How to Build a Doghouse Roof

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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plywood Sheets
• Roll Roofing
• Vinyl Siding
• Wood Siding
• House Paints
• 2 X 2 Boards
• 2-by-4 Boards
• Aluminum Siding
• Caulking Guns
• Caulks
• Common Nails
• Electric Drill/assorted Bits
• Hammers
• Multiuse Screws
• Hammers

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.

Tips & Warnings

• Lay strips of foam or thin carpeting along the tops of the walls, between the frame and the roof, to help seal out drafts.
• Use only exterior-grade caulk.
• If you live in an area that gets heavy winds, attach the roof with screws through the plywood pieces that slip over the walls (see step 6). Predrill to avoid splitting the wood.
• If you live in an area that gets very warm, raise the height of the roof, or even cut in some vents near the tops of the walls in order to let out hot air and increase circulation. If the weather also gets very cold (or gets serious, sideways rain), remember to seal those vents and lower the roof in winter.
• Don't make the roof so heavy that it becomes like practice for weightlifting; it shouldn't take two people to get it off.