It’s always good to hear some birdhouse building tips.

After retirement, money is scarce, but time is plentiful. The power tools you collected through the years see little use these days. Here’s a project even you can do well. You can make a few birdhouses.

This summer, as you’re cruising the countryside keep an eye out for a weathered building falling with age. The weathered sidings a perfect material for birdhouses. Cut the siding into manageable pieces for transport to your workshop. Be careful not to include any bugs and remove any nails you find sticking out of the boards. Three square feet of siding will be sufficient for one birdhouse.

For edging and decoration, cut some lengths of Virginia creeper or English ivy. Remover the leaves, but leave the bark. Draw a picture of your birdhouse and make a pattern of the pieces. Since the look you want is an outdoor Victorian, accuracy is not required. The more crooked, the better. Be as creative as you wish by adding features such as a chimney, a balcony, a flower box, or railing. Important features are a half-dollar sized squirrel proof hole and a rainproof roof.

Add some details

Fasten the vines along the edges of the roof and at the corners with hot glue. A short length of the vine can serve as a perch. Secure the vine strips with half-inch brads. One inch copper nails or sheetrock screws are suitable for attaching the pieces. The cut edges can be stained gray-brown to match the weathered gray of the surface. Be careful not to mar the weathered striations in the boards. No protective coating is needed. These quaint birdhouses sell for as much as $50.00 or more (How to Price Crafts) at a flea market or even from your front porch.

Following these DIY tips will help you build a right house for your feathered friend and keep them safe from harsh weather conditions or any external attacks