Design class: BudgetValidation status: Data validated
Summer Cross-Vent Shelter
An uninsulated box with an entrance at the front and a second opening at the rear so hot air can move through, as Alley Cat Allies recommends for summer. It must stand in full shade.
Extreme heat needs a cooler safe space, not a better closed house. Provide shade, water and freedom to leave.
“Data validated” means only the data and calculations are checked; the model has not been built or tested physically.
Capacity1–2
Outside size750 × 550
BuildBeginner
Time (estimate)3 h–5 h
model v1.0.0compiler P1.0.0plan e51ca7c80834ec14Panel boxSummer · Rain
This model has no 3D view; the drawing and dimensions below fully describe the construction.
corner-batten-frontFront corner batten38 × 38 mm · 476 mm2
corner-batten-rearRear corner batten38 × 38 mm · 416 mm2
raise-battenRaising batten45 × 80 mm · 550 mm2
Sheet nesting
Parts on sheets
Sheet formats are planning assumptions; check your supplier's format. Sloped parts occupy their rectangular envelope.
Exterior plywood · 12 mm2 × 2500 × 1250 mm
Sheet 1 · 54% usedSheet 2 · 15% used
Layers and thermal
Known and unknown layers
Complete estimate: every layer has a sourced thermal conductivity.
Wall
Exterior plywood · 12 mmR 0.07
Known-layer resistance: 0.07 m²K/W · U 4.15 W/m²K
Floor
Exterior plywood · 12 mmR 0.07
Known-layer resistance: 0.07 m²K/W · U 3.56 W/m²K
Roof
Exterior plywood · 12 mmR 0.07
Known-layer resistance: 0.07 m²K/W · U 4.74 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.
!DryingWithout a service opening drying and cleaning are harder; change bedding through the entrance.
✓Absorbent materialInterior surfaces do not absorb much moisture.
!Maintenance accessLeave room around the house for checks and cleaning.
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 / 5
Exterior plywood2 × 2500 × 1250 mm (planning format; check with your supplier).
2 sheetsRSD 0
Solid softwood (battens, studs)Total length from the cut list + 10% allowance.
3.17 mRSD 0
EPDM membraneRoof area + 15% for overlaps and edges; match overlaps and slope to the product instructions.
0.75 m²RSD 0
SealantSealing exterior edges and joints.
1 itemRSD 0
Wood screwsExterior screws; shorter than the wall build-up so they do not protrude inside.
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
RecommendedNo beddingNothing to absorb moisture. Not applicable.
AcceptableStrawRepels moisture and stays loose. Replace when damp, compacted or soiled, and when seasons change.
AcceptableTowelAbsorbs moisture like a blanket. Wash and swap as soon as it is damp.
AcceptableWood shavingsPartly absorbs moisture. Change when damp or compacted.
AcceptableWashable dog bedDepends on fabric; textile absorbs moisture. Dry or swap as soon as it is damp.
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.
Maintenance
Inspection schedule
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.
WeeklyCheck that the spot is still fully shaded in the hottest part of the day and that fresh water is nearby.
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.
No upgrade path is defined for this model yet.
Don't have this material?
Exterior plywood · 12 mm
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.
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0 / 8steps completed
Cut the outer panels
Following the cut list, cut the floor, walls and roof from 12 mm exterior plywood. Side walls are sloped: 500 mm overall at the front and 440 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.
Roof
Fix the roof. 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.
No bedding
In summer leave a clean, cool surface without heat-holding bedding.
Place in full shade
The spot must be shaded through the hottest part of the day, on grass or soil, not on hot concrete or metal. Fresh water must be nearby and the animal must be free to move somewhere cooler.
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.