How to Build a Firewood Rack DIY

DIY: How to Build a Firewood Rack

How to Build a Firewood Rack DIY

If you have a wood burning fireplace or stove, that means you’ve got a wood pile. And if you’re lacking a firewood rack, chances are that a heap of unorganized wood is sitting by your back door creating an eyesore.

Even if your firewood is stacked neatly outside the door, you still need to make sure it doesn’t lean up against your house and trap moisture or you will create the ideal conditions for rotting wood and vermin.

The perfect solution? A new firewood rack that will help you stack your wood and create an attractive feature for your deck, porch or backyard. A well-made wood rack helps you store firewood nearby and keeps your porch or front step clean, and dry.

So, let’s “fire” up the DIY and get to work! Check out these easy DIY outdoor firewood racks:

tent-firewood-rack

Stylish Storage

Looking for a stylish way to store wood? Using a pallet as a base, you can create a “tent” with a couple of two by fours and some planks of wood to use as shingles.

This idea comes from Single Track World. They also have some amazing ideas for building a DIY wood storage area or shed. Plus, they are beginner-level woodworker friendly.

 

Simple Firewood Rack

If you want to build a simple yet functional firewood rack, then this is the rack for you! This is a simple but gorgeous DIY that anyone can do in less than an hour. For less than $100 dollars, you can have a firewood rack in any size you want. Stop by GNH Lumber to pick up these supplies first:

simple firewood rackTOOLS

  • Saw
  • Screw gun
  • 1/4″ hex head socket
  • Tape measure
  • Clamps
  • Framing square

SUPPLIES

  • (3) 2×4 8 ft. lumber (length can vary as needed)
  • (4) metal connectors
  • (1 box) connector screws

Check out DIY Done Right to download the plans and get started!

 

Rolling Firewood Cart

Rolling Firewood rack

If you want a firewood rack that’s easy to move, you’ll need a cart with wheels. This fun DIY is not only easy to make, it’s mobile! Having a cart that’s mobile is convenient if you entertain regularly on your patio or deck.

This DIY can easily be made in a weekend. If you like the look of wood grain, you can seal the wood in its natural state. But if you want to add color to match your home’s siding or trim, you can also add a coat of paint.  Here’s what you’ll need at GNH to get started:

SUPPLIES

  • 2″ x 4″ x 10′ Lumber, cut to size
  • 2″ x 3″ x 8′ Boards, cut to size
  • Fence Picket Boards
  • Miter Saw
  • Screw Driver/ Drill
  • Countersink
  • 3″ Torx Deck Screws
  • Clamps
  • 4 Casters
  • Sanding Block
  • Porter Cable Framing Nailer
  • 2″ 8 CC Nails
  • Air Compressor
  • Tape Measure
  • Patch Plus Primer
  • Paint Brush
  • 4 Corner Brackets
  • Black Paint

All the directions and some great DIY photos of the process can be found on thewoodgraincottage.com.

 

Firewood Rack with Roof

This is an awesome video that walks you through the process of building a super cool firewood rack completed with a roof and enclosed sides. They make it look easy and the end project is amazing!  If you want to create a firewood rack complete with a roof, check it out:

 

Happy building! And don’t forget that the experts at your local GNH Lumber are available to answer your questions, make suggestions, and help your complete your DIY project. Stop by today!

garden bridge

DIY: How to Build a Small Garden Bridge

garden bridge

What could be more charming than a small wooden bridge to accent a water feature or help you step over uneven sloping in your garden? And, it’s easier than you think to create your own bridge! Just follow these simple instructions for a sturdy, arched garden bridge with handrails that you can paint or stain any color you like.

Here’s what a small garden bridge DIY project requires:

Materials:

  • (2) 2x12s hardwood (for support stringers)
  • (13) 2x6s hardwood (for floor planks)
  • (2) 8’ 4×4 treated pine post (for handrails), cut into 6 32” posts
  • 25” Length of bendable conduit (to create arch guide on stringer)
  • Benjamin-Moore Paint or stain (available at GNH) & brushes
  • Wood screws (2” stainless steel)
  • Wood nails
  • Pencil (for marking)

Tools:

  • Circular saw
  • Jigsaw
  • Electric screwdriver
  • Drill/drill bit (1/2”)
  • Hammer
  • Wood planar
  • Vice/wood clamps

1. Draw Arches on the 1st Support Board (Stringer)

Lay one of the 2×12 boards flat to prepare to sketch pencil guides for the top and bottom arch shapes:

stringer diagram

There’s a simple trick to creating a perfectly even archway – and it works every single time! First, drive a guide nail on each end of the board. Next, bend a length of plastic conduit between the two nails (see diagram above), and use the conduit as a guide to draw the arch onto the board with your pencil.

