Pet Steps

Offer your dog or cat a leg up with this simple project.

Photography by Brian Francis

Aches and pains can affect us all--including our pets. So for a helpful boost onto the bed or into the family car, build these convenient steps for your family's furry friend.

GeneralInstructions

Cut and label the parts as needed, using the Cut List and Cutting Diagram as guides and adjusting for fit. All parts are attached with wood glue and 4d finishing nails.

Step-by-Step

Assemble the sides and risers
- Lay out the (01) sides as shown in Figure 1, and cut them accordingly.
- Attach both the (02) lower riser and the (03) upper riser to the (01) sides as shown in Figure 2.
Add the back brace
- Attach the (04) back brace between the (01) sides so that the piece is flush with the back edges and the bottom of the (01) sides.
Attach the treads
- Position the lower (05) tread against the (03) upper riser, with the overhang equal on both sides. There also will be an overhang on the front. Nail the lower (05) tread to the (01) sides and the (02) lower riser as shown in Figure 2.
- Position the upper (05) tread so that it's flush with the back edges of the (01) sides. Make sure the overhang is equal on the other three sides. Nail the upper (05) tread to the (01) sides and the (03) upper riser as shown in Figure 2.
Apply finishing touches
- Set all nails, and fill all holes. Then sand, prime, and paint.
- Cut sections of doormat or carpet scraps to fit, and attach to the (05) treads using staples. Attach furniture glides to the bottom corners.

Good to know

Thorough coats of Valspar primer and paint on this project will help it weather frequent use by your pet.

Skill Set: Cutting Plywood

To prevent chipping when cutting plywood, place painter's tape or masking tape on the cut line. (If your line is drawn dark enough, it will be visible through the tape.) When cutting with a circular saw, place the best side of the plywood down. When cutting on a table saw, place the best side up.

Illustration

Cut List

Part	Material	Size (in inches)	Quantity
(01) sides	plywood	1/2 x 11 1/4 x 16 1/2	2
(02) lower riser	plywood	1/2 x 5 1/4 x 14 1/2	1
(03) upper riser	plywood	1/2 x 6 x 14 1/2	1
(04) back brace	1 x 10	3/4 x 9 1/4 x 13 1/2	1
(05) treads 2	1 x 10	3/4 x 9 1/4 x 16	2
Finished Dimensions Height: 12 inches Depth: 17 inches Width: 16 inches

Sort by:

Customer stories

Write a story

By:Greg

Posted: August 25, 2011

By:Greg

Nice set of plans, and good clear directions both on the video and written. The only thing that I saw that was a little misleading is the fact that the steps she made and were shown in the video were taller than the stated 12" that the plans will make. The treads are made from 2X10's, and if you look at the those versus the supposed 11 1/4" sides, they are very different. Adjusting the plans to make the steps as large as they are in the video could be problematic for some.

0points

0 Thumbs Up

Did you like this story?Yes0unhelpful0

Report inappropriate content

Share this story:

Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this story.

Comment Comment

Be the first to comment on this

Comment

2345...13next>>

Filtering is in progress. Please wait until it completes.

Customer stories

Read all 13 stories Write a story

Share this page

2345...13next>>

Total Votes: 45

close[X]

These "social bookmarking" services make it easier to share and manage your favorite online content.

StumbleUpon, digg, and del.icio.us help you gather content from around the web, describe it how you see fit, and tag it for easy sorting. These sites also allow you to see what other people are gathering and tagging (if they've made it public), and find new content that may interest you.

Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace also allow you to share content that you find interesting, with people who visit or subscribe to your personal profile.

-->