Introduction: Build the Perfect Lemonade Stand With Your Kids

By MyFixitUpLife
About: MyFixitUpLife is a husband-and-wife’s home improvement obsessed lifestyle. Mark and Theresa are constantly fixing something up.

Who doesn’t love a lemonade stand on a hot summer day?

Lemonade stands are more than just a way to teach your kids about money. Building alemonade stand is fun way to learn some basics about construction. And if you take the time to build a sturdy Lemonade Stand, you can keep using it as a Garden Wishing Well or a Puppet Theater! What you’ll need for this project:

Tools & Equipment

  • Circular Saw
  • Measuring Tape
  • Drill/Driver or Hammer
  • Drill bits and countersink

Materials

Cedar or pressure treated lumber is a good choice for an outside project. If you are planning to keep your stand inside, I’d recommend using pine. It’s lighter, less expensive, and works well for indoor use.

8 pieces 5/4” x 6” x 12’ decking boards. If you’re using pine, use 1×6.

12 pieces 2 x 4 x 8

6-penny nails or 2-inch all-weather screws for the plank connections

8-penny nails or 2 1/2-inch all weather screws for the 2×4 connections

Step 1: Step 1. Layout the Footprint of the Lemonade Stand.

1. FRONT/BACK TRIM: Cut four 2x5s to 36” long on edge. Miter each end at a 45 degree angle

2. SIDE TRIM: Cut four 2x4s to 32” long on edge. Miter each end at a 45 degree angle.

NOTE: DO NOT ATTACH THESE PIECES.

Step 2: Step 2. Build the Panels.

1. Cut 22 5/4 deck boards to 28” length.

2. FRONT PANEL: Layout one deck board 1/8” away from the inside (or short point) of a FRONT/BACK TRIM piece.

3. Place end of deck board flush with edge of the 2x4. Screw or nail deck board on FRONT/BACK TRIM piece.

4. Repeat steps 2 to 3 to attach the deck board to the BOTTOM TRIM.

5. Place remaining deck boards in a tight row and screw each in place to the FRONT/BACK TRIM piece and the BOTTOM TRIM piece with two 2” screws.

6. BACK PANEL: REPEAT Steps 2 through 5.**

7. SIDE PANEL: Layout one deck board 1 1/8” away from the inside (or short point) of a SIDE TRIM piece.

8. REPEAT steps 3 to 6 to complete first SIDE PANEL.

9. REPEAT steps for second SIDE PANEL.

10. Attach the four panels. The side panels fit inside the front and back panels.

**Back panel is not for the Lemonade stand or Puppet Theater. Build the back panel if you plan to re-use for Wishing Well.

Step 3: Step 3. Build a Counter.

1. FRONT/BACK COUNTER: cut two 2x4s (or 2x6s) to 36” length on edge. Miter each end at 45 degrees.

2. SIDE COUNTER: Cut two 2x4s (or 2x6s) to 32” length. Miter each end at 45 degrees.

3. Attach COUNTER pieces to top of each panel with 2” screws.

Step 4: Step 4. Build the Roof.

1. Cut one 2x4 to 70” long.

2. Miter one end of the 70” piece to a point (arrow shape).

3. Center the 70” piece (point-up) inside one SIDE PANEL.

4. Attach the upright to the side with nails or screws.

5. Cut two 2x4s to 24” length-from long-to-long with 45 degree miters on both ends.

6. Place the 24” pieces end to end and attach with nails or screws.

7. Cut a 2x4 to 16” from long to long, with 45 degree miters.

8. Attach the brace piece to the roof frame.

9. Attach the roof frame to the outside of the arrow end of the upright from step 4-2.

10. REPEAT steps 1 through 9 to construct the other side of the roof.

11. Cut 6 2x4s to 36” length.

12. Place each 36” length piece across the roof structure and nail or screw in place.

Step 5: Wishing Well Extra

While you can let plants pout out of this structure without any special modifications, you also can build a shelf across the lower section and fill it with dirt to help showcase plants inside the well.

Also, line the inside of the well with landscape fabric to keep the dirt contained.