Copyright © 2018 by Kim Mills @ Homestead Acres

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 Birdhouse Planter Tips

If you are looking for a super cute planter box for your backyard, deck or to use as a window box
these are perfect!

Don’t miss the step by step tutorial at the end of this guide to show you how to make your own
mini shingles and trim. They are the perfect touch to finishing off the birdhouses to give it a
country cabin look. If you would rather not make your own shingles you can also buy ready
made singles for doll houses that will work well.

We find that the natural porousness of the wood allows for enough drainage in these planters.
However, you can also drill some small holes in the bottom if you want to.

Another option is to line the inside of the planter with plastic, drilling holes through the plastic
and wood. The plastic will help to protect the wood from moisture and make it last longer.

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Material List
• 2 - 1x6 @ 8 feet
• 1 1/2” wood screws
• 1 1/4” spiral finishing nails
• 3/4” finishing nails

Materials For Trim (optional)

• 1 - 2x4 @ 2 feet (to make the shingles and trim listed below)
• 48-55 wooden shingles
• 4-6’ of trim
• Wood glue (heavy duty hot glue works well)

5”
Roof
8 1/4”
Front & 21” 21”
8 1/4” 27”
Back
Front & 5” Side Side
Roof Base
Back

5 1/2”
8 1/4” Roof
Front & 8 1/4”
Back Front &
Back
5 1/2”
Roof

Cut List
• Cut 2 pieces 21” long for the sides
• Cut 1 piece 27 long for the base
• Cut 4 pieces 8 1/4” long for the front and backs of the birdhouse
• Cut 2 pieces 5” long for the roof
• Cut 2 pieces 5 1/2” long for the other roof side

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Step 1.
Take the birdhouse front and back pieces and cut two 45 degree angles on one end to form a
peak.

Step 2.
The next step is to make the
holes for the birdhouses.
Take 1 of the front pieces
and measure down 3 3/4”
from the centre of the roof
point, this will be the centre
of the hole. Using a 1 1/4”
drill make the hole. Then
repeat for the 2nd front
piece.

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Step 3.
Sand all the pieces and the inside of the birdhouse hole.

Step 4.
The next step to assembling the birdhouse planter box is to attach the roof pieces together.

Take one of the 5” roof pieces and one of the 5 1/2” roof pieces and place the edges together as
shown in the photo. Nail them together on each corner.

Tip: It’s much easier to assemble the roof pieces if you start the nails on one side first.

Step 5.
Now you need to attach the outer edges
of the face of the birdhouse piece to the
base.

Measure back 3 inches from the edge of

the base and mark it with a line.

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 Start 2 screws along the marked line, then
while holding the birdhouse front to the
base finish screwing them together.

Repeat on the other end.

Step 6.
Now it’s time to add the back piece of the
birdhouse.

Measure back 3 1/2 inches from the front

piece and mark and attach the base using
the same method you used to attach the
front piece.

Repeat on the other end.

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Step 7.
With the planter laying on it’s side, lay the side boards over top as shown.

Nail the side board to the birdhouse front pieces with 3 nails.

It’s not necessary to nail into the back piece of the birdhouse as it is held together by the roof and
floor base when fully assembled. That way the nails won’t be visible on the sides.

Repeat the steps to add the second side board.

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 Step 8.
Turn the birdhouse planter right side up.
Then place the roof onto of the birdhouse.

Line it up so that the roof overlaps the

back wall by about a 1/4 inch.

Nail the roof down into the birdhouse

with 2 nails on each side.

Now the basic birdhouse planter box is finished! You can use it as is or add some trim and
decorations to make it look really cute.

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How To Trim The Birdhouse Planter

Adding Wood Shingles

Start by taking your wood shingles and lining
up the first one so it slightly overlaps the front
edge by a 1/4 inch.

Attach all the shingles on the outer edge with 2

finishing nails for extra strength. The shingles
on the inside only need 1 nail.

Add 3 more shingles access the bottom layer as

shown.

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To start the 2nd row of shingles you will need a half piece.

Find a shingle that has a straight grain and break or cut it down the centre.

Attach it along the outside edge overlapping the first row. So it covers the nail holes.

Finish the 2nd row by adding 2 more full-size shingles and end it with 1 more half piece.

The 3rd row of shingles is 4 full-size pieces the

same as the 1st row was done.

When you have finish the first side of the

birdhouse roof, repeat the same pattern on the
3 remaining roof sides.

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Adding Trim
Taking the thin trim strips place it up to the back edge of the birdhouse cut it to fit as shown with
a 45-degree angle on each end. Nail it into the back of the birdhouse.

Repeat on the remaining front and back sides of the birdhouses.

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Now it’s time to add the trim to the roof.

Measure and cut the trim so it covers the top layer of shingles and nail it to the roof.

Repeat 4 times to form the roof peak on both birdhouses.

Then cut trim to cover the seams where the
sideboards attach to the front of the birdhouse as
shown in the photo on the left.

To add some extra cuteness take some thicker

branches and cut them into rounds 2 inches long.

Then split the rounds into 4 long pieces so they

look like tiny firewood logs.

Nail them down into the base in front of the

birdhouse.

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 Add A Perch
If you would like to add a perch to the birdhouse.
Cut a nice sized branch ( you can also use a
wooden dowel ) and drill a hole close to the
diameter of the stick.

Fill the hole with a good quality hot glue for

wood and place the sick inside.

Repeat for the other birdhouse.

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 How To Make Your Own Shingles & Trim
Making your own handmade shingles and trim for birdhouses and other projects is really easy.
We’ve shown how to make your own below. Another option is to buy ready made shingles used
for making doll houses and use those instead.

Set your table saw guide at 3/4 inch. Then take a

2x4 that’s 2 feet long and rip the edge off as shown.

Now take the 3/4 inch wide piece you just cut off the 2x4 and turn it on it’s flat. Set the table saw
guide to 1/8 inch wide.

Rip as many strips off it as you need for trim. Discard the first piece as it has an uneven edge.
These are the trim strips that are used for the roof and side edgings.

Now take the remaining section of the 2x4 and

with it laying on it’s flat rip it into strips 1/8 inch
wide.

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 Setup a guide on your chop saw for 2 1/2 inches.
Take a stack of 4 of the wide strips your cut for
the shingles.

Cut as many as you’ll need at 2 1/2 inches long.

The finished shingles will look like this. They are

perfect for decorating small projects!

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