How To Build A Diy Pet House

Note: This DIY pet house is sized for a small cat or dog at under two feet wide.

Steps for Building a Dog or Cat House:

Step 1: Layout the cuts

To begin, mark the plywood using my diagram in the downloadable plans above. Apply painter’s tape to the plywood, and mark the cut lines with a marker. Covering the cut lines with painter’s tape will reduce chipping during the cuts.

Step 2: Set the saw Set the bevel on the circular saw to 50-degrees for the first two cuts. Step 3: Make the cuts Section the plywood into four pieces using two beveled cuts and one cut at zero-degrees, as noted on the diagram in the downloadable plans above. Step 4: Cutout the door

Using a drill/driver, bore a hole inside the door outline. Place the blade of a jigsaw into the hole, and then cut the outline.

Step 5: Assemble the base

Apply wood glue to the front and back edges of the side panels. Position the sides between the front and back panels. Using a nailer, drive 1½-inch nails through the front and back panels and into the edges of the side panels.

Step 6: Attach the roof

Apply wood glue to the top edges of the assembled base. Position the roof panels. Drive 1½-inch nails through the roof panels and into the front and back panels.

Step 7: Add the chimney

Cut the chimney pieces to size. (Tip: this can be done by marking the lines and cutting the pieces with a circular saw, or using a miter saw set 50-degrees to match the angle of the roofline.) Apply wood glue between the pieces, and then nail them together with 1½-inch nails. Center the chimney on the left roof panel. Outline the chimney on the roof. Apply wood glue to the underside of the chimney. Position the chimney, and then nail through the base of the chimney and into the roof.