Bin Store
A simple slatted enclosure that hides wheelie bins from view while staying easy to use on bin day. Slatted sides keep it ventilated and stop the worst of the smell.
What you'll need
Materials
- Posts or post bases, frame timber, slatted cladding, hinges, gate latch, optional sedum-plantable roof or pitched timber roof, stainless fixings.
Tools
- Drill/driver, mitre or hand saw, spirit level, square, spade (for setting posts), tape measure, clamps.
Material complexity: Medium
Allow 10% on cladding battens and one spare frame length.
Main risk: Sized to the bin's stated dimensions with no clearance — works in spring, jams in summer when timber and bin both expand.
Tips & traps
- Sized too tight — bins get stuck on hot days when handles flex.
- No drainage in the base — pooling water rots the floor.
- Solid cladding instead of slats — smell concentrates.
- Cheap hinges that fail within a season of weekly use.
Planning & timber detail
Why build this?
A bin store turns an eyesore into a piece of garden architecture. It is the highest-visibility front-garden project most people will ever build — and one of the most-noticed by neighbours, posties and visitors.
Where it works best
A flat or near-flat spot with clearance for the gate to swing fully open. Allow drainage at the base — wheelie bins drip.
Planning notes
Front gardens in some conservation areas have height/material restrictions — check before building anything over 1m at the front of a property. Allow enough manoeuvring room for the bin lorry pickup.
Typical sizes
Standard UK 240L wheelie bin is 1075mm tall × 580mm wide × 740mm deep. Add 200mm height clearance for lifting the lid. Plan the floor with a slight slope to drain.
Suitable timber options
Treated redwood for budget and durability. Cedar for kerb appeal. Larch for a slightly richer colour that ages well.
Fixing and finishing
Use stainless or coated hinges — the gate gets used weekly and a rusty hinge bleeds onto cladding fast.
A pitched timber roof or a single-pitch felt roof keeps rain out and stops bin lids becoming reservoirs. Sloped lid panel hinged at the back lets you drop rubbish in easily.
Maintenance
Hose down the inside floor occasionally, especially in summer. Lubricate hinges annually. Check the gate latch — it gets the most wear.
Replace the gate latch when it gets sticky — they're cheap and the daily use justifies the upgrade.
Timber behaviour
Durability
UC3 minimum for cladding and frame; UC4 for any post in ground. Keep the lowest cladding 100mm clear of the ground.
Movement
Standard slatted-cladding movement applies — single fixings per rail, 8mm minimum gaps, expansion gaps at panel ends.
Go deeper
Get the Timber Buying Companion
An 8-page practical guide to choosing better boards, avoiding waste and spotting common timber problems before you buy.