Take care of things around the house, and save yourself a little bit of money with a quick trip to Home Depot or Lowe's.
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Building a Doghouse - Phase 1 |
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Written by FTS Staff
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Friday, 27 September 2002 |
Problem: My dog needs a new house
Few things in this world come close to the feel you get from a job well done. That's why when we noticed that state of disrepair of our doghouse; we decided to undertake our own Do It Yourself project. Granted, we could go to Wal-Mart and buy a doghouse (or Dogloo), but we figured we'd have more fun (and Mackenzie would be happier) with her own Dog Mansion.
Our design was simple. Since the original doghouse was built, building materials have changed. Whereas the old house was constructed with lap joints and wooden boards, we've opted to use more modern OSB (Oriented Strand Board) and pressure treated lumber.
For a larger view, click on any image.
There first step is to cut out our OSB walls. First we laid out the pattern marking the pitch of the roof using a Speed Square and a Tri-Square. Next we used the circular saw to make the primary cut, and finished the cut with a hand saw.
Next, we cut our 2x4 piece of treated wood into 4 pieces of equal length. Then we attached the OSB wall panels to the treated lumber using a number of wood screws.
For the floor we first cut four 2x2 strips of wood and attached them at the base of the wall panels. These strips will support the floor. Next we cut a piece of ¾" plywood to be used as a floor panel. Before we could install the panel, we first had to make a series of cuts on the corner to allow the panel to fit snugly around the wall supports. All of these were attached with a series of 1 ¼" wood screws and a cordless drill.
It was also necessary to cut four other 2x2 pieces to support the roof panel, which we will add later. Again, we used the speed square to cut the appropriate angle at the end of the 2x2 strips. The strips were then attached to the upper part of the sidewall with more wood screws.
In this view, you can see the bottom of the doghouse. Notice how the floor supports fit between the 2x4s. This gives the doghouse added rigidity in addition to supporting the floor. Due to the thickness and strength of the plywood, it was not necessary to add any supports beneath the floor.
At the end of phase I, we now have a freestanding doghouse. In the next phase we will cut a rough opening for the door, trim that out, and then add the vinyl siding to the house. So join us next time for "Do it Yourself Doghouse".
Next Phase
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