Installation instructions

This section shows you the steps for installing the kennels. Please be sure to read the kennel and the site prep sections before you begin.

You can also download and print a PDF file of the kennel, site prep, and installation information.

Installation Instructions.pdf

Product overview

The LEE kennel consists of the following parts as applicable for your installation.

• 4'W x 6'H front panel / gate assembly
• 6' x 6' HDPE side panel, made up of a 4'H x 6'W panel & a 2' x 6' dog-bone cutout panel
• Optional - depending if your layout includes rear panels - 4'W x 6'H rear panel, made up of a 4' x 4' panel & a 2' x 6' dog-bone cutout panel
• 6' T-track for monting side panel to the floor, 4' T-track for mounting rear panel to the floor
• Dog-bone dual MagnaLatch® handle assembly and gate post
• 24" x 1" square tubing for the corners of stand-alone units
• Interlock kit including 3-way and other connectors as needed
• Hardware kit, which includes:
  • DuPont™ Weatherization Sealant
  • Gate-attachment nuts and bolts
  • Floor-mount bolts
  • Cutout dog-bone panel nuts and bolts
  • Installation kit, which includes:
    • Custom ball bit, V router bit, and custom router plate
    • Installation instructions

Assembly overview

The The HDPE (high-density polyethylene) panels and connectors are designed to be hygienic, so there are no nuts or bolts connecting the panels. The panels are set onto T tracks, which you connect to the floor using a sealant. The panels are connected to each other using HDPE connectors rather than brackets and screws. You need to route the sides and bottom of each panel to accomodate the T track and connectors. Using the custom-designed router plate and router bits, you neet to run the router along the panels to create the channels for the T track and connectors.

The bottom of the panels need a V channel that sits on the T track. The sides of the panels need a channel for the corner connectors or the wall mounting connector. The gate is connected to the side panels and bolted to the floor.

This is a quick guide to the instructions:

Tools / hardware needed
Preparing for the installation
Installing wall-backed kennels
Installing kennel-backed kennels
Installing the handle

Tools / hardware needed

The tools you need to have on hand for the installation are:

• Drill, 5/16" drill bit, and 1/2" concrete bit
• 1/8" - 1/4" slot router and 8mm and 1/8" router bit
• Rubber mallet
• Food-grade vegetable oil
• Wall screws / hardware appropriate for mounting wall-backed kennels to the wall – sheet rock, brick, etc, if you are mounting your kennels to a wall
• Caulk gun
• Chalk line & level
• Shop vac (if needed) to vacuum the HDPE shavings

Preparing for installation:

Upon receipt of the kennel, be sure to inspect the materials for shipment damage.

1. Clean the floor prior to installation per sealant instructions. (Sealant is included in the hardware kit.)
2. Lay out the facility:
   • Using a chalk line, lay out the kennels per your configured layout.
   • Check walls for obstructions that would interfere with any kennel or anything that's been changed since the layout was configured.

Your kennels may be backed by a wall or be back-to-back with another row of kennels, or you may have a mixture. In the illustration, the kennels along the wall are considered wall-backed kennels and are mounted to the wall. The kennels in the center of the room are kennel-backed kennels and share the rear panel with the kennel behind it. Follow the appropriate instructions for wall-backed kennels or kennel-backed kennels.

Installing wall-backed kennels:

Start the installation with the kennel that is to be located the furthest from the entrance to the kennel area.

1. Apply sealant to the floor along the centerline of the kennel and place 6' T-track onto sealant.
2. Cut slots into the edges of the 4' x 6' side panels, using custom ball and V router bits and router plate as shown below:
   • On the front edge (4' high) of each side panel, which attaches to the gate, use 1/8" straight-slot router bit (not included), set router to 3/4" deep, and route the entire height of the panel.
   • On the rear edge (4' high) of each side panel, which attach to the wall, use the provided custom ball-end bit, set to 1/2" deep, and route the height of the panel.
   • On the bottom edge (6' wide) of each side panel, which sits on the floor T-track, use the provided V-bit and set to route edge 3/4" deep, and route the length of the panel.
   • Do not route the top edge.
   • Coat the center bulb of the 3-way connector with food-grade oil and drive it into the routed slot at the back of the panel using a rubber mallet.
   • Place the panel over the T-track on the floor and align the 3-way connector perpendicular to the T-track and vertically level.
   • Secure the 3-way connector to the wall with appropriate customer-supplied wall screws by driving through the edges of the connector.
   • Install gate by placing the right gate post with the extruding fin into the 1/8" slot in the front (4' side) of the panel.

