How to insulate the doghouse for the winter with your own hands?

Many cynologists believe that a warmed kennel is required for a dog only if it refers to a short-haired or smooth-haired breed. More fluffy animals are able to tolerate cold winters. A warm four-legged friend provides a thick undercoat.

This article will describe various methods of how to prepare a booth for a dog in the cold period.

The main stages of kennel warming

Many are wondering how to insulate the doghouse for the winter. Do not forget that our four-legged friends also need good care and comfortable living conditions. Let's look at how and what to insulate the doghouse for the winter. The instruction and detailed description of the process will help us in this important matter.

First of all you should start working from the inside. For this purpose, under the outer layer of the skin, the material that protects against cold is laid. It is hidden by means of plywood or vagonki.

The inner covering must necessarily fit snugly to the heater. In this case, be careful that he does not get out from under it. Otherwise, cold air will enter your pet's home, which already poses a danger to the health of the dog.

If the ceiling at the kennel has a folding structure, then you will have to lay additional material. If you are new to this business, be sure to learn all the necessary information, and also consider the drawings, which explain in detail how to insulate the doghouse for the winter. Photos of such structures show that there is nothing complicated in the process of their creation.

The roof covering is made of two or three layers. For a roof metal, plastic or bitumen perfectly approaches. Protection of the box from the cold is complex and is carried out with the help of different materials.

From what construction is carried out

How to insulate the booth for a dog for the winter with maximum efficiency? Usually the gasket is placed in all parts of the kennel. For a floor, a roof and walls use different materials, leaning against their characteristics, and also positive and negative sides.

How to properly insulate the doghouse for the winter and what material to use depends on the location of the kennel and the personal choice of the owner of the dog, as well as on how often the dog sits in his house.

Usually used are:

• Sawdust. Relate to natural materials. They are distinguished by a high level of thermal insulation and do not pose a danger to the health of the dog. The only condition - before treatment should be carried out treatment against parasites. So you will avoid the appearance of fleas and ticks in your pet. This material has also negative sides. Sawdust very easily ignite, and also are prone to decay.
• Styrofoam. It is often used for warming living quarters. It also suits the kennel. Polystyrene prevents the penetration of noise from outside and has a high level of thermal insulation. He does not rot, which also distinguishes him from natural remedies. This material is easily ignited, which carries a danger not only for the four-footed pet and its kennel, but also for nearby buildings.

• Mineral wool. Excellent insulation of the premises. However, over time, the material becomes confused and loses its original characteristics.
• Penoplex is plate-like plates that do not allow moisture to escape and perfectly protect in the winter from freezing. However, the installation of this material creates a large number of seams, which do not interfere with the cold and require additional insulation.
• Glass wool. This material has many advantages. By cons are the presence of the smallest particles of fiberglass, which irritate the skin of hands during installation work. There is also a danger that the fragments will enter the lungs or the eyes of a person and a dog.
• Polyurethane foam is a modern insulation that is applied by spraying. He does not have minuses. It does not pose a health hazard, does not burn, does not deform and does not rot.

We build ourselves

Many are wondering how to insulate the doghouse for the winter with their own hands. After all, I want to make my pet a good home, where he will feel comfortable and safe. Will tell in detail how to insulate the doghouse for the winter, the instruction. Photos and drawings will show the whole process of work in detail.

The dog's kennel is small in size, so there should not be any gaps between the materials. Even the smallest gap will bring all your efforts to naught. How to insulate the dog box for the winter so that no gaps are formed?

The selected material is attached to the roof and inner walls of the booth. The method of installation is different. Felt is usually nailed. Styrofoam and penoplex are screwed with screws or glued. The layer of thermal insulation should be veneered with plywood, OSB plate or lining. The floor of the kennel is sprinkled with hay or sawdust. They should be put dry. Such materials do not pass cold. Periodically, they will have to be shaken and replaced. To enter the kennel, which is open, did not release heat, it can be closed with a special curtain. It must cover the hole with a margin.

How to install a curtain for a booth

The main purpose of the curtain is to maintain the optimum temperature in the kennel in the winter. The material from which the curtain is made must protect the box from drafts. To this end, the following are used:

• Tarpaulin. It is distinguished by its density. In the manufacture of this material is covered with a special mixture that prevents fire. The main advantage of the tarpaulin is its elasticity. Therefore, the tension of the curtain is adjusted with ease, depending on the size of the entrance.
• Felt on an artificial basis perfectly preserves heat. It can be easily cut. At the same time, the edges of this material do not crumble, so they do not need to be processed.

