Introduction: Build an Insulated A-Frame Doghouse for Under $75
This doghouse is suitable for a small to medium-sized dog with a 9 square foot base. I purchased my materials at Home Depot. Note that the doghouse uses an existing floor--in my case, an outdoor deck--so no base is included in this plan. If you need a base, purchase additional materials as required.
Tools needed: hammer or cordless drill, table saw, circular saw, jigsaw, tin snips, small paintbrush
Materials List:
1 sm. box approx. 1-1/2 roofing nails
1 sm. box approx. 2 1/2" galvanized common nails or screws
1 sm. box approx. 2" galvanized finishing nails
1 pack of asphalt/fiberglass shingles
2 10' sections of 2" drip cap
1 quart exterior paint
2 sheets 7/16" OSB (oriented strand board)
1 sheet blue insulating foamboard
Step 1: Mark and Cutout Parts
Make a sandwich with the two OSB sheets on the outside and the foamboard inside. Make sure that the edges line up, then fasten the sheets together with 4 nails or screws to prevent shifting. Draw the parts on the top sheet as in the first drawing below. Then nail/screw additional fasteners about every foot just inside the edge of each part to be cut. This will hold the parts together when they are cut. Cut the parts out using the circular saw. Use the sabre saw to cut the corners of the door opening. Cut two equilateral triangles 10" on a side from the door opening scrap. Attach the two right-triangle sections to make the back wall. (I nailed 1x2's to the top and bottom inside edges to hold them together.) For the ridge, carefully cut the 2x4 4' long and 2 5/8" wide. Then use the table saw set at 30 deg. to rip this piece into a diamond shape (see 2nd drawing).
Step 2: Assemble Wood Parts and Paint
Draw lines at 3" and 4 1/2" from one small end of a 3'x4' roof section. This will be the attachment point for the back wall. Turn the side over and repeat this marking on the other side. Draw lines at 9" and 10 1/2" from the other small end of the 3'x4' side. This will be the attachment point for the front wall. Turn the side over and repeat this on the other side. Mark the other roof section exactly as indicated above. Line up the base of the front and back walls with the marked lines of each roof section. Note that the top inside edges of the roof sections should just touch each other. Screw or nail the sides to the bottom with the 2 1/2" fasteners. Attach the ridge piece to the tops of the left and right roof sections with the 1 1/2" and/or 2 1/2" fasteners. Line the door opening with 1 1/2" wide scrap pieces. Fasten the triangle vent covers on each end backed up by the scrap from the ridge piece using the 1 1/2" fasteners. Paint front and back walls and undersides of roof sections that will be exposed to the weather with 2 coats exterior paint.
Step 3: Attach End-cap and Shingles
Attach drip-cap along all edges of the roof with roofing nails. Make a starter coarse of shingles along the bottom of one side of the roof attaching it with roofing nails, then lay the first course of shingles directly over it. the nails should be placed along the tar section of each row and above each tab. Trim shingle material that hangs over the drip-cap. Start the next row of shingles with the tab staggered half-way between the first shingle tabs. Line up the base of the second row of tabs with the top of the tabs on the first row. Repeat this until you get to the top of the roof section. Trim the extra material off. Repeat shingle installation for the other roof section. For the ridge cap, take leftover shingles and cut the tab sections off and attach them on the ridge perpendicular to the ridge line. Overlap them so that the tar strip is just covered. The last shingle will have two nails visible.
Step 4: Optional -- Floor
To add a floor, cut a 3'x3' section of plywood or OSB sandwich and attach it to the bottom of the roof and front/back wall sections.
1 Person Made This Project!
- ChadwickBuchanan made it!
7 Comments
13 years ago
This is a great Instructable, but you need to add a main image of the final project to the intro step. Please do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work. Thanks!
Reply 13 years ago
OK. I made the change you suggested and fixed an error on one of the steps. Thanks.
2 years ago
To begin with, these instructions are somewhat vague. So, is there actually a vent "opening". If so, why? I didn't see how to fill in the offset between the front/back walls and the vent covers. The materials list makes no mention of a 2x4. And, drawing lines 1 1/2" apart on the roof pieces makes no sense when you are going to fasten 7/16" OSB on the other side. It's just not clear, to me, at all. Thanks
7 years ago
Why bother to make it insulated when you have a gaping wide open doorway for the freezing cold wind to blow in? What's the point?
Reply 7 years ago
My goals were to protect the occupant from severe summer heat and to use the minimum amount of materials. You can add an overlapping vinyl doorway, if you wish, for winter use.
13 years ago on Introduction
what size of dogs would this fit nice ible btw
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Thanks-- I made it for a beagle, and that is a comfortable size for him. Too much bigger and the dog may bump the side walls when turning around inside.