How To Make An Indoor Window Box

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Window boxes are an inexpensive and like shooting fish in a barrel way to add colour to your dwelling house's outside or make use of limited space. They can be used for flowers or herbs, and they allow you to garden without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Read on if you are interested in making one for yourself.

1. 1

   Find inspiration. Look at varieties of window boxes online or prefabricated models in stores to get an idea of the design you would similar to utilize. (The instructions that follow are for a basic rectangular box. They tin can be easily modified to fit whatever specifications you are looking for.)

   • In particular, you may want to call up immediately virtually how your window box will be attached to your house. Many designs utilize wooden brackets or braces to agree up the box, and this should be taken into account in your plans^[1] . You lot can brand these uncomplicated braces yourself, or there are a number available for purchase in dwelling and garden stores.

2. 2

   Measure the window where you want to place your window box to determine the length of the box. This will determine how much lumber you will need to purchase.

   • If y'all want your window box to run the full length of the window, add twice the length of your window box plus twice the width that you are planning to determine how much lumber y'all'll need for the 4 sides of the box.
   • The bottom will exist the same length as the sides.

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3. 3

   Determine the type of lumber you would like to use for your window box. Your demand to select a type of wood that is resistant to the elements (later all, this will be hanging outside). In making your selection, yous need to think about the specific requirements that must be fulfilled. How harsh is the weather condition in your location? How big is this window box going to be, and how much weight will the boards accept to bear? Every type of wood has unique qualities, and you should keep that in mind as you make your option.

   • Adequately typical boards for projects of this sort are 1X6s or 2X6s--that is, its dimensions are i inch by vi inches or two inches past vi inches (the heavier boards may exist useful for the bottoms of the box). These come in a number of lengths, so consider which one volition exist most appropriate for this projection.
   • At that place are a broad variety of grades of pressure level-treated lumber that tin stand up to outdoor weather condition, each designed for specific environments. Learn something about the grades and think near which ane will adapt your requirements.^[2]
   • Though force per unit area-treated boards are no longer treated with the same toxic chemicals they once were, they are nonetheless treated with some peculiar substances. Additionally, new force per unit area-treated lumber will comprise some moisture, and so it cannot be painted until information technology has begun to dry or weather.^[three] For those who would adopt natural wood that are relatively conditions resistant without treatment, certain varieties of cedar, cherry, locust, or others may exist appropriate.^[4]

4. 4

   Decide what cease or paint yous would like. Every bit noted above, this is something to consider when thinking about lumber besides. But the exterior blanket will as well touch on both the appearance and durability of your window box, and so strike the appropriate residuum when making your selection.

5. 5

   Buy the materials. As virtually of you know, in that location has been an accumulation of home improvement stores throughout the country in recent years. Most have lumber, and nearly all accept the additional supplied you will demand (a complete listing follows at the bottom of the page).

   • It is recommended that you talk to the people who work at the home improvement shop to get any quick tips or advice they might accept for the project. They frequently know something about that lumber or paint they are selling you (usually due to customer complaints following failed projects). Understand that they are interested in making a sale, but know that they may have useful information to share.

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1. one

   Measure out and mark the pieces of lumber for cutting. Always remember, measure twice, cut once. You merely get one chance at cut before you lot brand a mistake and discover that yous take to make another trip back to the hardware store. And they volition immediately know why y'all are in that location.

2. ii

   Use your saw to cutting the lumber to desired lengths. Cut the longer pieces first, then use remaining pieces for the shorter sides or to create braces.

3. 3

   Sand and, if applicable, seal or paint the lumber before assembly. If you tin can utilise a sealant or pigment before final associates, do and then. The purpose is to glaze the wood, then why not make sure that it is properly covered before screwing all of these joints together forever?

4. 4

   Drill guide or pilot holes into the lumber where you plan to screw the pieces of lumber together. Though there are devices that will permit your to drill the screws directly into the lumber, doing so tin stress the wood and cause splits about the end. It is also easier to maintain control when drilling guide holes than information technology is to spiral directly into the woods, especially when using hard woods.^[5]

5. v

   Get together the box.

   • Employ a screwdriver bit with your drill to attach the ends of the window box to the bottom using rust-proof screws. Exist sure to support the forest against something sturdy or have someone concord the lumber while you lot are screwing the pieces together.
   • Identify the front and back sections onto the bottom department to make sure that all of the pieces are cut to fit (the ends should all exist flush with each other) before attaching the forepart and back pieces of the window box. Spiral the front and dorsum pieces to the bottom and sides of the window box.

6. 6

   Drill drainage holes. You'll need several holes in the bottom of the window box to allow water to drain out of the window box.

7. 7

   If appropriate, apply boosted sealant or paint as needed. Allow the sealant or paint dry out completely before final installation.

8. viii

   Insert a plastic window box liner. This volition foreclose the soil from rotting the woods.

9. nine

   Cut minor pieces of weed material. Use them to cover the drainage holes to continue the soil from coming out of the bottom of the window box.

10. 10

    Install the window box. Drill holes into the outside wall where y'all're going to hang your window box. Additionally, if you have left lumber to serve as a separate brace, drill holes for that as well. Attach the brace first, then the window box, screwing them in tightly only without damaging the forest.

    • When screwing the window box to the brackets from the bottom of the window box, use screws that are slightly shorter than the thickness of the bottom of the window box.
    • You too want to consider the blazon of siding that yous're installing the window box over. In some cases (similar with vinyl), you may want to remove the siding and install the window box in that now-empty space.^[half-dozen]

11. xi

    Add soil and flowers, plants, and/or herbs. Your project is complete.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  Are window boxes bad for your house?

  

  Emily Fazio
  Dwelling house Improvement & DIY Specialist

  Emily Fazio is a Home Improvement and DIY Specialist and the author backside Merrypad, a abode improvement and DIY lifestyle weblog. Emily develops content for Discovery including HGTV.com and DIYNetwork.com, among other influential interior design and homesteading websites. Her partnerships include companies such as Legrand, Sherwin-Williams, Stihl, and Kohler. Emily studied at St. Bonaventure University.

  

  Dwelling house Improvement & DIY Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Not necessarily, but you definitely need to take the proper precautions. For instance, if you remove whatsoever trim to install your window box, yous'll need to adjust whatsoever flashing and make sure that your window box doesn't create a moisture issue beneath the window.

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• If you don't have a ability saw, most lumber yards volition cutting your lumber to the desired lengths at no additional charge.

• If you can't detect a plastic liner to fit your window box, apply a layer of roofing compound to the within of the window box with a broad putty knife.

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Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Lumber
• Paint or wood stain
• Power saw (recommended)
• Power drill, including a screwdriver bit
• Plastic window liner
• Small corporeality of weed textile
• Window box brackets
• Rust-proof screws (multiple sizes)
• Potting soil
• Flowers, plants and/or herbs

About This Article

Thank you to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 29,913 times.

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Window-Box

Posted by: wilsonliche1953.blogspot.com

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