The curtain must completely cover the entrance and do not interfere with the dog to enter and exit. The material should be correctly marked. Determine the size you need and add allowances: 5 cm on the sides and 10 cm from the bottom. In order for the dog to not accidentally tear off the blind during sudden movements, it must be secured to the top of the entrance by means of a wooden bar. The blind is installed using self-tapping screws.

Insulation of the kennel by means of polyurethane foam

This material does not pose a threat to human health and the pet, it is resistant to moisture. It is one of the best thermal insulation products. It differs in affordable value. It is attached to the inside of the booth. Usually, flexible polyurethane foam is used. This is due to the openness of its structure and increased absorption of moisture. Therefore, it is not used outside.

Polyurethane foam with a rigid structure is suitable for attachment from the outside of the kennel. In principle, this is the best solution for protecting the doghouse from the cold. The material is not toxic, since its basis is plastic. It can be purchased both in liquid and solid form. The liquid material is applied by spraying, and the solid is plate-shaped.

Plates are large in size and not suitable for warming a doghouse. We advise you to resort to the use of a liquid form, the main advantages of which include:

• Filling of all cracks and gaps;
• Protection of the kennel from mold fungi and putrefaction;
• Isolation from noise;
• Long service life (over 30 years).

Warming of the booth with penokleksom

As a rule, to warm the dog booth, a penoplex is used, the thickness of which is 50 mm. It is resistant to moisture. The material is attached to the walls and ceiling inside. All the crevices formed can be poured by mounting foam from the outer and inner sides.

It is necessary to carry out the obligatory planking of the penoplex by means of plywood, OSB boards, MDF boards and other materials. Otherwise, the sheets will crumble from the constant contact of the dog's body with the walls of the booth. In addition, the animal can scratch the material with teeth and claws.

Minus heat insulation through a penoplex

In a hot period, this booth will become a real therma for a dog. After all, it is hermetically sealed and prevents the influx of fresh air.

The situation is saved by the hinged lid. This allows you to make a draft and improve the situation somewhat. But when designing a kennel, a removable heater must be provided. Penoplex should be installed so that it can be removed for a hot period.

We use hay

How to insulate the doghouse for hay for the winter? This is a fairly old method. Outside, the kennel is covered with burlap, but not tightly, but so that it lies freely. Straw is placed in the holes. The bunk takes a round shape and becomes soft. Inside is also placed straw, in which the dog arranges a nest.

Protecting the kennel from the cold of straw is undesirable, since fleas can cause it, causing the dog inconvenience.

Main types of electric heaters

How to warm a booth for a dog for the winter with electricity? This can help:

• Heaters based on panels. The metal structures are in a metal casing. Their thickness is no more than 2 cm, which makes it possible to have a compact arrangement in the booth. They are attached to the skin by means of self-tapping screws.
• Film-based systems. This is a special thermal film that warms the box with infrared radiation. It is installed under the lining of the kennel.

Tips for installing electric heaters

• If you decide to install an electric heater under a doghouse, you must pour the floor with a solution. The screed is made on polystyrene foam. Lie on a concrete dog does not like, so lay a felt sheet or a shield of wood.
• When installing a heating film on the side walls, it should be covered with plywood.

Pros of electric heating of the kennel

This type of insulation has many positive aspects:

• In frosty days the electric heater will create optimal conditions for a four-legged friend.
• The kennel will be dry, which will prevent the appearance of mold fungi.
• The moist air exhaled by the dog does not turn into condensate and does not settle on the walls of the booth.
• The heater does not consume a lot of electricity - only 100 W / m².

Heating up by electricity

Electric heaters have their own negative sides:

• The pet is always active. In case of poor protection of the electric wire, the dog can gnaw it and die.

• Do not forget about moisture. Electric heaters on the basis of a film are protected by a sticker from bitumen. But if on their surface moisture constantly settles, then they pose a danger to the life of the pet. If you insulate the booth with your own hands, then protect the unit from humidity. The water in the booth gets from the snow, which the dog brings up on paws and wool. Also, the snow is blown by the wind, if there is no curtain, or it lets in air.

There is an alternative

Many can not decide for a long time how and what to insulate the doghouse for the winter. Should we protect the kennel from the cold at all? After all, such insulation does not always guarantee optimal conditions for the pet and requires certain knowledge from the owner. In the cold season it is better to keep the dog at home or to buy it a ready kennel, which is designed for very low temperatures.

Such booths have a well-thought-out design and are made with the use of modern insulating materials. A kennel of this type will bring comfort to the dog on the coldest days.