Outdoor wood work!

[Smok3o3]

Im planning on building a bird house for the backyard. Im new to the wood game wondering which wood would be best for outdoor. Would hold strong with rain and snow.

Any wood people out there?

Wood work is something Im hoping to get real into as I am into aquaria ..

 

[studd muffin]

Get pressure treated wood.

 

[Smok3o3]

Yea but what kind there are a couple different kind right?

 

[David K. Bradley]

Im planning on building a bird house for the backyard. Im new to the wood game wondering which wood would be best for outdoor. Would hold strong with rain and snow.

Any wood people out there?

Wood work is something Im hoping to get real into as I am into aquaria ..

Smok3o3:

If you plan on using the wood for it's natural asthetic look, use either Cedar or Redwood. Both are rot resistant and you do not have any sealant on these as you would use for regular lumber. Through personal experience, I DO NOT USE pressure treated lumber. Birds do not like the smell of the rot resistant paint used to impregnate the lumber. Once your bird house is finally complete and ready to be occupied just hang where you plan to. Occupancy will occure when the local birds in your neighborhood finally realize the bird house is not a threat.

If you do not want to use Cedar or Redwood, and you want to use something like plywood, use a thickness of 3/8" to 1/2" for construction.

Once your plywood construction is complete and you are ready to hang it, first, paint the outside with regular latex exterior paint. It does not have the oily paint smell that enamel or spray paint has and will be occupied sooner if you use latex exterior paint. About 2 coats should do fine. This will also retard any rotting of the wood for about 10 years.

The birds are not real picky about color. White or a soft pastel color is an excellent choice. Nothing real bright or loud. Remember, birds like passiveness when it comes to moving into a new house. Just keep in mind too, DO NOT PAINT THE INSIDE OF ANY BIRD HOUSE. The parents will nest, chicks will hatch and the chicks not knowing any better, will eat the paint off the interior walls and succumb to their untimely demise.

So, with all of this said, I hope it has helped. Good luck with your bird house constructions and if you have anymore questions, PM me and I will more than happy to assist you.

~ David

 

[Smok3o3]

Smok3o3:

If you plan on using the wood for it's natural asthetic look, use either Cedar or Redwood. Both are rot resistant and you do not have any sealant on these as you would use for regular lumber. Through personal experience, I DO NOT USE pressure treated lumber. Birds do not like the smell of the rot resistant paint used to impregnate the lumber. Once your bird house is finally complete and ready to be occupied just hang where you plan to. Occupancy will occure when the local birds in your neighborhood finally realize the bird house is not a threat.

If you do not want to use Cedar or Redwood, and you want to use something like plywood, use a thickness of 3/8" to 1/2" for construction.

Once your plywood construction is complete and you are ready to hang it, first, paint the outside with regular latex exterior paint. It does not have the oily paint smell that enamel or spray paint has and will be occupied sooner if you use latex exterior paint. About 2 coats should do fine. This will also retard any rotting of the wood for about 10 years.

The birds are not real picky about color. White or a soft pastel color is an excellent choice. Nothing real bright or loud. Remember, birds like passiveness when it comes to moving into a new house. Just keep in mind too, DO NOT PAINT THE INSIDE OF ANY BIRD HOUSE. The parents will nest, chicks will hatch and the chicks not knowing any better, will eat the paint off the interior walls and succumb to their untimely demise.

So, with all of this said, I hope it has helped. Good luck with your bird house constructions and if you have anymore questions, PM me and I will more than happy to assist you.

~ David

Thanks a lot!! that did help! I appreciate it.

 

[deeda]

The advice David gave is excellent, so definitely follow it.

You need to decide what type of bird you want to use the house. This will determine the size & shape of the box and the size of the hole/opening needed.

What species of bird were you hoping to attract to the new bird house?

 

[Smok3o3]

Well there is a pigeon that has been hanging around my front of the house and it looks cold and a little lost so I was thinking about making it some shelther so if it wants to stay it has some kind of place to stay warm.

 

[Cookie*]

Cedar or pressure treated will be best for outdoors. Stain, or leave natural. Natural tends to gray over the years.

 

[studd muffin]

Cedar or pressure treated will be best for outdoors. Stain, or leave natural. Natural tends to gray over the years.

I forgot about ceder Ceder is nice to use. If you dont stain your wood it will turn gray and start to rot.

 

[paulW]

Get pressure treated wood.

No, don't get pressure treated. The birds will chew on it and get poisoned.

Use Cedar or white oak (note not Red oak, use white oak )
Both are naturally rot resistant.