For the lower arch, drive two nails into the lower side of the wood, each 18” from end. Repeat the process of bending the conduit between the nails and drawing the lower arch onto the wood.

You will cut the 1st archway, and then use that as a guide for the 2nd archway, so there’s no need to measure twice!

Tip: Leaving 18” from the end of the boards on the bottom cut ensures that there will be plenty of support on the stringers for the weight of the bridge.

 

2. Cutting & Sanding the Stringers 

 

The easiest way to cut the top arch from the first stringer board is by a series of short straight cuts using a circular saw. For the bottom arch, a jigsaw works best – just be sure to move slowly to get through the thick wood without damaging the blade!

Now, lay the finished stringer atop the second 2×12 board, and use it as a guide to draw the arches onto the second board in pencil. Cut the second board.

Finally, clamp both stringers together and use a wood planar to smooth out any rough edges in your archway cuts.

Paint stringer boards white (or any color or stain you choose)! We suggest Benjamin-Moore exterior paints or Arborcoat stains – available at GNH Lumber!

Allow to dry.

 

3. Cutting & Drilling the Planks

 

Cut your hardwood 2x6s into 36 inch planks. Place the stringer boards parallel on the ground and measure 32 inches between them, top and bottom (to allow for 2” of plank overhang).

Place a hardwood plank onto the stringers and arrange so that there is even overhang on both sides. Mark and pre-drill two holes on each side of the plank (all the way through to the stringers below). Drill 2” stainless steel screws to tighten.

Next, place the second plank onto the stringers. Using a carpenter’s pencil, measure a space between the first plank and the next. Now, repeat the steps above to secure the plank in place.

Continue working from one end of the bridge to the other until all the planks are secured to the stringers!

 

4. Attaching Posts & Handrails

 

If you choose to add posts and rails to your garden bridge, cut your 4 x 4 posts into four 32” lengths, and paint them white (or any color or stain you choose – just make sure it matches your stringer boards). We suggest Benjamin-Moore exterior paints or Arborcoat stains!

Allow to dry.

Remove the 2nd or 3rd planks from both ends of the bridge for post placement.

Place rail posts to the outside stringer boards, one at a time. Use a T-square to ensure they are at a clean right angle to the ground. Pre-drill holes and then secure to the stringer with wood screws.

garden bridge 2

Next, measure and cut the planks to fit around the rail posts before returning them to the bridge.

Finally, add handrails to match the planks of the bridge! Secure the handrails to the posts with 2 wood screws through each post on both ends of the bridge.

 

That’s all there is to it! Enjoy your brand-new garden bridge! Place it over a small creek, water feature or uneven sloping on your property.

 

At GNH Lumber, we have everything you need to create your beautiful garden oasis. For more guidance, tips and ideas, stop in to our Greenville or Windham locations, or visit us today online!

Sources: Great Home Ideas, How To Build A Backyard Bridge, Handcrafted Garden Bridges, Footbridge Page 1, Handcrafted Garden Bridges, Footbridge Page 2

Holiday Light Displays 7

Our Top 10 Ideas for Holiday Light Displays

Holiday Light Displays 7Are you looking to light up the neighborhood? Create a sparkling light display each night during the holiday season and be the talk of the town.

At GNH Lumber you can find Holiday lighting and décor supplies from lights to outdoor timers. Let us help you celebrate the season your way!

For ideas and inspiration, check out these top 10 ideas for holiday light displays: Continue reading

Keep Your Pool Water Clear

How to Keep Your Pool Water Clear this Summer

Keep Your Pool Water Clear

Summer is finally here, hot and humid days are upon us, and there is no better way to cool down and relax than a dip in your pool. Unfortunately, the bacteria and algae that form in your pool can prevent you from enjoying it. The best way to keep your pool water crystal clear and safe is through prevention.

Here are the important preventative steps to make sure your pool is clean and ready to enjoy at all times:

  • Maintain proper disinfectant levels. Every pool (even the best kept ones) have germs and bacteria. Keeping the chlorine above 1 ppm will eliminate them. Use a professional grade chlorinating solution like Smart Liqui-Shock by Sunbelt Chemical (available at GNH) to disinfect and clarify pool water.
  • Putting chlorine sticks or tablets in the skimmer basket is a common mistake. Keep the skimmer and line basket clear of debris and don’t add pool chemicals through the skimmers as this erodes the pump impeller.
  • Check your flow meter frequently to be sure the pool is circulating water at a proper flow rate.
  • Brush the walls and floor weekly.
  • Shock the pool on a regular basis. Swimmers and the environment add waste to the pool that must be eliminated continually to prevent problems such as algae and cloudy water. Aqua Chem Shock Xtra Blue (available at GNH) keeps your water clear and kills any algae that may be growing.
  • Algaecides act as a backup to your normal sanitization program and prevent algae from starting and growing in the pool. Algaecide should be added after every shock treatment.

