How To Build Window Flower Boxes | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada build and plant custom window boxes for a colorful touch of curb appeal.
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Carpenter Nathan Gilbert and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada help a homeowner tackle a curb appeal upgrade. Nathan offers the solution of adding some custom-made window planters, made from low-maintenance PVC. After building them, Nathan mounts the boxes directly to the home for worry-free style.
Skill level: ⅖
Cost: $75 to $150 per box
Time: 3 hours per box
Where to find it?
Nathan used stock 1”x10” Azek and stock Azek band molding and base cap molding (azekco.com/) to build three identical window boxes. To cut the materials to size, Nathan used a sliding compound miter saw which is manufactured by Dewalt (www.dewalt.com/). To secure the front, back, bottom, and side pieces together, Nathan used 2 part PVC glue, 1 ¼ - inch brads, and 2 ½ -inch stainless steel trim head screws, which can all be found at home centers. He secured the molding with 2 part PVC glue and 1-inch brads. To allow for drainage, Nathan created drainage holes on the bottom of the window boxes. He used a ½ inch spade bit to drill holes every 8 inches along the centerline of the bottom piece of Azek.
Nathan mounted each window box directly to the house’s siding. He pre-drilled pilot holes, added caulk into each hole, then used 4-inch structural screws to secure the box to the clapboard through the pre-drilled holes.
Jenn lined the window boxes with one layer of landscape fabric, which can be found at garden and home centers. On top of the landscape fabric, she added handfuls of Hoffman Volcanic Lava Rock (goodearth.org/) to cover the drainage holes. Jenn used a combination of annuals and perennials to fill the window boxes, which get morning sun and afternoon shade. Plants and flowers used include Northern Maidenhair Ferns, Pearly White, Glacier Ivy, begonia, bush violet, and vinca, which she planted in Fox Farm Ocean Forest potting soil (foxfarm.com/).
In addition to regular watering, Jenn suggests using a slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote [amzn.to/3DlGZAA]-made by Scotts Company LLC. (scottsbrands.com/) once every three months to help keep the window boxes healthy.
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Materials:
1x10 PVC stock [thd.co/3wNiP0u]
PVC band molding [thd.co/3qQS8UP]
PVC base cap [thd.co/36Kwmez]
PVC glue [thd.co/3rdJNLh]
Trimhead screws [thd.co/3IPiMne]
4-inch structural screws [thd.co/2YiboiO]
Tools:
Tape measure [amzn.to/3LmgCx4]
Speed square [amzn.to/3v2FBPB]
Miter saw [amzn.to/3iP5vQY]
Table saw [amzn.to/3tWdnqn]
Brad nailer [amzn.to/3iO2Ln0]
Power drill [amzn.to/36HcA3u]
Twist drill bits [amzn.to/3LrsOww]
Spade drill bits [amzn.to/3LtACO9]
Impact driver with right-angle attachment [amzn.to/36OqC3k]
About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How To Build Window Flower Boxes | Ask This Old House
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[@mortensonaaron]

This guy has great social skills!!! Never misses an opportunity to compliment.

[@sdafasdfasdfsda]

He probably was a pickup artist before he got married.

[@thebluelunarmonkey]

for the weep holes, I'd get some galvanized wire, fold in half, make a loop "anchor", with about 2 inches bent perpendicular to the loop. Drop the straight end thru the weep hole so you can bend the wire away from the siding. This will give water a lateral push away from the siding so the siding doesn't get stained from the soil drainage.

[@mistygeller3193]

Beautiful!! And such a simple and really timeless design! I’ve recently become quite a fan of pvc trim. It has been surprisingly easy to work with and takes paint much better than I expected it to! Perfect for outdoor use! And those plants, whew, soooo pretty 😊

[@papakernz]

Nice looking! I made some last year but made them so they would support removable plastic planter box trays. This way flowers could be brought in during cold weather, they're easier to clean out and when they crack they just get replaced without wrecking or staining the wood boxes I built.

[@rajachbd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHvOeZ57prWUf5o

[@lgentry2]

Hey there! I just wanted to say that I found the video to be really helpful and interesting. It was able to keep my attention throughout and I feel like I actually learned something valuable from it. Thanks a lot for sharing!

[@artgirl-zx2jh]

Just gorgeous!! And we love Jenn!!

[@brookekathryn1980]

I like to add PVC pipe the the bottom with holes drilled in it with a stand pipe and rope filling the holes. The drip system or a watering can can just fill the pipe and the water slowly releases into the soil as needed. Nice simple and inexpensive self watering system.

[@Skammerd]

Love the tag team job.

[@paperscissor8612]

V beautiful planter, love and wishes from India!!

[@andrewc6385]

Great job

[@Guardducks]

Looks great.

