Close Give Feedback
Resene Paints - home page
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram Follow us on YouTube

Penthouse tweet

Mark Rayner transforms an old letterbox into an upmarket bird bed and breakfast.

You will need: An old letterbox, offcuts of baby corrugate Zincalume, offcuts of marine ply, 12 stainless steel rods (40cm long), perforated saucepan lid or sieve, rectangular galvanised nailing plate, 4 large galvanised nails, 1 large steel screw, loop of galvanised chain, lid from Resene testpot, plastic corner edging, copper pipe, tying wire, wire brush, cardboard, tin snips, parcel tape, marker pen, builders' exterior construction glue, small amount of builders' filler and 2 large rubber bands. Resene Galvo One Primer, Resene Quick Dry Primer/Undercoat, Resene Lumbersider in Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Enamacryl Metallic in Resene Silver Aluminium.

To get the look: Mark hung a homemade bird pudding on the copper pipe, filled the feeding stand and tray with pieces of bread and fruit and fixed half a coconut on the roof screw to form a satellite TV dish.

As seen in kiwigardener

Step 1 Step one
Using a wire brush, clean the letterbox of any rust. Cut templates of the front and sides from cardboard.
Step 2 Step two
Transfer the template shapes on to the Zincalume using a marker pen and cut out with tin snips or an angle grinder). Cut two panels for the roof.
Step 3 Step three
With the tinsnips, cut a hole in the front of the old letterbox. Cut two slits in the front Zincalume panel and curl the centre section up to form the door.
Step 4 Step four
Using builders' construction adhesive, glue the front, side and roof zincalume panels to the mailbox, fixing in place with parcel tape until the glue has set. Screw the letterbox to an offcut of marine ply. Attach copper pipe to underside of roof with wire and glue.
Step 5 Step five
Hammer four galvanised nails into the ply and glue the metal nail plate to the top of each nail to form a platform. Trace around a Resene testpot and, using a hammer and large nail, make 12 holes around the circle. Insert a steel rod into each of these holes with a dab of glue to make the feeding stand.
Step 6 Step six
Make a hole in the top edge of the roof and insert the large screw from beneath. Keep in place with builders' filler. Cut plastic trim to fit front edges and apex of roof. Fix with builders' glue, holding in place with rubber bands until dry. Apply Resene Quickdry Primer to the ply and Resene Galvo One Primer to the Zincalume.
Step 7 Step seven
Paint the entire birdhouse except for the steel rods with two coats of Resene Lumbersider in Resene Silver Chalice. Allow to dry. The Resene testpot lid sits on top of the steel rods.
Step 8 Step eight
Finish off with two coats of Resene Enamacryl inResene Silver Aluminium. Allow to dry, then nail and glue the aluminium saucepan lid to form the feeding tray.

View more projects

 

Order online now:
Testpots | Paints | Primers and Sealers | Stains | Clears | Accessories

Get inspired Get inspired ! Subscribe      Get saving Get saving ! Apply for a DIY card

Resene Paints Ltd

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask us!

Resene Paints Ltd   – www.resene.com

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram Follow us on YouTube
Videos on how to paint and stain your house
 

Colours shown on this website are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.   See measurements/conversions for more details on how electronic colour values are achieved.

What's new | Specifiers | Painters | DIYers | Artists | Kids | Sitemap | Home | TOP ⇧