Build Doggie Steps: Preparation
When you build doggie steps, consider the following
before you start: - Will these steps be used indoors or out, or both?
- Will you need to move the steps frequently?
- How much room is there to place a set of steps?
- How tall do the steps need to be?
(You can make it one step height lower than the surface your dog will be trying to reach) - How heavy and wide is your dog?
- Will more than one dog use the stairs at the same time?
The sturdiness of the steps is determined by the following:- The thickness of the plywood or board used
- The thickness of the underlying supports
- The number and placement of these supports
Our basic Build Doggie Steps design consists of three stairs each 6 inches high, 15 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Remember you can use your own combinations of height, width, depth.After you've completed the Basic Preparations below, please see our instructions on how to actually
build doggie steps
If your supply of materials is limited or you're making dog stairs with different dimensions than shown below, we suggest you draw things up on paper to see how best to make your cuts. Things can be adjusted by an inch or two (several centimeters) without much difference. Our actual step depth in the photos is 11.5 inches (292mm) because the plywood we found was only 34.5 inches (875mm) long. The plywood for the sides is 3/8 inch (10mm) thick. The plywood and pressboard we scrounged for the step and support pieces is 1/2 inch (12mm) thick. Jo at 140 lbs has been able to go up and down these steps with no problem (although we are recommending these for dog, not human, use). *********************************
BASIC PREPARATIONS
ESTIMATED TIME- Three to four hours to make the steps
- One hour to add the carpeting
MATERIALSPlywood (or equivalent) needed: - Two pieces 18 x 36 inches (455 x 915mm) or one piece 24 x 36 inches (610 x 915 mm) if you can saw accurately
- Three pieces 12 x 15 inches (305 x 380mm)
- One piece 15 x 18 inches (380 x 455mm)- can also be two or three pieces, each piece 15 inches (380 mm) wide
- One piece 6 x 15 inches (150 x 380 mm) wide
2 x 2's (50 x 50mm):*
*Actually measured to be 1.5 x 1.5 inches (35 x 35mm): - Six pieces, 12 inches long
- Two pieces, 15 inches (380 mm) long
- Two pieces, 4 inches (100mm) long
Carpeting: - One piece, 36 x 39 inches (915 x 990mm)**
**The above allows for a little extra. You can also use separate pieces if you don't have one whole piece of carpetFasteners: - Screws - wood or drywall
- Staples or carpet tacks
TOOLS - Tape measure
- Power saw or crosscut handsaw
- Power or manual phillips head screwdriver
- Pen, pencil or marker
- Staple gun or hammer
- Carpet knife or razor blade
Now that you're all set, here's that link to
Build Doggie Steps
again. Happy building!
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