Follow these basic steps and you will be able to enjoy your pool all season long. Happy summer!

gardening

Calling All Green Thumbs! Let’s Get This Garden Started

gardening

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get serious about making your garden sensational the season? Let GNH Lumber help get you started on the path to perfection. You can cultivate the garden of your dreams – and have fun doing it!

GNH has everything you need to break ground and get the garden fenced off right!

woman gardeningFrom colorful pots and planters, to decorative garden accessories, Bloem has something unique for every gardener of every age. Their planters not only get the job done, but they provide a splash of personality to any space.

Bloem’s Lucca planters come with an attached basin, so you only have to water from the top down until the root system is established, making growing easy. Make summer easier with self-watering planters that can help plants survive in drought conditions!

How do you do it? Here are the 3 easy steps:

Step 1:

Fill your Bloem Lucca planter with soil and plant your arrangement of live goods as you would normally.

Step 2:

Water plant from the top of the planter until the root base is established. (This will allow for the root system to grow into the watering tray. In the meantime, the watering tray will act as a regular saucer capturing excess water).

Step 3:

Once the root system is established (3-4 weeks), fill watering tray with clean water or fertilizer enhanced water. Root system will wick the water up for proper hydration. Once tray is empty refill as necessary!

Need seeds to start things off? GNH is happy to support and distribute Bentley Seeds for the gardening season. Bentley Seeds are developed specifically for our geographical region, so you are likely to get great growing results. And they come with easy growing instructions – even for those small garden spaces.

Added bonus: Bentley Seeds has a Give & Grow Program – with every retail packet you purchase on their website, Bentley Seeds will send a packet to a community garden or charity.

Come browse our expanded selection and get inspired!

Garden Fence

Building A Fence For Your Garden

Now that it’s time to start planting for your garden it’s also time to make sure that you keep those animals and pests out by building a fence. All you will need is some poultry netting and fence posts- both of which are on sale this month at GNH, so not only can you start building, but you will be getting a great price on your supplies! Follow these easy steps and you will have your garden fence up in no time.

Determine where you want the fence, and how much fencing you will need. Keep in mind that your posts should be about 6 feet apart, so you will need to figure out how many posts you will need as well.

Once you have all of your supplies, push the posts into the ground by stepping on the fin at the bottom.

Sell_T_Fence_Post_Star

Line your roll of chicken wire up with a corner post and slip the horizontal wires along the second column of wire cells into the tabs on the posts.

HT_PG_BM_BWF_Body_Img-wire-faster-02

Next, unroll the wire and stretch it to the next post, ensuring the wire is taunt and level.

build-best-wire-fence-professional-steps-HT-PG-BM-hero

Hook the wire to the post in the same way you did on the first post, and continue this process until you wrap all the way around to your last post. You can even  hammer in the tabs to ensure the wire doesn’t come out.

mesh-fencing-squ jpg

Cut the chicken wire with wire cutters evenly down the edge, leaving a few inches beyond your last wire column.

It’s that simple!

American Flag Pallet

Do you love the American Flag? You can easily make a very nice flag from a wood pallet.

Directions:
1. Cut the pallet in a little if you want to have a more flag shape, or leave it whole like this one! Pallets come in all shapes and sizes, so cut it how you want.
2. Fill in any holes or damages with the wood filler, sand it with an orbital sander, or leave it rustic if you like.
3. Prime the front side of the palette
4. Using the blue painter’s tape, tape off the blue stars part of the flag and the white stripes.
5. Paint the red stripes.
6. Take the tape off the blue section and paint it blue. Let it dry overnight.
7. Print out a picture of a Star and cut it to create a stencil. Paint the White stars over the blue area.
8. Hang the Flag!

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE JOB
Supplies
  • 1 Wood Pallet
  • Nails
  • Sand paper
  • Masking tape
  • Primer
  • Paint – Red/White/Blue
  • Varnish
  • Wood Filler (optional)
Tools
  • Saw
  • Orbital sander (optional)
  • Hammer
  • box cutter
  • Printer
  • Ruler
RELATED LINKS