Build: Small Mason Bee House

1Cut the roof and side panels

Tools

Miter Saw

Materials

Scrap wood or 2x4, untreated

Cut the two roof panels with a 22.5° bevel on the top edge so they'll meet at a peak, and the two side panels with the top edge beveled to match.

2Cut the bottom and back panels

Tools

Miter Saw

Materials

Scrap wood or 2x4, untreated

Cut a bottom panel and a back panel from scrap stock or plywood.

3Assemble the box

Tools

Spring Clamps

Materials

Scrap wood or 2x4, untreated
Exterior wood glue (Titebond II/III)

Glue the sides, bottom, and back together into a box, then attach the two beveled roof panels on top so they meet at the peak.

4Build the nesting block

Tools

Drill / Driver
Forstner Bits

Materials

Scrap wood or 2x4, untreated

Laminate scrap 2x4 stock into a block sized to the depth of the housing, then drill 5/16" (or slightly larger) holes 6-8" deep to serve as the nesting insert.

Vary the hole diameter and depth across the block rather than standardizing — different bee species and sexes use different sizes, so a mix attracts more occupants than one uniform size.

5Paint and finish

Materials

Exterior spray paint (blue or purple)

Paint the exterior only, in blue or purple — avoid red and dark tones. Leave the nesting block completely unfinished.

6Mount and maintain

Mount with the roof overhang facing morning sun exposure, keeping the nesting holes sheltered from rain. Replace the nesting block every 1-2 years — this is regular maintenance, not a repair.