     This step requires two people: one to hold the panel vertical and another to install the gate in place while the next step is completed.

   • Drill through the 1/2" hole in the base of the gate frame into the floor, assuming it is concrete, using the customer-provided 1/2" drill bit.
   • Secure the gate:
     • If this kennel is in a corner, secure gate to wall by drilling and bolting through 1/2" holes in gate panel to wall, using the appropriate wall-mount screws.
     • If this kennel is not against a facility wall and is the first unit from the left in a row, you need to secure a gate post into the floor by drilling and securing with appropriate length customer-provided floor bolt.
   • Install two cap bolts and nuts between post and gate frame. Leave bolts hand tightened.
   • Install 2' x 6' cutout panel over the installed divider panel by drilling 5/16 hole through the front of gate panel, using the 1/2" hole as a guide, into and through the cutout panel.
   • Hand-tighten one cap bolt and nut to secure gate to the cut-out panel

Repeat steps 1 - 11 for each kennel until the row of kennels is complete, then align gates and cutout panels. and tighten bolts.

Installing kennel-backed kennels

Note: The 4' x 4' rear panels are actually 47" wide, rather than 48", to account for the space taken up by the corner connectors. The 47" side is the bottom of the rear panel, which sits on the T-floor connector, and the 48" sides are the sides of the rear panel, which connect to each other using the X-connector. Be sure that you route the bottom (47" wide) with the V-bit to create the channel for the floor T-connector and route both sides (48" high) with the custom ball-end bit for the X or T-connector to create the corners of the kennel.

1. Apply sealant to the floor along the 6' center line of the kennel and the 4' back line and attach the 6' and 4' T-tracks to the floor.
2. Cut slots into the edges of the 4' x 4" (actually 47" x 48") rear panel using the custom ball and V router bits and router plate as shown below:
   • On each 48" edge of the rear panel, which is the shared rear panel of the kennel behind it, use the provided custom ball-end bit, set to 1/2" deep, and route the height of the panel.
   • On the bottom edge (47" side), use the provided V-bit and set to route edge 3/4" deep, and route the width of the panel.
   • Do not route the top edge.
3. Coat the center bulb of the 3-way or 4-way connector (depending on whether the kennel is on a corner) with food-grade oil and drive it into the routed slot at the back of the panel using a rubber mallet.
4. Install pre-drilled 1" x 23" aluminum square tube by drilling through the 1/2 inch holes in the tube, using customer-provided 5'16" drill bit, into and through the cutout panel.
5. Position the gate panel onto chalk line and drill floor bolt hole, using concrete bit. Install bolt and tighten bolts.
6. If this kennel is not supported by a facility wall and is the first unit in a row, from the left, you will also need to place a gate post into the floor by drilling securing the concrete floor bolt.

Repeat steps 1-6 for each kennel until a row of kennels is complete, then align gates and cutout panels, and tighten bolts.

Installing the handle

When you have finished installing the kennels, you can start assembling the dual dog-bone MagnaLatch® handles. Place handle face down on a covered surface. Press the plunger handle into the slotted groove in the back of the handle and fill the area around the plunger with hot glue. Repeat process at the other end of handle. Locate latch bracket and position under handle tang protruding through slot in handle. Bend tang over handle. Repeat step 7 at the other end of the handle. Place assembly over screw holes in the gate and screw down with two provided self-tap screws. Assemble magnet ends on gate from and adjust per included instructions.

To outfit your kennels, you may want to provide the following for ease of use for your staff and the comfort of your canine guests – water bowl, raised bed, and clip board or tray for pet's information attached to the gate.

Congratulations on installing LEE kennels for a cean, comfortable environment for the pets housed in your facility!

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