make your own outdoor storage

A handy and easy to make storage box for all those bits and pieces.

Build an outside storage box.
This handy storage box and the bowl are painted in Resene Poured Milk, the weatherboards are Resene Half Periglacial Blue and the deck is stained in Resene Woodsman Driftwood. The pots are in Resene Slipstream (large) and Resene Grey Seal.

You will need:

One sheet of IBS V-Groove 9mm-thick plywood cut into: 2 pieces at 1150mm x 550mm for the front and back; 1 piece at 1200mm x 600mm for the lid; 2 x 550mm (h) x 535mm (w) making sure the lines go across the width for the ends.
Either a second sheet of grooved ply or use plain plywood: 1 piece at 1125mm x 535mm for the base. (Note that using 9mm grooved plywood rather than planks makes the storage box lighter and easier to move.)
Five 2.4m lengths of 45mm x 19mm timber for the frame cut into: 4 x 1150mm for the top and bottom, front and back; 4 x 497mm for verticals at the ends and 4 x 445mm for horizontals at the ends. Cut 2 x 575mm for the side of the lid, and one at 1200mm long for the front of the lid.

1m length of H3 treated 19mm x 90mm: 2 x 500mm for the feet. These are the only pieces that will touch any damp ground.
1 litre of Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat
1 litre of Resene Lumbersider tinted to your chosen colour. We used Resene Poured Milk.
1 paint brush
Sandpaper and filler
Drop saw or skill saw
Screws, power drill, screwdriver
2 hinges
300mm of chain and two anchor screws

Step one
Make the frame, starting with the top pieces laid on a flat surface to make sure all pieces are square and even. Make the base frame, then attach to the top frame with the vertical side pieces.

Step two
Attach the end pieces of plywood (measuring 550mm x 535mm) first as these sit flush with the frame at the top and side edges. BUT leave a 15mm overhang or lip at the bottom. This is to allow for the base and the feet to be inset. Attach the front and back, lining them up with the ends, with the 15mm overlap at the bottom.

Step three
Attach the feet to the base piece of ply, on the smooth side not the grooved side if you are using grooved ply, then drop the base piece into place. Screw into place.

Step four
Make the frame for the lid; there’s no back piece, just sides and front. Attach the piece of ply for the lid. Glue the hinges to the lid or use short screws (longer screws will poke through the ply). Fill the screw holes in the frame, and sand back when dry. Also check for sharp edges or any rough patches that might need a light sand.

Step five
Undercoat the storage box using Resene Quick Dry primer undercoat.

Step six
Apply two topcoats of Resene Lumbersider low sheen tinted to your chosen colour. We used Resene Poured Milk. You can also use Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss for a more wipeable finish. Attach the chain to the lid and inner side of the box to stop the lid from flipping back too far.

Resene Poured Milk

Resene Half Periglacial Blue

Resene Woodsman Driftwood

Resene Slipstream

Resene Grey Seal

Building: Andy Fraser
Images: Bryce Carleton

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spring/summer 2018/19, issue 29

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