make your own outdoor storage
From Habitat magazine - issue 29
A handy and easy to make storage box for all those bits and pieces.
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:
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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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 
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.
Building: Andy Fraser
Images: Bryce Carleton