Complete estimate: every layer has a sourced thermal conductivity.
Wall
Exterior plywood · 12 mmR 0.07
XPS foam board · 50 mmR 1.51
Interior plywood lining · 6 mmR 0.04
Known-layer resistance: 1.62 m²K/W · U 0.56 W/m²K
Floor
Exterior plywood · 12 mmR 0.07
XPS foam board · 50 mmR 1.51
Interior plywood lining · 6 mmR 0.04
Known-layer resistance: 1.62 m²K/W · U 0.55 W/m²K
Roof
Exterior plywood · 12 mmR 0.07
XPS foam board · 50 mmR 1.51
Interior plywood lining · 6 mmR 0.04
Known-layer resistance: 1.62 m²K/W · U 0.57 W/m²K
Not included
Air leakage through the entrance and joints
Thermal bridges through battens, edges and fasteners
Moisture, condensation and property changes of damp material
Heat produced by the animal
Wind and transient temperature changes
Assumptions
Thin layers without a sourced λ (roof covering, film, mat) are not counted.
The estimate is not a temperature guarantee and does not claim the shelter is safe to any temperature.
Water and moisture
Weather exposure
A warm shelter that gets damp can be worse than a simpler one that stays dry. This is an explanation, not a condensation calculation.
✓Ground contactRaised about 80 mm off the ground.
!Rain splashRain splash from the ground can reach the floor and lower edges; protect the edges.
✓Roof drainageThe roof falls from the entrance to the rear, so water runs off away from the entrance.
✓Rain at the entranceThe entrance sill is 80 mm above the floor.
✓DryingCan be opened to dry out and change bedding.
✓Absorbent materialInterior surfaces do not absorb much moisture.
✓Maintenance accessAccess for checks and cleaning is simple.
Local price profile
Cost estimate
Quantities come from the model. Prices are not fabricated: enter what you actually pay locally and the estimate stays in your browser.
Prices entered: 0 / 11
Exterior plywood1 × 2500 × 1250 mm (planning format; check with your supplier).
1 sheetRSD 0
Interior plywood lining1 × 2500 × 1250 mm (planning format; check with your supplier).
1 sheetRSD 0
XPS foam board3 × 1250 × 600 mm (planning format; check with your supplier).
3 sheetsRSD 0
Solid softwood (battens, studs)Total length from the cut list + 10% allowance.
3.19 mRSD 0
Bituminous membraneRoof area + 15% for overlaps and edges; match overlaps and slope to the product instructions.
0.52 m²RSD 0
SealantSealing exterior edges and joints.
1 itemRSD 0
HingesThe service roof opens on its front edge.
2 itemsRSD 0
LatchKeeps the roof closed in wind.
1 itemRSD 0
Wood or foam adhesiveInsulation-compatible adhesive.
1 itemRSD 0
Wood screwsExterior screws; shorter than the wall build-up so they do not protrude inside.
1 itemRSD 0
StrawLoosely to a quarter or half of the height; keep the rest dry for refills.
1 itemRSD 0
Estimate from entered pricesRSD 0
Sheet, XPS, framing and hardware quantities come from the compiler. The estimate still excludes delivery, tools, labor, local taxes and unforeseen losses beyond the stated allowances. PROVISIONAL and product-specific items remain explicitly labeled.
Placement
Check the spot
No obvious issue detected
This is not a safety certificate for the spot: it only means none of the listed questions is ticked.
Bedding
What goes inside
RecommendedStrawRepels moisture and stays loose. Replace when damp, compacted or soiled, and when seasons change.
Not recommendedHaySoaks up moisture, turns cold and can mould. If already in a shelter, replace it with straw.
Not recommendedBlanketAbsorbs and holds moisture; a damp blanket chills. Wash and swap as soon as it is damp.
Not recommendedTowelAbsorbs moisture like a blanket. Wash and swap as soon as it is damp.
Not recommendedWood shavingsPartly absorbs moisture. Change when damp or compacted.
Not recommendedWashable dog bedDepends on fabric; textile absorbs moisture. Dry or swap as soon as it is damp.
Not recommendedNo beddingNothing to absorb moisture. Not applicable.
Maintenance
Inspection schedule
WeeklyCheck that the straw is dry and loose; replace it when damp or compacted.
WeeklyCheck for water or dampness on the floor and walls, especially under the entrance.
After stormsAfter rain or snow check the interior and the ground under the shelter.
MonthlyCheck the roof covering, overlaps and that water runs off at the rear, away from the entrance.
MonthlyCheck that screws and nails are tight and no tip protrudes.
MonthlyCheck edges: no splinters, cracks or swollen areas.
After stormsClear snow from entrances and exits so the animal cannot be snowed in.
Each seasonClean the interior; service access must allow cleaning without dismantling.
Upgrade path
Where to go next
Each step states what you add, what you gain and what stays limited. A new model has a new plan ID; changing an existing build has no canonical plan.
OSB/3 boardThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
OSB/4 boardThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
Interior plywood lining · 6 mm
Exterior plywoodThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
OSB/3 boardThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
Vinyl protective floor surfaceThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
XPS foam board · 50 mm
EPS foam boardabout the same layer resistance at 58 mm (conservatively 58 mm); thermal equivalence is not structural
PIR / polyiso boardabout the same layer resistance at 37 mm; thermal equivalence is not structural
Cork boardPossible substitute requiring redesign: at least one material has no sourced thermal conductivity, so an equivalent thickness cannot be calculated.
Bituminous membrane
EPDM membraneThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
Roofing feltThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
Galvanized sheet metalThe substitute changes the construction (thickness, strength or water protection); parts and joints must be re-planned.
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0 / 10steps completed
Cut the outer panels
Following the cut list, cut the floor, walls and roof from 12 mm exterior plywood. Side walls are sloped: 520 mm overall at the front and 460 mm at the rear, so the roof falls to the rear.
Cut the entrance
Cut a 150 mm × 180 mm opening through the front wall and every inner layer, with the sill 80 mm above the floor so rain and snow stay out. Face the entrance away from the prevailing wind. Cover or sand sharp edges.
Assemble the box
Front and rear walls run the full width and the sides fit between them. Join the walls on the floor with corner battens, glue and screws shorter than the wall build-up.
Fit the insulation
Fit xps foam board boards to the walls, floor and under the roof. Insulation must not stay exposed to the animal.
Interior lining
Cover the insulation with interior plywood lining. Close the edges around the entrance so no foam is visible.
Service roof
Hinge the roof on its front edge and latch it at the rear so it opens for cleaning. Fit the roof covering per the product instructions, with overlaps and protected edges.
Protect the outside
Coat outside faces and edges with a wood protection finish and let it fully cure before use.
Raise the shelter off the ground
Set the shelter on two battens, about 80 mm above the ground, so the floor does not touch cold, wet ground. Check that it does not rock.
Add straw, not hay
Loosely fill straw to a quarter or half of the interior height. Do not use hay, towels or blankets in an outdoor winter shelter: they absorb moisture and chill.
Choose the spot and secure it
Set it against a wall or fence, out of the wind, away from roof runoff and roaming dogs. Weight or secure lightweight shelters. Check the spot with the placement checklist.
Provenance
Sources and verification status
A source supports a guideline or material value, but it does not confirm this specific model. Container sizes are assumptions and build time is a planning estimate.