| With some basic woodworking skills you too, can | | | | floor of the birdhouse, so they cannot fall out. Do |
| craft your own replica architectural bird house. | | | | not include any perches, as they will function as a |
| The time and detail put into handcrafting the | | | | place for predators to harass the nestlings. |
| replica bird house will make it a truly unique and | | | | Constructing the birdhouse |
| personal work of art. By following the same steps | | | | Our custom replica birdhouses are made from |
| we follow at New England Birdhouse, you'll be able | | | | milled 5/8" eastern white pine, fastened and joined |
| to create a one of a kind architectural replica | | | | with exterior grade screws and glue. Pre-milled |
| birdhouse of your own. | | | | lumber can be found at lumber yards and big box |
| Always start with a plan | | | | hardware stores. Finished 3/4" pine in 6' or 8' |
| We use CAD software to develop scale plans for | | | | widths can be glued and joined to create walls and |
| our custom birdhouses. If that's a bit too technical | | | | roofs. Always use long grain but joints and never |
| of an approach for you, we suggest making a | | | | try to glue end grain, because it is not a structural |
| simple measured drawing. Sketch out the details | | | | joint. An interior frame can be built to attach the |
| of your house including roof lines and angles, | | | | walls and roof to. Make sure that the bottom of |
| window and door positions and decorative | | | | the birdhouse is reinforced to accept mounting |
| moldings. Transform this sketch into a full-size | | | | hardware. |
| drawing of the birdhouse. This plan will become a | | | | Details, details, details |
| template for your bird house and will provide the | | | | Our architectural details are carved, burned and |
| scale and positioning of the architectural details of | | | | painted into our custom replica birdhouses using a |
| your replica bird house. | | | | variety of tools and artistic techniques. |
| A cardboard mock-up of the replica bird house | | | | Artchitectural details commonly include shingle, |
| can be very helpful at this point, especially when | | | | siding, window, shutter, brick, door, molding and |
| working with roof lines. Shipping boxes and | | | | fascia board detail. Experiment with different |
| masking tape can be used to create three | | | | techniques and materials to achieve a look that |
| dimensional models to help visualize the completed | | | | you feel comfortable with. Most architectural |
| bird house. | | | | details can be created using a handheld rotary tool |
| When determining the size of your bird house it's | | | | (like a dremel) outfitted with a circular carbide disc |
| important to consider not only the structure you | | | | or sanding wheel, and an artist's paintbrush. |
| are replicating, but also how the completed bird | | | | Painting and finishing your birdhouse |
| house will be mounted and displayed and how | | | | Thoroughly sand the exterior of your replica bird |
| many nesting chambers your birdhouse will | | | | house and remove any sawdust. Seal the exterior |
| feature. Typically, our custom replica birdhouses | | | | of the bird house with a water based paint sealer |
| are about 2' wide x 3' deep x 16"-18" tall, and | | | | (like Kilz) and blend exterior grade latex paint to |
| feature two nesting boxes. | | | | match the colors you desire. The blended exterior |
| Consider the safety of occupants | | | | colors can be airbrushed or hand brushed onto the |
| As you are planning and building your replica | | | | bird house. Finally two coats of non-yellowing |
| birdhouse, always consider the safety and well | | | | marine urethane finish are sprayed onto the |
| being of the birds that will occupy the house. The | | | | birdhouse. |
| nesting chambers should be left unfinished and | | | | Completing your birdhouse |
| free of any paint, glue or chemicals. Any sharp | | | | Following these steps will yield a replica birdhouse |
| points from exposed screws or nails should be | | | | that with proper placement and maintenance will |
| filed smooth. The nesting chambers must have | | | | provide years of enjoyment. We recommend |
| access for cleaning, a drainage and ventilation area | | | | that the houses be located in a shady, sheltered |
| and an appropriately sized entry hole. To attract | | | | area to minimize weathering and that the |
| most common cavity nesters use a hole no larger | | | | birdhouses be moved inside during the winter |
| than 1 3/4". To protect young nestlings, make | | | | months. With time, the replica birdhouse will need |
| sure that the entry hole is at least 4"-5" from the | | | | to be refinished. |