Faux Metal Planter PLANS

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Happy Tuesday! I say this mostly to remind myself that it is, in fact, Tuesday. These last couple of weeks have been SO packed with projects and plans that the days are cruising by!! First things first… if you didn’t see my post from yesterday, then you’ll want to know that this week is #SwapItLikeItsHot FOUR!! I won’t be sharing my thrifted makeover until Friday, but everyone else has been killing it with their makeovers!

Plans for Large Faux Zinc Planters

But until my #Swap reveal, here’s a tutorial for these amazing faux metal planters I shared with you last week! Bear with me as I try to get technical with the building instructions, and PLEASE email me if there’s something here that doesn’t make any sense!

Materials for Two Planters (4 ft. W x 19″ H x 9″ D):

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– 8 Pine 1 x 8 x 6
– 4 Pine 1 x 4 x 6
– 3 Pine select 2 x 2s (I think they come in 6 foot lengths…)
1 1/4″ kreg screws
Kreg jig
– Wood trim (I used about 27 feet of trim for these planters)
– Brad nails and pneumatic nailer
Paintable silicon caulk
Modern Masters Metal Effects Paint and Primer (foam roller, brush, low pile roller)

Step 1.

Cut the 1 x 8s to make the sides of your planter. You’ll need 8 4-foot lengths and 8 9-inch lengths.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

Step 2a.

With your kreg jig, screw together your cuts so that each length is now 16 inches tall. You will now have 4 sides that are 4 feet wide and 16 inches tall, and 4 cuts that are 9 inches wide and 16 inches tall.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

Step 2b.

I gave my planters a false bottom so that I didn’t have to fill them with so much dirt. Before you attach your sides, screw a piece of scrap wood into the long sides of each planter… I attached mine about 8″ below the top rim. In order to allow for drainage, I used wood slats (1 x 4s) for the bottom of the planters vs. a solid sheet of wood… Attach to your cross bar with a staple gun.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

Step 3.

Cut and attach your legs. I cut my legs to 19 inches to allow for a them to stick up 1/2 on the top of the planter and then 2 3/4 inches of “legs” under the planter itself. Does that make sense?

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

Step 4.

Add the trim. I mitered the corners and applied my trim with wood glue and brad nails.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

Step 5.

Sand and caulk. Use a silicon caulk so that it moves with the wood as it expands and shrinks with weather.

Step 6.

Paint. Apply 2 coats of the Modern Master’s primer.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

Apply 1-2 coats of the Bronze Reactive paint.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

For the final coat, apply bronze paint with foam roller, and while the paint is still wet, spray reactive solution on top… enough to saturate. I prefer my finish to be more black than green, so I take my roller with the nap and go over the reactive solution gently with a dry brush to agitate a bit.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

Step 7.

If you’re planning to fill your planter with soil, then staple heavy duty plastic or weed barrier along the inside to protect the wood. For these fall plants, I just popped the pots right into the planter and thanks to my false bottom, they fit perfectly!

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

That’s it! Like I said, please email me if I left anything out… It’s pretty simple.

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How to build wooden faux metallic zinc planters.

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14 Comments

  1. I’m so jealous and so impressed! You’d think that by me having a carpenter husband I could ask for these.. Ha!!
    Xoxo

    1. HAHA! It took me a few times where I had to pull something up on YouTube every time… but now I’ve got the hang. I STILL put them in the wrong way sometimes though… #learningcurve

    1. Yes! I used just basic pine and the cost of lumber was maybe $75? It’s been a while so I forget, but the planters I was eyeing were easily more than $100 each! They’re still going strong too!