Garbage Can Enclosure

Cut list

Board layout. Each row is one board, cut left to right, with the remainder hatched. Dark lines are saw cuts, about ⅛″ wide.

Build it

1. 
   01

   Cut the pieces

   Measure your carts first. This enclosure fits two 64-gallon (240 L) carts, about 24″ wide, 29″ deep and 42″ tall with the lid shut. Each door opening is 27″ wide and 45¾″ tall. For bigger carts, make the rails, slats and lid longer by the same amount.

   • A Posts, five at 49¼″
   • B Back rails, three at 55½″
   • C Side rails, six at 32¼″
   • D Front rails, two at 27″
   • E Center lid support, one at 29½″
   • F Siding slats, 34 at 47¼″
   • G Door slats, fourteen at 43½″
   • H Door battens, four at 26″
   • I Door braces, two at 41½″
   • J Lid, one at 36″ × 64″
2. 
   02

   Build the back frame

   Lay the two back posts (A) on a flat surface, 62½″ apart at the outside. Fit the three back rails (B) between them: the bottom one 2″ up from the bottom of the posts, the middle one 23″ up, the top one flush with the tops. Join each rail end with two 2½″ pocket screws from the inside.

3. 
   03

   Add the sides

   Stand the back frame up. Join three side rails (C) to the inside edge of each back post at the same heights as the back rails, and a front corner post (A) to their front ends, all with pocket screws. Check each side is square.

4. 
   04

   Add the front rails and center post

   Pocket-screw the two front rails (D) between the front corner posts and the center post (A), flush with the tops. The center post sits ¾″ back from the front so the doors close against it.

   Fit the center lid support (E) from the middle of the top back rail to the back of the center post, flush with the top. It holds up the middle of the lid.

5. 
   05

   Screw on the siding

   Screw the siding slats (F) to the outside of the sides and back, standing up, bottoms 2″ off the ground and tops flush with the frame. Nine slats on each side and sixteen across the back, spread evenly about ½″ apart. Two 1⅝″ screws into each rail.

6. 
   06

   Build the doors

   For each door, lay seven door slats (G) face down, ½″ apart, ends lined up. Screw two door battens (H) across them, 2″ in from the top and bottom ends and ½″ in from the edges.

   Lay a door brace (I) between the battens, running from the bottom batten on the hinge side up to the top batten on the latch side. Mark its ends along the battens, cut them at 33¾°, and screw through the slats into the brace.

   TipThe brace has to run up from the bottom hinge. Turned the other way, it lets the door sag.
7. 
   07

   Hang the doors

   Set each door in its opening on ¼″ spacers, so it closes against the center post with a small gap at the hinge side. Screw two T-hinges to the front of each corner post and across the door at the battens.

   Add a handle and a gate latch to each door, or a barrel bolt at the top, so wind and animals can't open them.

8. 
   08

   Hinge the lid

   Seal all four edges of the lid (J). Lay it on the frame, flush at the back and sides, and join it to the top back rail with three strap hinges.

   Add a lid stay at each end so the open lid can't fall on someone or blow shut.

   Watch outWith the lid up, a gust can tip the whole enclosure. Anchor the back posts to the house wall, a fence post or the ground with metal brackets.
9. 
   09

   Finish

   Ease the edges of the doors and the lid. Paint or stain everything with an exterior finish, the plywood lid especially, and recoat it every couple of years.

   TipSet it on pavers or gravel so the posts stay dry and the carts roll in easily.