Enclose a plastic bin with stock lumber to make a water-wise garden feature”

“Collecting rainwater is a no-brainer for gardening. It’s the ugly black barrels we could do without. So here’s a plan you can use to build your own rain barrel, one that’s both eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. It’s a simple project, thanks to an off-the-shelf diverter kit that connects to a downspout. The barrel is essentially a sturdy wood shell built around a repurposed plastic garbage bin that serves as the reservoir. Made of rot-resistant lumber, the barrel goes together with easy lap and butt joints and some deck screws. Decorative exterior battens dress it up, and you can customize them and paint the barrel to fit any style of house or garden.

Follow along as This Old House contributor Christopher Beidel, owner of Pernt, a handmade-furniture company in Brooklyn, New York, leads you through the simple steps it takes to green up your garden.

Download a cut-list to build a rain barrel here.”

“SATURDAY: Assemble the box (Steps 2-13).
SUNDAY: Install the bin, attach the diverter, and make the connections (Steps 14-18).

Download a cut-list to build a rain barrel here.

Cut List:
1×6 pressure-treated vertical slats: sixteen @ 40 inches
1×6 pressure-treated lid slats: four @ 23⅞ inches (cut to fit)
1×6 pressure-treated floorboards: four @ 20⅞ inches (cut to fit)
5/4×4 pressure-treated interior battens: four @ 23⅞ inches
5/4×4 pressure-treated interior battens: four at 20⅜ inches
5/4×4 pressure-treated lid battens: two @ 18⅜inches
1×4 pressure-treated decorative battens: two @ 23 inches (cut to fit)
1×4 pressure-treated decorative battens: two @ 24⅜ inches (cut to fit)
1×3 pressure-treated decorative battens: four @ 23 inches (cut to fit)
1×3 pressure-treated decorative battens: four @ 24⅜ inches (cut to fit)
4×4 pressure-treated legs: four @ 10 inches or customized to your terrain
DIY Rain Barrel Construction and Installation Kit with Downspout Diverter: one; Rain Brothers
Black 35-Gallon Square Trash Can (407TCSQ35B): one; The WEBstaurant Store
¾-by-2 ½-inch brass nipple: one; The Home Depot
Everbuilt 5¾-inch black door pull: one; The Home Depot”

Read more:

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-build-rain-barrel