Outdoor wooden blackboard in the shape of a house

How to Make an Outdoor Chalkboard

Bring joy to the whole family with an outdoor chalkboard this summer. Not only is it super cute, but it only takes a few hours to build one yourself using a plywood sheet and a few pieces of wood.

Skill
Beginner
Time
Few Hours

Plan :


Tools

Materials

Before You Start

This DIY wooden chalkboard isn’t just for kids! It can come in handy for keeping track of outdoor chores or garden vegetables ready to be harvested. If you host an outdoor party, you can even use it to write fun messages.


When choosing plywood for this project, pick a sheet with no knots and a slick finish for a smooth drawing surface. You can often find wood and plywood cuttings in store next to the cut shop, so go ahead and take a look!

  1. 1

    Cut the Plywood to Size

  2. Steps:

  3. 1.1
    Use clamps to secure the sheet to the workbench, ensuring that the section to cut extends over the edge.
  4. 1.2
    Cut the sheet into a piece the size of 48” x 60”.


Pro Tip

If you don’t feel comfortable performing these steps, just visit the cut shop at your local Lowe’s store.

  1. 2

    Cut Out a House Shape

  2. Steps:

  3. 2.1
    Make a mark in the middle of one of the 48" sides. This will be the top side.
  4. 2.2
    Make two more marks 42" from the bottom along each 60" side.

  5. 2.3
    Trace lines from the marks on the side to the mark in the middle.
  6. 2.4
    Cut the plywood with a circular saw along the lines to give it a house shape.
Person tracing a line on a plywood sheet
Person cutting a plywood sheet with a circular saw
  1. 3

    Cut the Base to Size

  2. Steps:

  3. 3.1
    Use a mitre saw to cut a 2x3 to 48" in size (piece A).
  4. 3.2
    Set piece A where it is meant to go at the bottom of the house without screwing it in place yet.

Person using a mitre saw to cut wood

Pro Tip

Leave more space for the chalk by setting piece A against the plywood on its thinnest side.

  1. 4

    Cut the Sides to Size

  2. Steps:

  3. 4.1
    Set a 2x3 (piece B) along one of the house sides and trace the cut angles.
  4. 4.2
    Follow the drawn angles to cut piece B.

  5. 4.3
    Repeat the steps above on the other side of the house.
  6. 4.4

    Set both B pieces where they are meant to go at the side of the house without screwing them in place yet.

Person tracing a cut angle
Person using a mitre saw to cut wood at an angle
  1. 5

    Cut the Roof to Size

  2. Steps:

  3. 5.1
    Set a 2x3 (piece C) along one of the roof sides so that it follows the roof edge to the tip of the house.
  4. 5.2
    Set a second piece (piece D) on the other side of the roof. It must be placed on top of piece C and one of the B pieces.

  5. 5.3
    Check that all pieces are aligned with the plywood edges. Trace and cut the angles on both ends to reproduce.
  6. 5.4
    Reverse the wood pieces so you can trace the cut angle on piece C along house side B. Don’t trace and cut the roof tip cut angles yet.
  7. 5.5
    Cut all traced angles.
  8. 5.6
    Take piece C (with only one cut angle) and trace and reproduce the cut angle for the roof tip. Cut the angle.
Person placing a wooden piece on top of another piece to trace an angle
Person tracing a cut angle
Person tracing a cut angle on a piece of wood
  1. 6

    Paint the Sand All Surfaces

  2. Steps:

  3. 6.1
    Use an orbital sander and 120-grain sandpaper to sand all surfaces, including all edges and all cuts on the 2x3s. Finish the sanding with 220-grain sandpaper.
Person using an orbital sander to sand a plywood sheet
  1. 7

    Paint the Frame and Chalkboard

  2. Steps:

  3. 7.1
    Use a dry rag to remove the sanding dust.
  4. 7.2
    Paint the plywood with two coats of charcoal paint and the 2x3 pieces with two coats of outdoor paint. Wait the necessary drying time between each coat.

Person using a roller to paint plywood black
  1. 8

    Assemble the Project

  2. Steps:

  3. 8.1
    Secure the 2x3s with 1 3/4” treated wood screws from under the plywood.
  4. 8.2
    Install the anchor hardware to the back of the blackboard depending on where you want to mount it.
  5. 3.3
    Insert the can into a spray grip gun and paint the furniture.
Person assembling a wooden blackboard
  1. 9

    Attach the Chalk Box

  2. Steps:

  3. 9.1
    The mailbox will be used to hold the chalk near the chalkboard. Mount it along the bottom of the frame or secure it to a stake beside the board.

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