Introduction: Insulated Dog House

For a project in school, I chose to build an insulated dog house, which can provide shelter for a dog during the harsh weathers of winter and autumn. I drew up several versions of what it can look like, until I decided that a simple, common dog house is the easiest to build, and the most fit for my goal. I was able to gather the wood, along with the screws and nails, from recycling places, such as my school, or my home. The rest of the materials, I got from a home-improvement store.

Dimensions:

Length: 100 cm

Height: 102 cm

Width: 60 cm

Step 1: Gather the Materials

For this dog house, I will be using two layers of wood for support on each side except for the door, and a layer of polystyrene for insulation in between each two layers of wood. At the end, I will paint the house with a specific type of lacquer to protect it against humidity, rain, or snow. At the end, I will also put a layer of polycarbonate on the roof, to help with resisting against humidity, rain, or snow. I used screws and nails to put the materials together, as they are easy to use, and resistant. Finally, I will be adding a layer of hay on the inside, as it is a great insulator, and soft enough for the dogs to like sleeping on it, while durable, and so it wont break when the dog gets in.

Step 2: Mark the Wood

Mark the wood with a pencil the dimensions of the dog house, and where the wood and polystyrene should be cut.

Step 3: Cut the Wood

Using a saw, cut the wood along the marked lines, and a normal knife can be used to cut the polystyrene.

Step 4: Put the Wood and the Polystyrene Together

Using screws, put the layer of polystyrene between the two layers of wood, for each side.

Step 5: Start Assembling the Dog House

After putting the materials together, you can start assembling the dog house, using nails and screws.

Step 6: Paint the Dog House

After the Dog House was assembled, start using the lacquer to paint it, and make it resistant against water. I opted for a dark lacquer, as it masks the uneven wood, and makes it look nicer.

Step 7: Add the Polycarbonate

First, bend the polycarbonate in half, and make sure you DO NOT cut it. After it is bent, place it on top of the house, and secure it in place using nails, as this reduces the risk of it snapping/cracking/breaking.