DIY WINDOW BOXES

In this DIY we are building cedar window boxes and attaching them to vinyl siding! Window boxes are such a great way to add color and curb appeal to those boring windows in your life. If you are intimidated by the task of attaching things to vinyl siding like I was, don't be. With a tape measure, outdoor caulk, and patience it can be done!

Materials:

• 1x6 cedar boards

• wood glue

• outdoor polyurethane or outdoor stain

• outdoor caulk

• 2 x 3/8"x 3.5" Galvanized hex-head lag screws

• 2 x 3/8" galvanized washers

Tools:

• nail gun or screws

• stud finder

• power drill

• miter saw *Beginner Tip: Let your local home improvement store do the cutting.

STEP 1: Measure your windows.

Measure the width of your windows. This will determine how much lumber you need.

You will need 2 pieces per box that are the width of the window plus two pieces for the sides. The side pieces determine the depth of your box, so this is a personal preference.

Lastly, you will need a piece for the bottom. Cedar can be pricey, so for the bottom board, I used a scrap piece of treated pine. For my bottom board, I purposefully used a more narrow piece of wood. I did this to ensure the boxes had room for drainage. If you choose to go this route, you avoid having to drill more holes but you will need some sort of lining for the boxes. I used plain ole burlap for liner. *Much cheaper than weed paper or pre-made plastic liners.

STEP 2: Assemble your boxes.

Time for the fun part!

Assembly is fairly simple. Just create a four-sided rectangular box. Be sure to apply wood glue before nailing the sides together. Gravity will be working against your boxes so reinforcements are key. Once the four sides are attached, flip the box over and add the bottom board.

STEP 3: Sand and stain.

Cedar is a softwood so just a light sanding will due.

*Purchase an electric sander. It is worth every penny!

Once your boxes are sanded smooth, be sure to wide them down with a cloth to remove any wood residue and apply your stain or poly of choice. I used Varathane in Dark Walnut and Minwax polycrylic.

STEP 4: Locate studs.

Now comes the moment of truth, hanging the boxes. We have vinyl siding and we did not want to remove siding to locate studs. As an alternative, we used a stud finder on the interior wall of where the boxes were being hung. Our stud finder wasn't strong enough to read through the vinyl but this did the trick!

Use your window frame as a reference point and measure the location of the studs. Apply this to the exterior wall and you are set.

STEP 5: Drill pilot holes.

You want to drill pilot holes into the back of your boxes as well as your siding.

Take your drill and use a 1/2" drill bit and drill through the siding until you hit wood. If you don't hit wood then you missed the stud and will need to measure again.

Now, change out your drill bit to an 11/32" or any size that is slightly smaller than the 3/8" lag screws you will be using. This time drill through the wood.

Next, we need to drill pilot holes in the boxes. Measure and drill. Ensure your holes sign up and then you're ready for the caulk.

Apply an outdoor caulk to the holes in the siding. Do not let the caulk dry. Place your 3/8" lag screws through the box with the washers on the inside, line up to the holes in the siding, and use a socket wrench to secure the boxes.

Time to Garden!

Place your burlap liner in the boxes. I did not secure the burlap but I did make sure I placed enough in the boxes so that dirt could not fall out of the sides.

Fill with flowers and admire your hard work!

*Beginner Tip: Be sure to take into account the amount of sun the window boxes will get. This will help you choose the right flowers for the job.

With love,

Chandley