house. In order to help keep your dog warm in the winter and cool in the summer, you should install insulation sheets between the wall studs. Use either 3” thick polystyrene sheets or rigid foam insulation. If you want to reduce the costs, you could also install 1 1/2” studs and fit 1 1/2” thick insulation. After you fit the sheets into place, you have to cover them with 1/4” or 3/4” plywood sheets.

Make sure you dog can easily turn around inside the dog house, before beginning the actual construction. Therefore, you should adjust the size of the dog house as to fit the needs of your dog. There are many design you could choose from, therefore make sure you study several alternatives, before taking the final decision. Buy quality materials, if you want to get the job done as a professional.

Align the components at both ends before securing them with wood screws. Pre-drill holes in the lumber, to prevent the wood from splitting. Work with great care and attention, making sure sure the walls are plumb and the top plates are perfectly level. Cut the insulation sheets to the right size with a saw, before fitting them between the wall studs. If you live in a cold are, build the studs from 2×4 lumber and fit 3 – 3 1/2” thick insulation, otherwise you could get the job done with 2×2 lumber and 1 1/2” insulation. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

In order to build a dog house, you need the following:

Materials

• 3 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 33″, 2 pieces – 36″ long JOISTS
• 1 piece of 3/4” plywood – 36″x36″ FLOORING
• 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 36″ long, 4 pieces – 29″ long, 12 pieces – 22 1/2″ long WALLS
• 2 pieces of 5/8″ plywood – 28 1/4″x36″ long, 2 pieces – 37 1/4″x47″ long WALLS
• 6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 26 1/4″ long RAFTERS
• 2 pieces of 3/4” plywood – 21″x45 1/4″ long ROOFING
• 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 24″ long, 3 pieces – 27″ long, 8 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 24″ long DECK FRAME
• 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 20″, 2 pieces – 30″ long, 3 pieces – 24 1/2″ long, 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 24 1/2″x30″ DECK ROOF

• 1 piece of 2×4 lumber – 10 ft
• 6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 12 ft
• 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 4’x8′
• 1 piece of 3/4″ plywood – 2’x3′
• 2 pieces of 5/8″ plywood – 4’x8′
• 4  pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
• 2 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
• 2 1/2″ screws
• stain, putty
• Asphalt shingles

Tools

• Safety gloves, glasses
• Circular saw, Miter saw
• Hammer, Spirit level, Carpentry pencil, Tape measure

Tips

• Measure attentively the lumber, before making the cuts
• Install polystyrene sheets rather than mineral wool battens

Time

• One weekend

Related

• Large Dog house plans

How to build an insulated dog house

Building the base of the dog house

The first step of the project is to build the floor of the dog house. Therefore, build the frame from 2×4 joists and assemble them together, as in the image. Drill pilot holes trough the rim joists and drive in the 3” wood screws. Use a carpentry square to make sure the corners are right-angled.

Attach the 3/4” plywood flooring and secure it with 2” nails / screws, every 6” along the joists. The edges have to be flush with the joists.

Installing the walls

Afterwards, you should build the walls and secure them to the floor. In order to get the job done as a professional, we recommend you to build the frames from 2×4 lumber. Work on a level surface, as to obtain consistent results.

Place the walls, plumb them with a spirit level and drive in the 3” screws in the flooring. Secure the adjacent walls together, using screws. Pre-drill the components to prevent the wood from splitting.

Attaching the exterior siding

Continue the woodworking project by installing the exterior siding. As you should easily notice in the image, you have to use 5/8” plywood. Cut the 4×8′ sheets to the right size using a circular saw with a fine blade. Mark the cut lines and build the components to the right size.

Don’t forget to cut out the door opening, using a jigsaw. Secure the sheets to the frame with 1 1/4” nails, every 8”, along the studs.

Fitting the insulation

The next step of the project is to install the insulation sheets or bats. From our experience, we recommend you to fit 3” thick polystyrene sheets between the studs, instead of mineral wool batts. Irrespective of your choice make sure there are no gaps between the wall studs and the insulation sheets, otherwise the layer won’t be as effective.

Use a handsaw to adjust the size of the polystyrene sheets. Work with attention and with great care, if you want to obtain a professional result.

Installing the interior walls

In order to get the job done, you have to install the interior walls, made out of 3/4” plywood. Cut the sheets to the right size, using a circular saw or a table saw, making sure you don’t damage the edges.

Fit the sheets into place and secure them to the wall studs with 2 1/2” screws (decking screws). It is essential to fit the interior siding at this stage, as later on you won’t have a good access.

Building the rafters

Building the rafters of the dog house is a straight forward step, if you use the right techniques and plans. Therefore, build the rafters from 2×4 lumber, making sure you cut their ends at 45º, using a miter saw. Make sure all the rafters are perfectly equal.

Align the rafters at both ends and secure them to the top plates with 3” nails. Drill pilot holes to prevent the wood from splitting. Place the rafters equally spaced, as in the image.

Attaching the roofing sheets

After building the roof structure you should cut the roofing sheets and install them into place. As you should notice in the plans, you have to build the roofing sheets from 3/4” plywood. Center the sheets on the roof structure and secure them to the rafter, every 6”, using 2” nails.

Installing the front deck

If you really want to enhance the look of the insulated dog house, you should consider adding a front deck with a simple pergola. Therefore, start building the frame of the deck, from 2×2 lumber. Assemble the components together, making sure the corners are square and the diagonals equal.

Attach the 1×4 slats to the deck frame and secure them into place with wood screws. Countersink the head of the screws, in order to obtain a neat appearance.

Building the front deck

The next step of the project is to build the covered pergola of the dog house. Build the posts from 2×2 lumber and secure them into place with screws. Alternatively, you could also lock them to the joists, before attaching the slats. Make sure all the components are aligned and tightly secured.

Afterwards, build a small frame, as in the plans. Cut the ends of the crossbeams as to fit along the dog house.

Installing the asphalt shingles

Cover the roof with tar paper and secure it into place with staples, before installing the asphalt shingles. In order to get the job done as a professional, you should install asphalt shingles starting with the bottom left part of the roof. If you want to add decorative trims, you should fit them before fitting the shingles.

How to build an insulated dog house

Afterwards, you should take care of the finishing touches. Therefore, fill the holes with wood filler and seal the gaps with a silicone. Let the compound dry out properly, before sanding the surface with 120 sandpaper.

Thank you for reading our step by step article about how to build an insulated dog house and we recommend you to check out the rest of our step by step projects. Don’t forget to share our projects with your friends, by using the social media widgets.

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