DIY Dog Kennel

az2wp0sye65487

Looking for some advice please....

I'm building a Kennel for my dogs this weekend. I've a load of 12mm MDF, 50X50mm lengths of timber, cladding, roof felt, wood screws & glue and woodstain/sealer. Anyone any tips on how best to make the roof & joints properly water tight?

P.S. I'm an average DIY'er........ no great skills, but fairly handy all round.

Thanks,
Stevie.

niceirishfella

With the roof felt on the roof, you should be grand.
I give my kennel for the pooches a lick of fence life once a year - keeps it maintained.......might be an option for you.

az2wp0sye65487

Cheers for that. I take it that it would also be a good idea to have it on a couple of legs to keep the base away from the ground?

GreeBo

Cassidy Nice Pig wrote: »

Cheers for that. I take it that it would also be a good idea to have it on a couple of legs to keep the base away from the ground?

If you have it left over you could cover the bottom (outside) with the roof felt also, the "wrap" it up the sides a few inches.
Better still is create 4 legs and cover the bottom of them with lead. The felt wont last too long if the kennel is being moved around.

az2wp0sye65487

Good Stuff...

Is there a good way to seal the MDF, or should it be OK if its going to be covered with overlapping cladding on the outside which will be sealed?

niceirishfella

I have my kennel up on a Pallet on a concrete base - keeps it dry and away from the wet concrete - good idea about felt on the bottom.
I don't know about your Sealing the MDF question Stevie...I think tho' personally it all about the ability of water penetration and if you sell it with the overlapping, it should be ok imho.
happy kennel building!

az2wp0sye65487

Just had some advice from a building surveyor I know....

He reckons if I'm using MDF I should really make sure to waterproof it as once wet it turns to mush.

So the plan is to make a box shaped frame from the timber, wall it all off with MDF. Use some sort of sealer around the outside of that. Wrap the entire thing in polythene. Then put on the overlapping cladding (similar to the look of a garden shed..).

Same idea with the roof, use sealer/polythene/roof felt. Then attach small timber feet to raise it off the ground.

Robert's your father's brother!

Sounds simple enough, wait to see how it actually pans out!

GreeBo

Id worry about the breathability of that if its all wrapped up in polythene.
Can you buy some OSB marine/WBP ply instead? that wont turn to mush when wet and you wont have to worry about sealing it.

Remember, your kennel is going to have a sweaty, wet dog in it, it needs to be able to dry itself or it will rot from inside out.

az2wp0sye65487

Hmmmmm........ Good point.

Say if i was to raise the roof a couple of cm. So that it still covers the entire kennel but is supported just slightly above where it would meet the wall. Would this allow sufficient air circulation? i should also mention that i have some scrap laminate flooring at home that will be used as inside floor & possibly walls.....

Anyone any other ideas? All suggestions welcome....

GreeBo

Cassidy Nice Pig wrote: »

Hmmmmm........ Good point.

Say if i was to raise the roof a couple of cm. So that it still covers the entire kennel but is supported just slightly above where it would meet the wall. Would this allow sufficient air circulation? i should also mention that i have some scrap laminate flooring at home that will be used as inside floor & possibly walls.....

Anyone any other ideas? All suggestions welcome....

That would certainly help, also, since its going to be raised off the ground, maybe a few vent holes in the base?
I wouldnt use the laminate though, it will warp and peal from the humidity.

az2wp0sye65487

Would anyone like to see a couple of photos of my handywork?

secman

Ah go on then, show us ..........................

Is it a passive one , the cannine dwelling ?


Secman

niceirishfella

yes, love to see the dogs pad!

is it the dogs danglies?

gsxr1

Cassidy Nice Pig wrote: »

Would anyone like to see a couple of photos of my handywork?

would love to.
stick them up.


I built one also.

out of 3/4 wbp . . breathable felt over ply then clad on roof and 100 mm kingspan nailed to the underneath to keep the frost of the bottom in winter. I also tacked old carpet to the inside .

took 2 sheets of ply . but smaller is beter as it keep more body heat in the kennel

az2wp0sye65487

They're PDF's...

az2wp0sye65487

Last 2...

az2wp0sye65487

Sorry it took so long to get them up, was off galavanting over the long weekend!

What do ye think?

az2wp0sye65487

Just came across this 10 year old thread...

Both my poor dogs are gone a few months now. One in September (16 yrs old) and the other one December (13 yrs old)...

The kennel stood the test of time! Lasted all these years and is still sitting out in the back garden. The shelter and a bit of the floor at the front have suffered water penetration & damage but the rest of it is perfect!

beerbaron

Sorry to hear about your dogs stevie, sounds like you gave them a great home.

BrokenArrows

ya the pics you posted look great. Good job back then.