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Why buy a dog house when you can make one yourself? Sure, you can get over with it in a few seconds, but where’s the fun in that? Today, we will explore how to make a unique, big dog house for your backyard. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Several boards
- Plywood
- Transparent plexiglass
- Silicone filler
- Metal for roof
- Roofing nails
- A deck board and some deck screws
- Wood stain
- Wood glue
- Caulk
As for the tools, it would be best if you had:
- Table saw
- Milter saw
- Handheld saw
- Drill
- Nail gun
- Caulking gun
- Screwdriver
- Sander
- Hammer
- Clamps
- Chisel
- A ruler and a measuring tape
- A marking pencil
Let’s get started!
Step 1
Measure boards so you can make a big square, then cut them with a table saw. This square will be the base for your house. If you’d like, make it a bit bigger than the house itself. This way, you can have a nice, elevated deck in front of the entry. Place several boards over the width of the square. This will support the weight of the building. Screw everything with a screwdriver. Use a ruler to ensure all the angles are straight.
Step 2
Once the foundation is built, lay down all the boards to create flooring. Straighten them, and screw them onto the foundation. Then, cut down any excess boards that hang over the house base. Sand everything to keep it clean and smooth.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to build a frame for the walls. Once again, measure everything to match the desired dimensions of the dog house. You can do this basically the same way as you did to create a frame for the floor. Make frames for the door and the windows, as well. Once again, use the ruler to ensure everything is straight.
There is one main difference, though, and that is to ensure the top parts of the boards are cut to an angle. This is so the roof can have a proper slope later. Determine the exact angle depending on the desired slope and roof height. Sand everything that needs to be smoother.
Step 4
The same way as with walls and the house base, make the frame for the roof. Ensure everything is under the right angle. If you’re unsure how to design everything, check out some of these cool dog house pisolans. However, you’ll probably get by just by using an angled ruler.
Step 5
Next, you should create walls. Cut the plywood with a handheld saw to match the dimensions of the house. Once again, don’t forget to make holes for the windows and the door! If you want to aim for aesthetic, layer down layers of thinner board on top of it. This will give your dog house that comfy, wooden look.
Keep in mind that this type of walls won’t keep your dog warm during winter! If you have some cold months during the year, make sure to use proper dog house isolation. Some of the suitable materials for this are fiberglass, reflective foil, or even bubble wrap.
Step 6
Design the windows according to your liking. Use the same thin board you used to cover the plywood. Spray paint them if you’d like. Then, use a big, adequately sized piece of plexiglass to cover it. If needed, cut the plexiglass with a razor. Keep in mind the plexiglass should go on the inner side of the window.
Place the plexiglass on top of the window frame, and drill the holes where you want screws to be. Use a hand screwdriver for screwing everything in place. Otherwise, you might break it. Once you’re done, glue the edges with a silicone filler. This will not only ensure everything stays in place, but it will also prevent water from dripping inside.
Step 7
Cut the metal for the roof so it can match the roof frame. Even though this is just a dog house, make sure to use proper roofing nails. Ordinary screws or inadequate nails can leave space for water to enter the dog house, and you don’t want that.
Step 8
Add a layer of protective paint over the wooden parts of the house. If you’d like, you can paint the house in some interesting way. Just make sure you use non-toxic paints. Dogs love to chew on everything, and house walls are not an exception to this.
And You’re Done!
Once all the steps are completed, your big dog house for the backyard is finished. Now you have a pretty and unique place your dog can shelter himself in. If you’d like, add your companion’s favorite dog pillow or a blanket inside so that he can feel more at home. This will make your dog house personalized, and you’ll know how much sweat was involved in making it.
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This content is brought to you by Natasha Dragojlov.
Photo: Shutterstock