Background

These are my trash cans. When we moved in, they were unceremoniously leaning against the side of the garage and looking in desperate need of a better living condition.

Getting To Work

I started by prepping the ground, which involved digging out the rough area of the 'Condo' and laying down a weed barrier, putting down a few inches of crushed stone, placing cement deck blocks in each corner and then adding more crushed stone until the deck blocks were almost covered. Next I built a frame that fit into the grooves of the deck blocks and added a few joists, which probably aren't necessary from a strength perspective (given the span and width of the decking), but over-built is better than under-built so in they go. I used 5/4x6 pressure-treated (PT) pine for the deck boards, and built a small ramp in front to make it easier to roll the cans on and off the platform. I built the privacy walls with 1x6 PT pine and painted the vertical pieces in exterior matte black paint.

The Result

The Trash Can Condo is the perfect blend of form and function. It moves our trash cans away from our house, hides them from view, makes it easier to throw trash away and makes it easier to take the cans to the end of the driveway and back. We see fewer rodents, increased our curb appeal, and made the chore of taking out the trash a whole lot more tolerable. Please reach out with any questions or inquiries!