From Fence Pickets to Window Well Cover

Was looking for a window well cover, they are too expensive to buy and most are too hard to make due to the fact that all of my tape measures and saws are flawed. Here's one I was able to build with minimal fuss by using pre and consistently-cut, weather-resistant fence pickets.

Plus you can use a nail gun. Why would you not want to try out an 'ible that gives you an excuse to use a nail gun?

Supplies

1. 3.5 inch x 6 ft fence pickets
2. Nail gun nails (or screws, or nails)
3. Exterior wood glue
4. Sharpie marker

Tools

1. Tape measure
2. Preferably one that maintains its accuracy between the time you measure and the time you cut; none of mine do that, so I'll show you a way to get around the issue if your tape measures are also flawed)
3. Table saw (or circular saw, or jig saw, or hand saw)
4. Feather board if using a table saw
5. Nail gun (or drill, or hammer)

Misc.

1. Brick (you'll see why)
2. Three glasses of Merlot

Measure the outside width of the well and scribble that on your hand.

Then measure the outside left and right lengths and scribble the max value on your other hand.

I'd add about another 1/2 inch to each for wiggle room.

If your tape measures are like mine and don't work very well (i.e. the numbers change) you can measure the width and length right on a fence picket instead, kind of like a "story stick".

Cut three pickets down to match the size that you measured for the well.

Prop and line the cut pickets up with a brick or something square and heavy, glue and shoot!

Double check the fit of the frame on the well if you want, or eh.

Mark a few pickets in half and rip 'em.

This will leave you with six or so long pieces. These will be the long-wise pieces for the grate.

Lay out the long pickets, spacing them out approximately the same (doesn't have to be exact).

Then, you'll want to get a more accurate inter-picket distance by following this basic formula:

Inter-picket distance = width of frame / number of holes you want

For example, when I laid out my long pieces, I wanted 5 holes and the width of the frame was 35, so that meant the inter-hole distance (distance between pickets) should be about 7 inches.

So make a mark along the width of the frame every 7 inches or whatever your calculation turns out to be.

Glue and nail the long pickets at the inter-picket marks. You don't have to cut them to size, just lay them across and let them overhang.

Hint: I recommend making the marks on both sides of the frame to make them parallel to each other.

Rip a few pickets into thirds for the short cross pieces.

Lay them, determine and mark the locations based on the number of cross pieces you want.

Glue and nail 'em down.

Trim off any overlapping picket pieces from the frame.

Lay frame over your window well.

Repeat for other wells.