These round birdhouses are interesting, aren’t they? They’re attractive too, both to look at and to live in, judging by the reaction of the tenants that I have built them for. Also, they are easy and inexpensive to make, so why not you try your hand at one or two? They will add charm to your garden or the garden of the person you give it to this Christmas. It will also gain you the appreciation of some of your favorite bird neighbors.

The basic design is the same, whether the house is intended for bluebirds or robins (see images, all diagram images will enlarge if you click on them), or those tiny, talkative wrens. The essential parts are: two wooden disks for the front and back; connecting pieces to form the roof and enclose the nest box or living quarters; roofing material; a perch, and a metal hanger.

The Bluebird and wren houses are identical except in size. For the Bluebird house, as in diagram, the disks are 8.5” in diameter, the entrance is a 1.5” hole, and the nest box is 5” square. Make the bottom of the box removable for cleaning. It is held in with a couple of screws at the front and back. The birdhouse should be hung from a tree limb 10 to 12 feet from the ground.

For wrens, the disks are 7” in diameter, the entrance is 7/8” across, the nest box only needs to be 4” square (but should not be less), and only a 2” piece of 1/4″ dowel for the perch sticking straight out. To keep the birds coming back each year you should clean out the old nest before they start building their nests for the year.

The robin house, shown in diagram, differs from the bluebird type in being an open front shelter, not an enclosed house, which robins will not accept. The front dish is therefore sawed out to give a 6 1/8” opening. Also, the robin house is completed all the way around with narrow strips of wood all sawed on a slight bevel so as to fit close together whereas, in the bluebird house with its square nest box, the strips are used only to form the roof. In both cases, the roof strips and the two eave strips (of ¾” material cut on a bevel as shown) are long enough to overhang the front disk by about 2″. This provides shade and shelter over the entrance and perch of the birdhouse. This house could be hung on the wall of your garage or shed.

I give each house a roof of red, asphalt roofing cut (from a asphalt shingle which you may have kicking around or can be purchased from your local lumber yard from an open bundle of shingles) large enough to extend slightly beyond the roof “timbers” on all sides. As to paint colors, I suggest cream for the bluebird house and gray or brown for the robin shelter. However, they can be chosen to match the color scheme of one’s own house, if desired. Of course the color of the roof should blend with that of the house to give a pleasing effect in the landscape. I personally prefer a natural look so I stain and varnish them and then add whatever color roof I like.

This is also a great project to do with your son or daughter. Next summer they will enjoy watching all the activity. Have fun!

Garden | 2 Comments »

Basement renovations can be a fascinating and highly rewarding project. In previous articles we have emphasized the fact that careful and complete planning is of great importance for any renovation project. In fact, unless such planning has been completed prior to the start of the actual work, any number of problems, and costly disappointments may occur.
But when a project has been properly planned it will be a most enjoyable experience and will produce results that greatly enhance your home. Everything hinges on how the planning was done.

The benefits of good and complete planning are impressive and should be your guide. Let’s review just a few of them.
1) Good planning makes the whole project easier to do. In other words, every item of the work can be visualized, in proper sequence, and the whole project fits together without trouble or strain.
2) Good planning makes every phase of the project interesting. It becomes a game where every move adds increasing enjoyment as the various details of the work combine to gradually complete the dream you started with.
3) Good planning assures accurate cost estimates. You can be sure that the project will not cost more than you want or can afford.
4) Good planning makes it possible for you to do the work, without confusion or trouble, as your budget and time permits.
5) Good planning lends assurance that every detail of the remodeling will turn out well, and has the appearance, efficiency and comfort you desire.
6) Good planning allows you to buy materials, all in proper order, as you need them. This avoids having piles of unnecessary material around to create inconvenience and possible damage.
7) Good planning allows the project to move toward completion at a satisfying rate without unnecessary delays, confusion, or disappointments!

There are two types of planning, preliminary and final planning.

Preliminary planning

Ask yourself the following questions.
Have you decided on the exact purpose of your reno along with the reasons?
Are you convinced that the reno will be worthwhile?
Can you easily and accurately visualize the basement plan views?
Have you exercised proper precautions to make sure that your ideas will not cost too much?
Have you given careful attention to the materials you would like to use?

By making sure that you have carefully considered and answered these questions you have completed your preliminary planning.

Final planning

The first step of final planning consists of drawing a plan view, accurately and to scale. This is easy.
First, measure the interior of your basement. On a piece of paper (using 1/4in. to 1ft. scale), draw the outline of the basement. Using graph paper and a ruler can really help keep things square and straight. Where there are already interior walls in the basement make sure to draw these out as well.
The stairs, laundry tubs, washer, dryer, furnace, chimney, etc., all need to be drawn into the plan view to scale by measuring them and their locations. The same applies to the post columns, beams, ceiling ducts and windows.
The drawing doesn’t need to be fancy, but it dose need to be accurate and, as you will see, it will be a great help. After this is completed you have a drawing of the way things are. Now you can start playing with how you want them to be.

Some people like to cut out shapes cut to scale for things like laundry appliances and couches and chairs etc. and move them around on your plan view to help get the positioning right. Today there are also fairly inexpensive software programs that will draw plan views fairly quickly. A really good one is Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer They also have symbols and shapes you can position on your drawing. This can be a real help and time saver if you are good on a computer but you still have to measure and enter things accurately.

The first trial remodeling plan is the next exciting stage of your final planning. Now trace or make a new drawing and start including the walls and layout of the new design. You may want to ask your family or a friend for their opinion to help you think it through. After a first try you may like some aspects but want to adjust others. This is quite natural.

There most often needs to be a second trial plan and sometimes even a third before you get things laid out the way you want them. Take your time and get it right as this final plan will be what you use to estimate materials and prices for the project.

Have fun with your planning.

interior | No Comments »