Indoor decorative screens are a flexible and creative design solution. They can divide a room, add privacy, or simply obstruct an unpleasant view. You can enjoy the same benefits in your backyard with this easy-to-build outdoor screen. Although the styling echoes delicate Japanese rice paper screens, sturdy construction will hold up outdoors on the patio or in the garden.
Be Selective
Screen door: Sort through your supplier's cedar construction lumber to find straight boards free of loose knots, cracks and wavy grain. This is especially important for long parts like the stiles. For the best value from my supplier, I ripped the pieces from 2 x 6 stock.
Translucent acrylic panels: Fluorescent light diffusers I found at Home Depot are an inexpensive, durable substitute for rice paper.
Assemble the project with exterior wood glue and stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized screws. Predrill and countersink all screw holes.
Image at left: Everything hinges on using the right screen hardware
Make it Simple
Square up your stock by ripping 1/8" from the edges of each board to remove any roundover. Cut the stiles, rungs, and bridge members. Sand the parts now, before assembly.
Attach the bridging to the inside stiles and top and bottom inside rungs. Next, attach these to the inside rungs and the outside stiles for each frame. Before joining the frame bottoms to the outside stiles, cut notches for the feet. The middle frame needs no notch because it has no foot.
The curved top is your biggest challenge. Begin with a cardboard template of the top. Transfer the pattern to your wood, cut the profile and sand the edges. With a sanding block, round the top end of each top vertical bridge member so it mates with the top. Trim the frame stiles after assembly to match the curved top.
Rout a 5/16"-wide rabbet for the inserts and square the corners with a chisel. Cut the acrylic inserts to size (keep the protective paper on for now) and secure the inserts in the frame with trim strips, glue and brads. Prepare the feet and attach hardwood pads to the bottom with glue and brads.
Only one more step-screen hinges. Ours (two pairs for three panels) came from Lee Valley (#00H53.02). Clamp the panels one on top of another, spaced with cereal box cardboard. The cardboard creates a gap for free hinge action. Centre the hinges over this gap and screw them down.
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