Put up a bird box on a rendered exterior wall

1 each · Tape measure

1 each · Pencil

1 each · Spirit level

KNOW THE RULES

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to disturb wild birds or their nest while it's in use. Fitting a new box is fine, but check nothing is already nesting close by.

BB-02Check for hidden pipes and cables, and set up safelyRun a detector over your marked drilling spot before you touch the drill. Even if it shows clear, still expect a cable or pipe to be there until you've drilled a shallow test hole and proved otherwise, especially near a kitchen or bathroom wall. Find your stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling, and make sure your ladder is on firm, level ground with someone footing it.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

BB-03Work out what's behind the renderRendered exterior walls are usually solid brick or block, but some newer builds use a timber or light steel frame with a sheathing board under the render. Tap along the wall: solid masonry sounds dull and the same everywhere, while a framed wall sounds hollow between studs, which are normally 400-600mm apart, and solid where you hit one. Drill a small 3mm pilot hole at your marked spot: brick-coloured dust means solid masonry, pale wood dust means a timber stud, and fine grey swarf means a metal stud. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, check with your local council before drilling into the external render.

RULES

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 3mm

1 each · Drill

1 each · Small magnet

KNOW THE RULES

Drilling into external render on a listed building, or in some cases a conservation area, can need Listed Building Consent. Check with your local council first if this applies to you.

BB-04Drill and fit the right fixing for your wallFor solid masonry behind render, drill through the render and into the brick or block with a 6mm masonry bit, going at least 30mm into the masonry beyond the render thickness, then fit a red wall plug and a 40-50mm screw. For a timber stud behind render, find the centre of the stud, drill a 3mm pilot hole through the render and sheathing, and drive a 50-60mm exterior-grade wood screw straight into the timber; no plug needed. For a metal stud, never use a wood screw or plastic plug, as it will strip straight through 0.5mm steel; use a self-drilling metal-stud screw sized to pass through the render and sheathing and grip the stud properly. If your fixing lands between studs rather than on one, use an exterior-rated toggle fixing suited to light loads instead.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 6mm

4 each · Red wall plugs, 6mm

4 each · Screws, 40-50mm

4 each · Exterior-grade wood screws, 50-60mm

4 each · Self-drilling metal-stud screws

4 each · Exterior-rated toggle fixings

BB-05Fix the bird box to the wallHold the box against the wall lining up with your drilled holes, and drive the screws through the back panel's fixing points into your chosen fixing. Use a spirit level to check the box tilts slightly forward, about 5-10 degrees, so rainwater runs off the front rather than pooling inside. Tighten each screw just enough to hold the box firmly without cracking the wood.

1 each · Screwdriver or drill driver

BB-06Weatherproof and tidy upFill any unused drilled holes with a dab of exterior-grade sealant to stop water getting behind the render. Sweep or vacuum up drilling dust and debris from the ground, and check the box sits solidly with no wobble. Put your tools and ladder away safely.

1 tube · Exterior-grade sealant

1 each · Dust sheet