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This instruction set was created by staff at the Ecology Action Center Recycled Window Cold Frame Construction Introduction The following guide will enable you to prepare a cold frame using rough cut lumber and a recycled window. The construction is intended to be simple, make use of easily accessible material, and be safe. Note: Lumber cuts are based on rough cut wood Wood Required and Cuts: (3) 12’ – 2x6: These will be cut to specifications within the Instructions section under Window Measurements and Wood Cuts. (1) 6’ – 2x2: (2) cut at 17” and (2) cut at 11” Other Materials: 4” Hinges (2) recycled or new Recycled exterior window with wooden frame (10) #8 – 2” wood screws (50) #10 – 3” wood screws Tools Required: Impact drill or screwdriver with square (#2) bit Drill with 1/8” bit Measuring tape Carpenters square Pencil Circular saw or handsaw Construction Plan: 1) Window Measurements and Wood Cuts 2) Back Frame Construction (1) & Front Frame Construction (1) 3) Frame Sides (2) Installation 4) Window and Hinge Installation Instructions: 1. Window Measurements and Wood Cuts Measure the length and width of the window and record these measurements. With a circular or hand saw, cut five pieces of 2x6 at the same measurement as the width of the window. For the frame sides, cut six pieces of 2x6 four inches shorter than the length of the window, this will accommodate for the added width of the window frames during installation. For two of the frame side pieces, make a straight cut using a circular saw, hand saw or jig saw from one corner to the opposite corner in a diagonal fashion, thus creating a triangle (sloped piece) at the same length as the other frame side pieces.

Recycled Window Cold Frame Construction Guide - for Winter Gardening

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This instruction set was created by staff at the Ecology Action Center

Recycled Window Cold Frame Construction

Introduction

The following guide will enable you to prepare a cold frame using rough cut lumber and a recycled window. The construction is intended to be simple, make use of easily accessible material, and be safe. Note: Lumber cuts are based on rough cut wood

Wood Required and Cuts:

(3) 12’ – 2x6: These will be cut to specifications within the Instructions section under

Window Measurements and Wood Cuts.

(1) 6’ – 2x2: (2) cut at 17” and (2) cut at 11”

Other Materials:

4” Hinges (2) recycled or new

Recycled exterior window with wooden frame

(10) #8 – 2” wood screws

(50) #10 – 3” wood screws

Tools Required:

Impact drill or screwdriver with square (#2) bit

Drill with 1/8” bit

Measuring tape

Carpenters square

Pencil

Circular saw or handsaw

Construction Plan:

1) Window Measurements and Wood Cuts

2) Back Frame Construction (1) & Front Frame Construction (1)

3) Frame Sides (2) Installation 4) Window and Hinge Installation

Instructions: 1. Window Measurements and Wood Cuts Measure the length and width of the window and record these measurements. With a circular or hand saw, cut five pieces of 2x6 at the same measurement as the width of the window. For the frame sides, cut six pieces of 2x6 four inches shorter than the length of the window, this will accommodate for the added width of the window frames during installation. For two of the frame side pieces, make a straight cut using a circular saw, hand saw or jig saw from one corner to the opposite corner in a diagonal fashion, thus creating a triangle (sloped piece) at the same length as the other frame side pieces.

This instruction set was created by staff at the Ecology Action Center

2. Back Frame Construction (1) & Front Frame Construction (1)

For the back frame, lay three of the pieces cut to the window’s width on a flat surface; the

edges of each should be flush with each other and their longer edges abutted to one another.

With a measuring tape and carpenters

square or straight edge, draw a line

2” in from each end of these boards

so that the line is perpendicular to

the longer edges of each.

Lay two of the 17” pieces on these

boards aligned with each of the

previously drawn lines. Ensure that the

2x2s are flush on the edge of the 2x6 that

will be the bottom of the cold frame.

Prior to fastening these to the boards,

predrill two holes for each board within

the 2x2 to ensure the pieces do not split

when being fastened.

Fasten each 2x2 to the boards, keeping the outside edges of the 2x6s

flush; do this with the #10 – 3” wood screws. The front frame will be

completed in the same fashion but with the 11” 2x2 pieces as the

connecting pieces.

This instruction set was created by staff at the Ecology Action Center

When stood upright and facing each other from the inside the back and front frames should

look like this:

3. Frame Sides (2) Installation

Two 2x6 pieces will be stacked and fastened to the 2x2 pieces of both

the front and back frames. This can be done with the #10 – 3” wood

screws. With two stacked on each side, the third (sloped) 2x6 pieces

can be appended to the top of each frame side. The cut for the

sloped piece should extend from one corner of the 2x6 piece to the

opposite corner so as to create a triangle. A good way to make this

cut safely using a circular saw is to fasten one side of it to a wooden

surface, leaving the cut line clear of the surface so the saw will not

cut down into it. With the piece fastened with at least two screws at

different places, slowly cut the diagonal.

Before fastening these sloped pieces of 2x6, predrill

two holes about 4” apart near the thinner end of

each piece so that the wood does not split during

drilling.

Fasten each to the 2x6s below with the #10 – 3”

wood screws and then fasten the back end of the

sloped 2x6 to the back frame 2x2s to secure the

piece in place.

Front

Frame

Back

Frame

This instruction set was created by staff at the Ecology Action Center

Now that the overall frame is complete, the window can be fastened to the frame using

the hinges; ensure the frame looks like this before proceeding:

4. Window & Hinge Installation

Lay the window so that its edges align with the edges of

the cold frame.

At 5” from each edge of the upper 2x6 (back frame),

draw a line on both the 2x6 and window frame; this will

serve as a guide when installing the hinges.

This instruction set was created by staff at the Ecology Action Center

Fasten each of the hinges to both

the back frame and the window

frame using #8 2” wood screws;

the hinges should have their outer

edges in line with the lines

previously drawn.

Now that the build is complete, it is good practice

to open and close the lid to see if there are any

issues with the hinges and to ensure the fit is snug.

In addition, we recommend that absorbent

material such as soft piping tubing or something

similar be appended to the edge of the sloped 2x6

so that contact between the window and cold

frame does not break the glass.

Back

Frame

Add Absorbent

Material Here