How to Build an Outdoor Pet Kennel

The pet kennel I am going to teach you how to make is basically a chain link enclosure with a gate set on a concrete pad. You can buy a kit that will help you with this process but you can save yourself some money if you do it with the raw materials. There are different sizes you can build it just depends on how big your dig is and how much time she is going to spend in the kennel. Just remember that if you plan to have something of great size like a dog house in the kennel, put it in before you install the fencing or it most likely won't fit in the gate.

The fist thing you want to do is lay out the pad for the kennel, where you want it and which direction you want it to run. Next excavate to a depth of about half the thickness of the pad if pouring the concrete directly onto the soil. Next you want to dig your post holes about 5 or 6 inches inside the edges of the pad and about 6 inches deeper than the frost line. Build yourself a form using 2x4 and 2x4 stakes, make sure everything is square and level and connect your 2x4's to make a concrete form. A concrete form is simply a frame to where you will be pouring your concrete, it is not an elaborate feet by any means.

Once your form is built the next step is putting your posts into the holes you previously dug and brace them with something so they will stay level while you pour your concrete pad. The easiest way to brace your posts is by duct taping 2x2 to the post and connecting them to a stake in the ground. Now you are ready to pour your concrete pad.

You want to start pouring your concrete in the middle of the pad first so you need to build yourself a ramp of some sort so you don't mess up your 2x4 form you built. Simply pour each load of concrete next to the previous one and keep moving until your are done. You want to poke the concrete with a shovel after every load to release air that may have gotten trapped. Smooth the concrete and wait for it to dry before starting the next step.

After the concrete has cured for a few days you can start with the kennel itself. First add the tension bands, brace bands, and post caps toe the each post. These will be labeled for you and easily recognizable once you inspect the contents. Next level the rails at the height of the chain link mesh, then tighten the bolts on the brace bands. Next thread a tension bar through the end of the mesh and attach it to the tension bands on a corner post with a fence puller and pull bar. If you find that there is too much mesh you simply twist open a strand at the top and bottom and pull the wire out, this will give you a good fit.

Once the chain link mesh is tight and attached in place to the corner posts, tie it at 12 to 16 inch intervals to the rails and line posts with tie wire. Thread a tension wire along the bottom loops and wrap it around the corner posts. The last thing you need to do is put up the gate, simply align the hinges and hang the gate to the hinges. Next attach the latch to the outside of the kennel and you are ready to go. This is really a pretty easy project it just takes some time. Chain link fencing can be tough to work with if it's your first time but it should get easier as you go. Good luck.