DIY AC Unit Cover Design Dining + Diapers

It’s one of those projects that you think about forever and once it’s done you say to yourself, ‘Why did it take me so long to do this?!’ I love simple projects that are subtle yet make such a difference and make your backyard look polished.

So let’s dive in and you can learn how to make your own!

SUPPLIES:

(4) 4’ Fence posts

(7) 6’ X 6” X 1” Boards

(14) 4’ X 6” X 1” Boards

(2) 4′ X 4″X2″ Boards

(1) 6′ X 4″X 2″ Board

2 ½” Galvanized fence nails

Sealer

Decorative filler (rocks, bark, etc.)

*Your measurements may vary depending on the size of your AC unit.

TOOLS:

Saw

Bucket

Paint Brush (or rag for stain)

Let’s get started!

Here is what I started with before. Just a basic AC Unit next to our house.

Use a hoe to remove the grass around the AC Unit. You may not need to do this if it’s already in gravel or dirt. I left a 2’ border around the unit. You will want to make sure you allow enough space so you can access the control panel.

Next, measure where you want your posts. We wanted to leave a good amount of space between the fence and the AC unit for air circulation, so I went with 14” spacing.

Use a post digger to create holes for your posts. Place a level on top of the posts to make sure the holes are equal depths. I went down about 8” which is a little on the skim side for posts, but it worked just fine for this project.

Pour a generous amount of Quikcrete into the holes and wait 24 hours for them to set.

When working with a permanent structure like this, you want to stain the backside of the boards prior to securing them onto the fence posts. Otherwise you won’t be able to slide behind it to stain it properly (I learned the hard way doing a similar project a few years ago).

I applied three coats of stain and let them dry overnight.

Let’s build! Start at the top of the front facing posts and secure one board using two fencing nails on each side. Leave a ¼” gap and secure the second one, and so forth. Each post will have 7 boards. There will be about a 3/4” overhang on each fence post.

Now, onto the sides. Start at the top and work your way down. Place the boards so that they come right up to that 1” overhang so it creates a really nice edge. Leave a ¼” gap between each board and continue until all boards are secured.

Before you put the last board onto the fence posts, lay a layer of weed barrier down. This helps prevent weeds/grass from growing up through the bark!

Then lay down your bark or rocks. Bark just happens to be a lot less expensive (only costs me $12 for the whole area) compared to $50-100 worth of river rock.

To finish off the top, secure a 2X4 board on top for a more polished look.

Apply 2-3 coats of stain (depending on the look you want) and then a sealer.

And

done!

Doesn’t that feel good?! So excited to have this eye sore covered up.

If you are looking for more outdoor projects, check out our easy DIY Sandbox Build that I built with True Value last summer!

For more fun DIY projects, tips and tricks, visit TrueValueProjects.com or follow True Value on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of True Value. The opinions and text are all mine.

Original article and pictures take http://designdininganddiapers.com/2016/05/diy-ac-unit-cover/ site


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