How to Mount a Birdhouse to the Top of a Post
Whether you buy a commercial birdhouse or make one yourself, you'll need to mount it safely in your yard before the birds can use it. This can be a simple process if you own a tall tree, but you can use a post just as effectively. Set the post deeply in the ground so that it won't tip over, and situate it near the back of your property where the birds can be away from people.
Step 1
Clamp the birdhouse upside down in the vise. Center the birdhouse on the 12 inch by 12 inch square of wood. Hammer nails through the bottom of the wood square into the walls of the birdhouse to secure the house to the board.
Step 2
Measure 6 inches from each corner toward the center of each edge of the board. Make a mark at these points, which will be in the center of the edges. This will create four equal points, one in the center of each edge.
Step 3
Draw a line from the pencil mark on the right edge to the mark on the left edge. Draw a line from the mark on the top edge to the mark on the bottom edge. This will create a crossed design, with the pencil marks crossing at the exact center of the wood.
Step 4
Place the floor flange over the crossed pencil marks, using the marks to center the flange. Situate the flange so that the screw holes all line up on pencil marks, if you have a flange with four screw holes. If your flange has three holes, line up one hole on a mark and think of it as 12 on a clock. Set the other two holes so that they mark 4 and 8 on a clock.
Step 5
Screw the flange securely to the bottom of the board. Make sure that the flange doesn't move during this process, to keep it in the center of the board.
Step 6
Turn the board and birdhouse right side up. Slip the center of the flange hole over the top of the post to install your birdhouse.
Resources
Tips
- Flanges are round metal rims or collars that come with different size holes. They are used to add strength, stiffness or support to a given area. Measure your post before purchasing a flange to make sure that your pieces will fit together.
- Paint the post to match the color of the birdhouse.
- Use a post hole digger to create a hole at least 18 inches deep. Add gravel to the bottom of the hole and place the post in, then pack dirt tightly around it.
Writer Bio
Working in sunny Florida, Anne Baley has been writing professionally since 2009. Her home and lifestyle articles have been seen on Coldwell Banker and Gardening Know How. Baley has published a series of books teaching how to live a frugal life with style and panache.
Photo Credits
- Bird Condo on The Patuxent River image by phipix from Fotolia.com
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