Make a Side Door for Monitoring & Maintenance

Make a side opening door for easier maintenance.

Cut one of the side panels about 1/16″ or 1/8″ less in width, preferably from the back edge because it will also retract the side panel height from the roof and reduce pivot resistance. This side panel becomes the door.

Fasten 2 or 3 hinges to one edge of the back panel and to the side panel door as follows:

1. Assemble the box without the side panel chosen to be the door.
2. Fasten 2 hinges with screws into predrilled pilot holes to the longer outside back of the door adjacent to the back panel 1/4 of the door height from the top and the bottom.
3. If there are more than 2 hinges (larger bird houses – duck boxes), fasten equal distance between hinges, with slightly less distance between the end hinges and each work piece end.
4. Hold the side panel door in position and mark with an awl or pencil where the holes are to be drilled on the side edge of the back panel.
5. Fasten the side door to the box by fastening the hinges to the back panel with screws.

Secure the side door in closed position with two screws in predrilled pilot holes in the front panel and matching smaller pilot holes into the front edge of the side panel door. First drill two counter sunk pilot holes in the front panel with the following measurements:

1. first pilot hole 1/4 of the distance from the top,
2. the other 1/4 of the distance from the bottom,
3. both measured in from the corner a distance equal to 1/2 the thickness of the side panel (If the side panel is 3/4″ thick, center the pilot holes in the front panel 3/8″ in from the edge.) Make these first pilot holes large enough so the screws can be fully inserted into the front panel with your fingers. Loose in the primary work piece is best for later use.

Close the hinged door. While holding firmly in closed position, use the first set of pilot holes to align and drill smaller pilot holes into the side panel. Screws which are turned into these smaller pilot holes must be snug.

Pilot holes should be snug in secondary work pieces, but not so tight as to split the wood. Using a hand held screw driver to assemble work pieces allows the crafts person to feel and better judge appropriate snugness.

These screws can now be used to repeatedly open and securely close the side door.

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