Place in the sun

Mark Rayner simple step-by-step instructions and bring a ray of sunshine to your backyard.

You will need: Flat Zincalume sheet, 900mm x 1000mm, round stainless steeltray, tanalised pine, 2000m x 50mm x 70mm wooden offcuts for temporary bracing, 8 brass screws for fixing frame, 30 galvanised clouts (25mm x 2.5mm), super strength epoxy resin adhesive (e.g. Araldite), exterior construction glue, builder's filler, permanent ink marker, tin snips, hammer, metal file, sandpaper, mineral turps, small paint roller and brushes and 2 galvanised hooks or brackets for hanging, Resene Enamacryl Metallic in Resene Bullion, Resene Lumbersider in Resene Porsche basecoat for Resene Bullion, Resene Lumbersider Resene Paua, Resene Galvo One galvanised iron primer, Resene Quick Dry Acrylic Primer/Undercoat and Resene Concrete Clear.

To get the look: Mark hung his Zincalume sun on wooden panelling painted with Resene Lumbersider in Resene Astronaut.

Step one
Using mitred corners, construct a rectangular timber frame with external sides measuring 920mm x 1020mm. Fix together with construction glue and brass screws. Ensure the corners are square and brace with wooden offcuts. Fill any gaps with builder's filler, then sand smooth.

Step two
On the Zincalume sheet, trace a circle around the steel tray. Mark the centre of the circle and, with a straight edge, draw 16 equal rays radiating out from the centre point.

Step three
Wearing protective gloves, carefully cut out every other ray with the tin snips, then file smooth any sharp edges.

Step four
With the epoxy resin, glue the tray face down on to the Zincalume sun and leave to set. Prime the timber frame with one coat of Resene Quick Dry Primer and leave to dry for two hours.

Step five
Place the Zincalume sun on to a flat surface and prime with one coat of Resene Galvo One, allowing at least eight hours to dry. Clean brush with mineral turps.

Step six
Paint the wooden frame with two coats of Resene Paua. Remove the temporary wooden corner braces. With the small rotter, paint the Zincalume sun with two coats of Resene Porsche followed by two coats of 'Bullion' and one coat of Resene Concrete Clear.

Step seven
Nail the Zincalume sun to the back of the wooden frame with the galvanised clouts: Finish off the back of the sun and wooden frame with primer.

Step eight
Touch up any paint imperfections on the front of the wooden frame. Attach securely to fence or wall with hooks or galvanised brackets.

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Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com