[@rajachbd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHvOeZ57prWUf5o

[@BB-uz4tc]

this is so awesome!😊

[@rajachbd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHvOeZ57prWUf5o

[@georgephillips1185]

🤙great information thank you

[@DC-SA1]

Funny how Jenn tactfully was like "yes, the box is going to be full", so funny when you see plantings and they're all 6 inches apart and never grow together, looks so artificial.. Jenn's design mimics nature and the slight randomness of things and is more attractive

[@rajachbd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHvOeZ57prWUf5o

[@zunedog31]

New guy has the correct accent

[@sodoberman]

"1x10 PVC Stawk"

[@sdafasdfasdfsda]

@@sodoberman "Lets take it to the sar and make our cuts"

[@hectorjones5989]

WOW

[@catsmeow5566]

Very nice. I'm thinking of doing a window box to cover the changes in size of a bathroom window. I want to install shower and want to make the window there shorter so it doesn't come down as low, but I want to cover up the change and thought a window box might look cool so there will still be something to match the height of the adjacent window on the bottom. I know I will need to install house wrap, but do I need siding over the house wrap if the box covers the house wrap?

[@alexseidenstricker6840]

How wide are the boxes?

[@hpiccus]

How did he know which stud was 11-1/4?

[@laurajensen9878]

Is it possible to install flower boxes on to faux stone siding?

[@laurie6123]

Will those perennial ferns make it through a winter?

[@michelleann8854]

Wow those are amazing! Can you put window boxes on stucco?

[@toddjasper1]

Yes, if you are drilling into a stud, the process is no different. Just need a masonry drill bit to reach the stud

[@philoyphilia]

So the guy shows them what side of the house gets the most sun while also showing which direction is east 😂😂

[@kmccb23]

Curious how wide to make? I know the length is determined by the window size but what about the width? I know it's likely personal preference but wondering what most poeple do?

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

it looks like you're using the PVC Trimwelder 50ml Fast Cure by Extreme Adhesives. can you recommend an alternative as I am having difficulty locating this product? - sold out at Home Depot. the glue that you are linking in the description is for pipe fitting applications not structural projects such as this one.

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

also the band molding you are linking is primed MDF, not PVC

[@johnmolnar2957]

I would have extended the boxes 4 to 6" beyond the windows on each side to richen it up.

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

Yes, the boxes are great but they look just a bit off, being even with the size of the window. Definitely should have gone a few inches past the frame.

[@txmade4371]

Maybe you should be on the show instead of this guy.

[@angellas.1314]

🙋‍♀️ Question! Can the window boxes be made a bit wider than the windows?

[@rajachbd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHvOeZ57prWUf5o

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

The key is attaching them to the studs. The siding should give you a hint, since the ends are always attached to a stud. I have found studs under windows are not always 16" o.c.

[@jonathandevries2828]

GASP! he's got gray!

[@richieyeah]

He should have replaced his window trim that looked rotten

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

1x10 pvc stock? I've not seen that in Sacramento. What glue also?

[@toddjasper1]

Not PVC glue from the plumbing aisle-see comment below for better answer

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

no, he is NOT using plumbing glue he is using PVC TrimWelder 50 ml Fast Cure - i can tell by the applicator gun @1:33 (it's blue and gray only partially visible) and he even says it's a 2-part adhesive @1:30 in the video

[@toddjasper1]

@@Straight0uttaCrofton ah I stand corrected. I’ll leave my comment rather than delete so anyone interested can see the right answer

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

@@toddjasper1 i am having trouble locating it in that 50ml size, which fits in a caulking gun adapter that they sell separately or in a kit. this saves you from buying an applicator gun. doesn't appear to be a lot of alternatives, either. / =

[@avalon449]

Would have been better if the boxes were tapered at the bottom.

[@strngenchantedgirl]

100% disagree with adding those rocks at the bottom. Rocks can really mess up your drainage. But more importantly she’s robbing those plants of space for their roots and she’s going to pack those plants in there.

[@installtiles8982]

Wow just awesome project May Allah help me a little and pray for me I want to move forward

[@aaqilian5.085]

Ameen

[@djamelhamdia134]

The homeowner is so chill, I think he is on shrooms!

[@JimXultra]

Lol

[@clintonlyle7922]

That could be why he didn’t do much lol

[@ImALefty08]

3:11 lol

[@JimXultra]

@@ImALefty08 LMAO you know it lol lol perfect timing lol lol lol

[@euphoria2339]

Always have a crush on her lol

[@chrissayers7076]

I love the design, but a big ecological negative, PVC stock, all the micro plastics now released into the environment.

[@papakernz]

It prevents them from rotting and having to be made again. It's the perfect material for this wet application.

[@flyingchic3n]

Ugh, English ivy should be illegal

[@richardjoseph8683]

Too many plants in each planters. 10 pounds of crap in a 5 pound bag!

[@sdafasdfasdfsda]

Yeah and no garden gnome on the ground beneath the planter to tie it all together? What kind of scam is this?

[@richardjoseph8683]

@@sdafasdfasdfsda Exactly!!

[@fiouable]

Once again an overcrowded planter. In two months everything will be leggy or die. The trick is to water with 20-20-20 half dose every time you water. But it won’t solve the ridiculous overcrowding. Duh.

[@IAmKyleBrown]

Not good when your landscaper has to ask what direction a house is facing. I get these are scripted, but that was a bit ridiculous to me.