This housecall takes Ron to East Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Karin and Mandy Allietta thought the front of their family home would be beautiful with a window box under the picture window. They wanted the window box to be a fun mother-daughter project, but they didn't have any idea how to go about it on their own. Ron was more than happy to help.
Click Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.
1. Design window box:
- Measure window and design window box.
- For the Allietta's window box, Ron selected 1x6 pressure treated
lumber for the front, back and ends and a 2X8 length for the bottom.
2. Paint lumber:
- Apply a coat of paint to the uncut wood. Since it is easier to paint
uncut lengths of wood, this will save time.
3. Cut wood:
- Use a power saw or a Japanese hand saw to cut the wood for the sides and the ends of the window box.
4. Assemble Window Box:
- Drill pilot holes in the end pieces where the screws are going to connect the pieces of wood. This will keep the screws from splitting the wood. Have someone help hold the end pieces in place, while you use a screwdriver bit to attach the ends to the bottom with 2 ½" rust proof screws.
- Before attaching the front and back to the bottom, do a test to make sure that everything fits properly. All the ends should be flush.
- Then once again pre-drill the holes to allow the screws to go in more easily.
- Rust proof screws are ideal for planter boxes, but they can be unsightly. To hide the screw heads, Ron recommends a technique called countersinking. With a special countersink bit, drill into the wood to create a cone shaped depression. Then when you put in the screw, the screw head is below the surface of the wood. This is later covered up with spackle and paint.
- In addition to the screws, Ron recommends that you also apply a bead of waterproof construction adhesive before attaching the front and back of the window box. Then drive the screws in with a power drill. The heads of the screws should be below the surface of the planter box.
- Ron uses exterior spackle to cover the screw holes, making sure to press the spackle firmly into each hole and remove the access with a putty knife.
- Allow everything to dry overnight.
5. Sand and Touch-up Paint:
- After the spackle has completely dried, give it a light sanding and then paint over the spackle with the paint you used earlier.
- Touch-up the ends of the planter box and wherever else it is needed with paint.
- Allow paint to dry.
6. Drainage and Sealing
- Drill several drainage holes in the bottom of the box.
- Your window box is going to be filled with wet soil for many years. You can't trust the pressure treatment of the lumber to keep the wood from rotting out. It's okay to use a plastic liner if you can find one to fit your design. Another alternative is roofing compound, available at any home improvement store. Ron and the Alliettas simply applied the compound with a wide putty knife to the inside of the planter box, just like they were frosting a cake.
- Next, place small squares of weed cloth over the drainage holes. This will prevent soil from washing out.
7. Attach Window Box:
- The first thing you need to do is drill holes into the wall where you are going to attach the angle brackets or L brackets. For the Allietta's project, Ron had to drill into brick so he used a half-inch carbide tipped bit and a hammer drill that looks like a drill but it also works as a hammer while it turns. The use of a hammer drill will make the drilling go a lot faster.
- Next, Ron used a lead lag shield, sometimes called an anchor. You simply tap the lag shield into the drilled hole with a hammer.
- The L brackets are then mounted with 2-inch long lag screws. Use a socket wrench to tighten them snugly.
- Attach the window box to the L bracket using additional lag screws underneath the planter box.
8. Add Planting Soil and Plant!
- With the planter complete, it's time to add potting soil and then you're ready for your new flowers.
THE RESULTS:
In just one weekend, with a mother and daughter team who had never touched a power tool before, Ron built this beautiful window box that looked like it had always been there!
