I live in Colorado at about 6000 ft altitude. I have built birdhouses since moving here and I used the Cedar fencing material thinking it would last longer than any other wood, it is used exclusively for wood fences here. After a couple years I can see sun damage and after 4/5 years they start to come apart. The sun's ultraviolet light just eats up all finishes here. I am looking for suggestions on wood type or finish type that will help make them last. Do you have any thoughts on this?

 

The picture shows some of my bird houses when I built or refinished them.  I overhauled the  cuckoo clock today and it is in such bad shape it fell apart in my hands.  Maybe I am asking too much for the wood to endure out here in the light air and intense sun.

 

 I forgot to say that Bees and wasps are also a huge problem. They go in and either run the birds away or kill them. I solved that by putting sheets of teflon on all the vertical surfaces up high where they build their nests.

Spar varnish, or any finish with UV resistance in it might do better.  Apply only to the outside faces of the bird houses unless you find a finish that is "bird safe". 

Redwood, if you can get it, might do better than cedar. 

Love your designs!   My grandfather took up the challenge of making bird houses and bird feeders with some luck, although he lived in northern Iowa where the air was thicker and the warm seasons were shorter. More atmosphere between his house and the sun, and more of an ozone layer then, so I never heard him complain of his designs being ruined by being outside. 

4D

I like to use a blend of 1/3rd each, boiled linseed oil, mineral spirits, and urethane. 3-6 coats worked well on an oak, walnut, and mahogany table for our camper.

 

13 hours ago, Ron Altier said:

I overhauled the  cuckoo clock today and it is in such bad shape it fell apart in my hands. 

 

What do you mean by it's falling apart Ron?  Into a pile of rotted bits, or just the nails failed and you had parts & pieces?  Or something in between?

I really love those designs, each one is very cool

 

 The ultraviolet sun rays, at this altitude, destroy the wood by drying/shrinking it so much that it cracks and weakens it to the point that it falls apart. 

Hope you protect your self when going outside.   UV can do the same thing to skin. 

I know it is not in the design but paint rather than clear coats give better UV protection. Even then some paints do better than others and UV protectants can be added,

Also thickness of your wood may cause it to fail sooner, or thicker is better.

 

I do not think it is available but years ago on WOOD forum some said that Olympic base worked well with no pigment added.

I have used One Time wood finish on several outdoor projects, including a cedar fence, and it works well, says it lasts 10 years.  No thinners, UV cured.  But as far as I know, only comes in gallons.  I got it at my local Do-It-Best hardware store https://onetimewood.com/

A true spar varnish might be better, but it still won't last forever. One that is affordable and seems to de fairly well is McCloskey's Man 'O War spar. I've used it on a redwood glider that so far (after 3 years) shows no signs of failure. The Marine spar varnishes are very expensive and often require quite a few coats for max protection but if you want to try them a name often mention is Epifanes.

I was wondering to myself... are there any old pioneer cabins and the like out there Ron that have stood the test of time?  And that would go back to what Gerald said about wood thickness...

 I have tried special UV finishes, I have made my own too. All have failed after about 3 years. If I go out in the sun at all, I apply uv 50+ sunscreen.  I know that the bird houses here are exposed to more intense direct sun with far less atmosphere than at sea level. I think the answer may be when I remove the bird houses in the fall, respray with finish with UV protection. Possibly a simple solution, but and will require more maintenance. I don't think I'll find a better and less expensive wood than Cedar for the job.

 

It was one of those "AH HA" moments to spray it every year.............my. wife suggested it

 

 

On 3/12/2023 at 12:34 PM, Gerald said:

I know it is not in the design but paint rather than clear coats give better UV protection. Even then some paints do better than others and UV protectants can be added,

Also thickness of your wood may cause it to fail sooner, or thicker is better.

 

I do not think it is available but years ago on WOOD forum some said that Olympic base worked well with no pigment added.

 When I moved here, I had a large Cherry 3 person outdoor swing. The finish with uv protection lasted one summer. I  tried another finish that was supposed to be the best. Same thing. I did find a solution. Porch paint. It lasted 5 years. Now I have a permanent solution, a roof. Made more sense anyway, now we can it in the shade most of the day.

Ron, get you a roll of wide metal flashing from Home Depot, a pop rivet gun and a hole making pair of pliers and your bird houses will last longer than you will..

 

Edited March 15, 20233 yr by Smallpatch
I posted in the wrong place then tried to delete it 100 times but it won\t disappear

Here is what you would need to build bird houses and I guarantee you can sell all that you build.

 Best type of tin snips is in the picture.

 and you don't need this last thing for the tin is thin and a 2 x 4 clamped on each side of where you want the bend works great.  This bender is 36 " wide and came from Harbor Freight.

   I start with a 2x6 for the floor and build around it and down past the wood a little with the metal so the wood never gets wet. And for lots of birds I had 8, 12 room models but 7 of then were plastic and lasted about 12 to 14 years but the only metal house is still going strong with birds and its over 20 years old.  The top tool is the hole puncher and the other is the pop rivet gun and the rivets showing are too long and they sell them buy the box about anywhere tools are sold. The roll of sheet metal would probably build 20, 12 room houses. Lots of different amounts available.

  If you live out away from lots of houses the blue birds like their houses 4 to 5 foot high out away from any obstructions in the open air away from anything. If you have ever been from South Fork to Lake City you can see maybe 100 blue bird houses along some fence lines and plenty of birds along the east side of the highway. 

   Also there are cheaper models of pop rivet guns and a lot lighter to use all day long and I miss placed a couple of them for the picture.

    smallpatch 

 

Cedar is my last choice for long lasting wood. Ash or alder is good. My friend makes birdhouses and makes a copper roof on each with a drip edge to help them last and marine spar varnish finishes them.

Check with encyclopedia or Audubon for bird entry hole sizes for more of a chance to get some tenants and a hinged bottom to clean it out.

I have found that redwood will far outlast most any other wood that I have worked. My source has been recycled water tanks, fences that have been standing for 50-60 years. Have built many wood duck houses that have stood the test of time. They not stay pretty but the ducks like them.