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We all need bins, there is no way of getting away from that, but they aren’t the most attractive of items to be stored around our homes, are they? One option is to put them in your garage or shed if you have one, but that’s not the most convenient. So why not indulge in a bin tidy? Of course, you can just pop on to the internet and buy one right off the shelf, but will it be the right size and shape? There is so much more satisfaction to be had by actually building one yourself. It might not look quite as professional as the ones you can buy, unless you are a skilled carpenter, but it will be yours and something to be proud of. In this article we will take a look at the steps you will need to take to build your own bin tidy.
What type do you want?
The first thing to decide is what type of bin tidy do you want? They can be anything from a simple wicker shield which goes around the bins to fully enclosed cupboards. Knowing what type you want will help you understand how to build it. For the sake of ease, we will look at a relatively simple bin tidy in this article but there are plenty of DIY tutorials online which will guide you through the process of building a more complex one. Here is a great Video from DIY On A Budget that gives a heap of helpful advice. You might not have all the professional tools that they have on the video, but that doesn’t matter, you can get away with simple handsaws, screwdrivers and hammers.
Top tip: to make life easier when putting rubbish in the bins, use 2x hooks and 2x snap hooks per bin and some lightweight chain. Attach hooks to the bin lid and one to the cupboard lid and join with the chain. Now when you lift the bin tidy lid, the bin lid will also lift. Use the snap hooks to detach the bin when you need to put them out.
Location
No matter what type of bin tidy you want, you will need a decent location which is flat, easy to access and hardwearing. We would recommend putting the bin tidy on some patio slabs or a concrete base. This will make it a lot easier to move the bins in and out of the area. If you have a base such as gravel or grass it will be harder to move a heavy, full bin.
Measure up
When deciding the location, make sure you have enough space to store all the bins. You might have 3 large wheely bins or two bins and a couple of boxes for paper and plastic. You will need easy access to them and be able to move them without having to move other bins or boxes, so measure the amount of space you will need carefully to make sure that your bin tidy is big enough. Leave a decent gap between each bin or container to make your life a little easier. Also make sure that your bin tidy will be tall enough to completely hide the bins.
Structural posts
For a simple bin tidy, which is just a wooden wall around the bins, you will need to install 3 garden posts. We would recommend at least 75mm x 75mm treated posts fixed at least 45cm into the floor with Postcrete or some similar fast setting post cement. You will need two posts for the short edge and 1 more for the long edge. If the bin tidy will be quite big due to the number of bins, you might want to consider adding another post for added strength. When putting in your posts, make sure they are straight and square and all the same height above the ground. Don’t panic if they aren’t as you can cut them all to the same length after securing them in place.
Panels
Once you have the posts in place it is time to make the panels. These are very simple to make. Using standard treated CLS timber make a frame that fits inside the support posts you have already installed. Make sure that the frame is square by measuring diagonally corner to corner on both sides. The measurement should be the same. When the frame is square simple screw on some 75mm x 25mm treated timber leaving a small 5mm gap between the boards. It is important that both the support posts and the panels are made from treated timber. If they aren’t then they will quickly degrade outside. When screwing the timber on to the frame, pre-drill the holes and countersink them. This will prevent the timber from splitting. Once you have made the panels, simply screw them to the support posts.
If you are more of a visual person, here is a great YouTube video of how to make a simple bin tidy
Albeit a very simple screen, it will hide those unsightly bins and make your home look a lot neater. Why not plant a small vertical garden up the panels to add some colour and life to it?
