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Best Wood For A Birdhouse : Review And Buying Guide
Lorin Nielsen Apr 25, 2024 1:37 PM
Are you looking for the best wood for a birdhouse on the market right now? If you said yes, consider yourself extremely fortunate, as you have arrived at the pinnacle of your search. Let us do the legwork for you so you can focus on more important things.
Perplexity about which best wood for a birdhouse to purchase is a very common occurrence. This problem arises as a result of the large number of different best wood for a birdhouse available on the market today. We've put up a comprehensive guide to assist you in selecting the best wood for a birdhouse available on the market today.
Overview
Because of this, I get to spend most of my time outside. The abundance of birds that inhabit the trees and bushes that surround my home is just one of the many perks of living here. Every time I open a window, I am soothed by the sound of their joyful chirping. A couple of house sparrows were attempting to build a nest on my roof the other day. The balcony was littered with twigs, blades of grass, and other debris. I thought I wanted to make their lives a little simpler, so I built a birdhouse to do just that! You may also use this project to teach your children the basics of carpentry. It's quick, inexpensive, and simple.
It's not my first go at building a birdhouse, and I believe the most critical step is selecting the proper materials for the job. How do you know what kind of wood to use for a birdhouse? There are a number of factors, like weathering and time, that determine which wood is best for your project. So redwood or cedar would be your best bets.
Choosing the ideal wood for a birdhouse is a matter of personal preference, so let's get started. In the following sections, I'll address any concerns or issues you might have and offer some general advice you might find useful.
Glitzhome Green Hand Painted Garden Wood Birdhouse with Single Roof Hanging Bird House for Outside
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Woodpile Fun! Hobby Lobby DIY Paintable Customizable Log Cabin Unfinished Wood Birdhouse for Kids and Adults
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The Hatteras, Outdoor Birdhouse, Modern Farmhouse Mid Century Bluebird Chickadee Wren Swallow Blue Bird, Wooden Bird House, Landscape Backyard Decor
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nanayo Wild Birds DIY Bird House Kit for Kids to Build - Birdhouse and Bird Feeder Wood Building Kits with Hanging Chain and Rope, Mallet, Paints and Brushes, Sandpaper, Glue and Bird Discovery Guide
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NATUREYLWL Wooden Bird House Wood Bird House for Outside with Pole for Finch , Bluebird , Cardinals , Hanging Birdhouse Garden Country Cottages
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SparkJump Premium Birdhouse Cedar Wood Craft Kit – Bird Feeder with Customizable Perches – DIY Woodworking Building Kit for Kids and Adults.
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Unfinished Birdhouse to Paint for Birdwatching with Perch, Natural Wood Pine Frame for Finches and Songbirds, Heavy Duty Outdoor Hanging Use (6.5")
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AQUEENLY Bird Houses for Outside, 6 Pack Unfinished Wood Hanging Birdhouse Kit Bird Lover Gifts to Paint for Arts & DIY Craft
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Woodpile Fun! Hobby Lobby DIY Paintable Customizable Traditional Pentagon Unfinished Wood Birdhouse for Kids and Adults
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Fun Express DIY Wood Birdhouse Planter Sticks - Set of 3 Decorative Crafts - Home Activities for Kids
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Cedar
Cedar is most recognized for its ability to insulate. What this implies for your feathered friends is that they will be safe and comfortable in your bird home throughout the chilly winter months. In addition, the shape of cedar does not change over time in wet weather or during rainy seasons. It's more resistant to decaying than other types of wood if left out in the rain and sun.
Cedar birdhouses are also incredibly long-lasting and sturdy. Because of their weather, climate, and pest resistance, they can endure up to 10–15 years. If you plan to install your bird home in an area that will be more exposed to the elements, I would highly recommend cedar as a material (i.e. forests, foliage). Even if you decide not to paint your bird home, the wood's natural beauty and sophisticated appearance make it an excellent choice.
Cedar bird homes have the disadvantage of being more expensive than other woods, such as pine. Even though it's more expensive, you should think about the long-term worth of something like this over a pine bird housing. However, it is still less expensive than Teak!
Pine
If you're on a tight budget and want to build a bird home, my recommendation is to go with pine. It's cheap, yet it's incredibly durable in hot weather and in hotter climates, making it an excellent choice. It can withstand temperatures as high as those experienced during heat waves.
If you plan to paint your project, pine is an excellent choice of wood. Compared to other woods, it is exceptionally good at absorbing paint. You can easily create a bird home out of pine, which is more prevalent in the United States, if you happen to have any laying around or know someone who does. Pine is also pretty easy to remove from the landscape by yourself.
Teak
Teak is prized not only for its high cost, but also for the exceptional quality and long life it provides. Choose teak for a long-lasting and high-quality birdhouse since it is the most resistant to the elements of any of the woods listed in this article!
It is naturally resistant to weather, rot, and even insects. There is no need to worry about whether or not the bird house has started to rot when you place it because you know it will last for a long time. You wouldn't want the lovely tiny birds to dwell in a rotting wood bird home, based on my last memory of rotting wood! If you don't mind paying more for lower upkeep, go for peak.
