Getting Started

Each of our three variations can be built with a collection of common tools:

• Circular or table saw
• Power drill
• 1/2-inch drill bit
• Countersink bit
• #2 Phillips drive bit
• Hammer
• A small square
• Measuring tape
• Miter box for making 45-degree cuts
• Nail set (for Picket Fence box)

• Redwood, cedar, or other rot-resistant lumber (see Note below)
• 3/4-inch square stock of rot-resistant wood for inside braces
• Decorative trim and/or molding
• Medium-grit sandpaper
• Water-resistant glue or construction adhesive
• Exterior caulk
• Sixteen or more 1-1/4-inch deck screws
• Sixteen or more 2-1/2-inch deck screws
• 4d finishing nails for attaching 1x2
• 1-inch brads
• Oil-base primer
• Exterior latex or oil-base paint in choice of color(s)
• Paintbrushes
• Paint thinner
• Metal braces
• Exterior surfacing compound

Twenty-four 2-inch deck screws

2x2 or 1x1 lumber

1 1/2x1/4-inch redwood lattice or flats

Additional 1-inch brads

Metal braces

Note: Pressure-treated wood is probably not a good choice for this project because of its tendency to warp. Also, if you're using cedar, it measures differently from other lumbers, so instead of using a standard 1x2 for the trim on the top of the box, you'll need to rip a 1x3 to 1 1/2 inches wide.