The roof of a doghouse protects not only your dog, but also the doghouse. Following are a few guidelines for building a simple slanted roof - a shed roof - that lifts off for cleaning.
Instructions
1. Keep your objective in mind: A shed roof is simply tilted higher on one side than the other.
2. Use the same materials for the roof frame as you did for the walls: 2-by-2s or 2-by-4s, and plywood.
3. Lay a ring of 2-by-2s or 2-by-4s around the top of the walls so that the outside edge of the ring extends 1/4 inch over the siding or plywood. Nail or screw the pieces to each other at the corners - but not to the walls.
4. Leave the frame in place on top of the walls, place your 2-by-2s or 2-by-4s 12 or 16 inches apart in vertical rows, and attach them to the frame.
5. Lay a 2-by-2 or 2-by-4 under one side of the frame to make the frame tilt. Nail or screw it into the piece of wood on top of it.
6. Attach 4- to 6-inch-wide plywood strips lengthwise along the outer edges of the frame so that they hang down an inch or two over the siding or plywood of the doghouse (though they should attach only to the frame); this will keep the roof from sliding off.
7. Run a bead of caulk on the top of the roof frame, then lay plywood over the top of the roof frame and attach it at least every 6 inches with nails or screws. Extend the plywood at least 2 inches over the edge of the roof frame like the brim of a hat.
8. Apply roll roofing (see Glossary) unless you live in a climate that gets very little rain. If you decide to paint the roof instead, set the nails or screws down into the wood a little bit and cover these completely with caulk.
Related posts
Don't leave your dog out in the cold.There are a lot of dog house designs, but few will keep your dog quite as warm and dry as one with a proper shingled roof. The shingled roof is one of the most...
Dog in its houseYou generally need a doghouse if you have a dog you want to leave outside in the backyard a lot. For one thing, a doghouse will protect your dog from the hot sun. You don't need to...
A duplex doghouse is great for providing shelter to two dogs without occupying a lot of space in your backyard. In this setup, a doghouse is separated down the middle by a wall so each dog will ha...
A flat roof makes an appealing sundeck on which dogs can snooze.Keep your dog safe and secure by building it an outside kennel that contains a comfortable doghouse. A kennel with a cement slab rai...
Create a custom dog house for your best friend.Whether you have a Labrador Retriever or a mutt, building a dog house for your furry friend can be a rewarding experience. You can use these plans to...
