Dog lovers are a rare breed. Some pamper their pet with special clothes and bags, leashes encrusted with stones and painted nails. Other dog lovers go out of their way to treat their pet well. My husband loves to give his two Labrador retrievers some TLC with a sleek carcass fit for a king.
Although dogs live outside, there are times when they need the extra protection that a cozy room outside of our basement can offer. However, on most winter nights, they stay warm enough in their dog house thanks to the reflective insulation.
Reflective aluminum (also known as radiant barrier or reflective sheeting) is comprised of a thin, highly reflective layer of aluminum with a strong polyester inner scrim and is lightweight and tear resistant. Interestingly, it is easy to handle and cut with a box cutter or scissors.
My husband built our dog house out of 2x4s with interior and exterior walls out of plywood. Sandwiched between a good layer of bulk insulation and reflective insulation. We also put reflective insulation under the floor. Because our dogs are puppies, they are still inclined to tear and chew on most things they can put in their mouths. Perhaps if you have older dogs it will not be necessary to do so.
In any case, dogs feel warm and cozy inside their house thanks to the unique L-shaped construction and the two types of insulation. Elevated off the ground by several feet, the entrance is accessible by a ramp so that snow accumulates and causes the interior to become wet and soggy. So far, the Focus seems to be doing just fine on all but the coldest nights, thanks to the reflective insulation.