Can I build a dog house out of tree logs?

Question

I want to learn some basics of construction work. So i decided i wanted to build a dog house for fun. But since i have a dog, i want to try to make it functional so my dog can use it also if he wants. I am kinda short on leftover plywood i bought last week and im also a little short on money. But i have tons and tons of tree logs that we cut down this summer, so i was wondering if i could build a dog house of of the tree logs i have instead of buying more wood. Can i cut the logs into 2x4 pieces? or Can i just cut the logs in half and make it look kinda like a log cabin? All help is appreciated!
I will give best answer by tonight or tomorrow. Thanks. ^_^

P.S my dog is fairly large.
Here is the type of logs i would plan to use.
http://static-p3.fotolia.com/jpg/00/01/82/46/400_F_1824679_RN2GZEOBU8fJyHwbkuZNX9NBydREXL.jpg

Answer 1

How do you think they built things before the advent of power tools and plywood. I had a house that has timbers for joists (with the bark still on).



Some log cabins use full timbers with clay or mud packed in the gaps for weather proofing. Others use a tongue and grove method. The roof is a little harder to do. If you can take the bark off the logs well then you can use it. If you really want to learn then you could build it without any nails or screws the way they did it way way back.



One problem with using normal wood or logs is that they are not rot or insect proof. Pressure treated wood, cedar or composite will hold up over time. You could also use a deck sealer/preserver to give it a little more durability.



To make a nice log dog house it's going to require quite a bit of labor. You'll want to plane the tops and bottoms. Better yet if you can make a concave groove in the top log the same curvature of the bottom log (http://www.agri-eurocabins.co.uk/users/UserFiles/Image/Interlocking%20timber.jpg).



If you're hand, and it sounds like you are, you can do it. Our ancestors did. You'll have to do a Google search on "building with logs" or "Log Cabin Construction" etc. There is a lot involved and a lot of techniques that can make things easier.

Answer 2

Though it would be cool, I wouldn't advise it. The logs you have are quite large, meaning you would need some heavy equipment to move it once it was built. If the logs are not perfectly straight there will be a lot of work involved and if the goal is economics, the tools you would need to fit & notch would cost more than the 2x2s & plywood you would otherwise buy.



I helped the JH kids at a local school build a log dog house as a project a couple years ago. We used debarked fence rails which were very uniform & straight. It was great for the kids to learn how to scribe a log, manage materials etc, but in no way economical.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

sure you can make like a garage (small) for him so he can look outside and a little pond next to it and a little room for a play room

Answer 5

absoulotly!

I think it would be a fun project and your

dog would love it!

answer mine??



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