Redwood
For this reason, it's a better insulator and weatherproof than cedar (my second-favorite). As a result, redwood is less susceptible to rot than cedar since it produces far more natural compounds. There is a downside to using redwood because it is a softwood, which is susceptible to denting. That's not a problem, in my opinion, when utilizing it as a birdhouse. There is only one disadvantage to redwood: its high cost. It's absolutely worth it if you can get your hands on some.
To summarize, redwood wood is the ideal material to use for birdhouses because of its high durability.
Red Oak
As a whole, If you don't want to use cedar, you should stick with oak for your outside tasks, so your oak bird feeder will be in good hands.
Red oak, on the other hand, is a viable alternative if you don't have enough cedar on hand, even if I'd rather use cedar myself.
Red oak planks can still be used as long as a tinted preserve is applied to achieve the red oak finish.
A color preserver or treatment is still necessary even when there is no discernible red finish on the surface..
With red oak, you'll be able to attract passing birds with a change in color that's sure to draw their attention. Color can now be added to your bird feeder without the difficulty of deciding which paint or preserve to use.
Consider the fact that red oak is used to make pallets and other rustic goods, so you may be able to design a more rustic bird feeder with it.
Can I use Pressure-treated Wood for a Birdhouse?
You might consider building your birdhouse out of pressure-treated wood scraps you have lying around. There must be some merit to pressure-treated wood given its reputation for weather resilience, right?
CCA-treated wood, which is also known as pressure-treated wood, includes chromated copper arsenate, or CCA. The chemical mixture renders the wood impervious to rot, but it also poses health concerns to humans. Itching, rashes, and even neurological issues have been recorded. A "better safe than sorry" approach would be taken even if no research have been done on the dangers of extended contact with this type of wood. Pressure-treated wood should not be used for birdhouses, in my opinion. You don't want to expose baby birds to wood that has been treated with harmful chemicals, as this could make them sick.
This reasoning also applies to other types of wood that contain hazardous compounds, such as creosote- or lead-based-painted wood. It doesn't matter what kind of wood scraps you have. For the sake of comparison, you'll need to utilize one of these woods instead. That's something to keep in mind.
The pressure-treated wood scraps that you have may now be on your mind. The best course of action would be to eliminate them. For little amounts, a trip to the landfill is all that is needed. It's possible that you may need to dispose of significant volumes at a designated burning facility or a permitted landfill. Check out my article on how to safely dispose of CCA-treated wood if you're interested in learning more.
Can you use Plywood for Birdhouses?
Plywood can be used to make a birdhouse as long as it's sturdy enough. As we previously stated, there are better options available. If you're looking to keep costs down, plywood will do the trick. Consider that not all plywood is created equal. You can choose from a variety of options on the market; each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
In order to build birdhouses, you should choose plywood that is suitable for outdoor use. Marine plywood is significantly more expensive than non-marine plywood in terms of cost and water resistance (marine plywood can be used underwater). It's worth seeing if any of your leftovers fit into one of these groups. Keep in mind, though, that your birdhouse will not endure as long if such is not the case.
How Do You Protect Your Birdhouse from Water?
Think of the birds as if they were sleeping peacefully in your newly built, well-intentioned birdhouse. Then, out of nowhere, a storm arrives, drenching your building in torrential rain.
When it comes to protecting your feathered pals, a lack of waterproofing will be disastrous. Read "How Do You Waterproof A Wooden Birdhouse?" to learn more about this problem.
The inherent waterproofing properties of redwood and cedar are similar. But this does not mean that water will not be able to enter the birdhouse through the ventilation holes or the door. As a result, design and positioning play a critical role in minimizing this danger.
To keep out the elements, the best structures have overhangs and other structural features. To keep rain out of your birdhouse, it's best to use a forward sloping roof with four-inch overhang in the front and two-inch overhang on each side.
Your wood should have four half-inch drainage holes drilled into it at the bottom of the birdhouse in the case that water gets inside. A quarter-inch recess in the floor will enough for adequate waterproofing benefits from a recessed floor (source).
Consider orienting the entrance of your birdhouse away from the predominant wind and rain direction.
Does Your Wood Need Varnish?
Your birdhouse should look good, of course. Many birdhouses are painted or varnished in order to provide a smooth appearance. Nonetheless, how about the birds?
Birds, on the other hand, prefer an unpainted original pine, redwood, or cedar, rather than a slick painted building, and have been known to avoid using a birdhouse until it shows symptoms of aging.
You can use varnish if you really want to. However, a natural linseed oil varnish or other non-toxic varnish manufactured from natural oils is preferable. Using natural varnish or not applying varnish at all is the safer option.
A weathered-looking piece of redwood or cedar may be the best choice for your project because these types of wood are naturally resistant to wear and tear.
For this reason, your birdhouse should be constructed from a sturdy wood that will withstand exposure to the elements. It's hard to go wrong with redwood or cedar for your project; they'll look great and last for a long time, respectively.
Pine wood can be an inexpensive alternative if you're on a budget. If you happen to have any leftover pieces of outside plywood, that will work just as well. Chemically treated wood should not be used since it could harm the young birds.
