The unsightly plastic rain barrel immediately looks much nicer if you cover it with wood. This is not as difficult as you might initially think. We have put together simple building instructions for both square and round rain barrels. Have fun replicating it.
How can you cover a rain barrel with wood?
To cover a rain barrel with wood, place the barrel on a wooden board, cut out the appropriate outlines, seal cut edges, treat and cut triangular strips, fix everything with a tension belt and fasten the boards with screws.
Material
It's best to cover your rain barrel - whether round or square - with wood. The material is easiest to cut. Additionally you need:
- a jigsaw (€46.00 on Amazon)
- a chop saw or miter saw
- a cordless screwdriver
- a conventional rain barrel
- 80 wood screws (80 x 4.5mm)
- a perforated strip or galvanized steel as required
- 20 triangular strips made from scrap or solid wood
- 20 boards
- 70 wood screws
- Varnish and wood stain
Tip
Use your old, apparently useless wood that was left over from the last fence construction.
Disguise round rain barrel
- Place the rain barrel on a wooden plate and mark the outline.
- Cut out the circle with the jigsaw.
- Seal cut edges with synthetic resin varnish.
- Treat triangular panels with wood stain.
- Cut to dimensions 15 x 15 x 30 cm.
- Cut the strips.
- Leave some leeway.
- Turn the rain barrel upside down.
- Alternately place a strip and a triangular plate at right angles.
- Fix with a tension strap.
- Place the previously made circular disc on the bottom of the barrel.
- Tighten the tension strap and press the boards against the board.
- Drill holes in the individual boards and fix them to the board with screws.
- Wrap the barrel at the top and bottom with perforated tape.
Here you will also find instructions for building a lid for the rain barrel yourself. Depending on your wishes, you can also install an overflow and a spout.
Covering up a square rain barrel
- Turn the rain barrel upside down on a firm surface.
- Use the jigsaw to mark and slit boards under the barrel collar.
- With precise work, there is no waste.
- Also use a tension strap to secure it.
- You have more freedom in terms of dimensions when making the floor.
- Choose an appropriate area.
- Screw the base plate and panel together identically to the instructions for the round barrel.
- The production of the lid is also similar to the instructions that you can find at the link above.