Need help with wood type for birdhouses

[sixdogs]

I believe you are thinking of Medium Density Overlay (MDO). Lumber yards may not stock it, but they should be able to order it.

Steve

Yes, that's it exactly and this is the product i was thinking of, assuming I can find it and the price isn't stupid. Here is something I found on the internet that mentions MDO.

Review: Medium Density Overlay (MDO) Plywood for Jig Building and General Use - by Jerry @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community

I have used this for signs before and it stayed straight as an arrow after years outside. It's my front runner because anything I do to the roofs--that are only 1/2" material-- will warp and this will stay true and flat. The original birdhouses were built before I had glue and nailguns so I'll take things apart, make new roofs and bottoms and glue and nail everything back together. I'm still going to look at wood but since I don't have much of a nailing surface for the roof it's hard to hold down.

 

[Pete Judd]

I have used old license plates over the wood roofs. Birds don't seem to care.

 

[Ken45101]

It's time for me to make some new houses too. I'm planning on using hemlock barnsiding. It holds up well on barns so I assume it will work well on the bird houses. It's relatively inexpensive even in wider widths.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I like Cedar...The last batch I made, I coated them with a penetrating sealer; haven't put them up yet, but having made feeders and birdhouses out of both Cedar and Pine, I find the Cedar lasts longer...and yes, as mentioned by another poster, it too will warp if it is too thin. I also prefer SS square drive screws.

 

[Travelover]

I have used old license plates over the wood roofs. Birds don't seem to care.

Right. I've heard rumors that some of them will even nest in an old hollow tree.