Gas Meter Cover | Outdoor Eyesore

Your outdoor space should feel intentional and welcoming, not dominated by functional but unattractive elements like a gas meter. Using repurposed wood and simple shop techniques, this faux garden gate hides an outdoor eyesore while still allowing easy access. This project remains one of the cleverest ways to give your backyard a cohesive look by disguising something you don’t want to stare at while enjoying your outdoor retreat.

It’s time for a challenge. The challenge? Build a project to spruce up your outdoor space! It seems like that’s all I’ve been doing lately for my backyard camper retreat. Today’s project is a gas meter cover—a decorative option to cover up this outdoor eyesore! Be sure to check out my friends’ projects at the bottom of this post!

Outdoor Eyesore | Diy Gas Meter Cover

We all have them, outdoor eyesores. This is the gas meter that needs to be disguised.

Isn’t it perfect? I love it so much! Let’s see how this gas meter cover project came together.

When it was time to figure out my project, it seemed like a no-brainer to make it from one of the pallets left over from the backyard makeover deliveries.

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I started dismantling the pallets with my Duckbill Deck Wrecker. Within an hour, I had all three pallets separated and was well into removing all the nails.

How to Remove a Stubborn Pallet Nail

There were actually very few nails left in the stringers. When I dismantled the pallet for my pallet love seat bench, I learned a new technique for removing stubborn nails. On that pallet, I was able to “unscrew” the nail with my vice grips. These nails would not unscrew. I twisted them around several times to break their bond, then pried them out with the vice grips.

Luckily, these stringers were not notched, and they were smaller than most. They would be part of my faux garden gate, which will serve as the gas meter cover.

Easily harvest pallet wood

Three pallets, all different in size. I didn’t realize that until I separated all the boards. For more great projects and tips, see my post Tips For Dismantling Pallets.

The length of the pallet boards was 36”, 44”, and 48”. I laid out the boards to decide which set I wanted to use for the gas meter cover project. You may notice the boards on the left are much thicker.

I actually chose the shortest boards to make the faux garden gate.

Repurposed Crib

While looking for some spindles to make up the posts of the faux garden gate, I chose this old crib. The height of the spindles was what determined how tall the pallet boards could be.

First, I needed to remove all the crib hardware. I generally save crib hardware, but some of these pieces were plastic.

Click here to see more crib projects to inspire you

Dismantle the Crib with a Saw

Because I didn’t know how the saw was put together, I chose to use a reciprocating saw to dismantle it. Had I used a rubber mallet to separate the pieces, I may have had too much patching to do.

You can see that I would have to patch the entire length of the crib end as well as some dowels. When in doubt, I prefer sawing.

Test Fit of Faux Garden Gate

I did a dry fit to make sure the boards would all work together.

After removing the finial on the crib end, I cut off the curve on the miter saw. But first, I removed the threaded piece in the image on the right.

Assemble the Gas Meter Cover

Because I wanted a quick and easy project, I chose to use my kreg jig to drill pocket holes in both ends of all the pallet stringers.

To leave enough reveal on the front side, I used a scrap piece of wood to raise the stringer off the table. I repeated this on both ends of all three stringers.

Attach Pallet Boards

Each pallet board was secured from the front with three wood screws,  one in each stringer.

Did you notice that I turned the crib posts upside down? Those are the legs of the crib posts sticking up. It doesn’t look much like a garden gate, does it?

Cut an Arch to the Faux Garden Gate

Because I want the gas meter cover to resemble a garden gate, I made it have an arch like the pallet bench that’s on the opposite side of the backyard. I used the same twin headboard for this project.

How to Add Dowels to the Crib Finials

To give the garden gate sides some height, I decided to add finials to the top. Remember, these are the legs of the crib posts.

This handy drill bit gauge helps me figure out which bit size I need to match the dowel. Using an Irwin quick clamp keeps my hands safe while drilling the hole into the wooden finial. Gorilla Wood Glue secures the finial.

Paint Sprayer Tips

Even though I wanted light coverage, sort of a whitewash look, I decided it would be easiest to use my Homeright Super Finish Max. The paint was diluted slightly with water. I prefer to paint the back of my project first, then I turn it around and lean it lightly on the sawhorse.

The adjustable spray tip comes in really handy on a project like this. I was able to switch from a horizontal spray pattern on the board slats to a vertical spray pattern while I was spraying the posts.

Spray Paint Gate Hardware

I spray-painted the hardware and attached it to the faux gate. It really changed the look of the faux-garden-gate gas meter cover.

The little welcome sign is so much cuter since I put the new twisted wire hanger on it. Granted, there are still more outdoor eyesores on the back of the house, but with this new gas meter cover, at least your eye has something pretty to focus on. Maybe my guests will not notice the other lesser eyesores on the back of the house.

How you finish a project can be just as important as how you start it. With this updated gas meter cover, the look is both functional and charming. Whether you’re dealing with a backyard renovation or simply want to spruce up that “ugly spot,” this cover continues to prove that a little imagination and repurposed materials go a long way. Layer in color, hardware accents, or seasonal decor, and the eyesore becomes another signature piece of your outdoor aesthetic.

Thanks for pinning my project before you go check out the other great projects in this month’s challenge!

Sharing here: My Wee Abode Tuesday Turnabout

This project was featured at Homestyle Gathering via Serving Up Southern

 

 

More Outdoor Projects to Inspire You

• DIY Pool Towel Rack
• Outdoor Planter Coffee Table
• DIY Porch Planters
• Brass & Wood Outdoor Planters
• DIY Outdoor Corner Table
• Outdoor Chandelier
• DIY Outdoor Dining Table
• Modern Planter with Hose Storage
• DIY Outdoor Window Shutters
• Do It Yourself Chippendale Planter
• DIY Outdoor Cooler Deck Box
• How to Make Your Own Cedar Window Boxes