Wooden Birdhouse
Here is another wooden birdhouse that I like to make. This birdhouse is a little more complicated than your average square bird house because of the angles that need to be cut.
Wooden Birdhouse Pieces
First I cut all the wooden pieces that I need to assemble the birdhouse. These were all cut from a 8 inch by 8 foot stock cedar that I got at Lowes Home Improvement store.
Find Center on Wood
I find the center of the front piece and mark it on the wood. This will be used to angle the roof.
Marking the Right Side
I came down 2 1/2 inches on the right side and marked that point on the front piece.
Marking the Left Side
Then I repeated marking the left side two and a half inches down.
Marking Bottom
Next I marked a mark 1 2/16 in on each side of the bottom.
All Lines Drawn on Wood
As you can see here I have connected all the marks and it’s starting to look like the front of the birdhouse. This is how I get the dimensions for the front and back pieces onto the wood.
First cut
I cut both the front and back pieces at the same time on my table saw. That way the wooden pieces match up exactly. I used my steel ruler to line up the blade with the line on the piece I’m cutting before I cut them, so that the cut will be perfect.
Always read and follow the safety instructions and directions that come with your saw.
Hole Drilled
After the front and back pieces have been cut I drill the hole in the front for the birdhouse entrance.
Nailing side of wooden birdhouse
Time for assembly – Notice that I have cut an angle in the side piece to line up with the top so the roof will fit.
Wooden birdhouse side
Here is the assembled front, back, and sides of my wooden birdhouse.
Roof added to Birdhouse
Next the roof was added. These are just wooden squares with a wooden dowel on the top. The dowel was nailed from the each side with the air nailer.
Birdhouse Bottom Drainage
I measured and cut a bottom for the wooden bird house and drilled drainage holes in it. The bottom is fastened on with 4 wood screws. These can be removed later allowing cleaning of the birdhouse.
Wooden Birdhouse Finished
The birdhouse is now finished and ready for paint. I added a birdhouse predator guard to the entrance hole. You can see how I make these in my post on birdhouse predator guards
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Painting Wooden Birdhouse
I shingled the roof of the birdhouse with a single square piece of shingle cut from a standard three tab shingle. The shingle was glued down with liquid nails. Your can leave the birdhouse unpainted or paint it. I prefer to paint them because they hold up longer.
Remember that we don’t ever paint the inside of a birdhouse
I painted the outside edges blue and the front, back, and sides red. This is a nice little wooden birdhouse that is fairly simple to make. Remember to enjoy the birds!