This is my step-by-step on building a well. If you ever plan to follow this, please read through it first. There are things I would have changed and done differently.
After posting some questions on how to build this, I ended up with several ideas. I also ended up using my own plans.
I tried to keep this as budget friendly as possible.
The project was done for my church to be used in a play. The deadline was changed and I ended up having to rush to finish which is why I would have changed some things after I finished. I'm also really disappointed that I didn't get pictures of this IN USE at the church! Doh! I will take some 'final' shots though once I find out where they stored it.
Project: Well
Time to complete: est: 9 hours (that's with taking care of a 2 yr old)
Cost: est. $100 -- I had some items already, noted below
Size:
approx. 48 inches wide by 24 inches high (framework is 4ft wide (diameter) x 2ft tall. The actual 'wall' is 1 foot wide all the way around, meaning the hole in the center is 2 feet wide (1ft wall + 2ft hole + 1ft wall on other side = 4ft). The final dimensions change depending on home much material is added to the frame (so my final height was 26" because I added a 2ft 'cap' to the well)
Weight: Maybe... 50 pounds? I can lift it myself, however, to prevent damage (because of the awkward shape), two people can carry it fine (my extremely weak wife and I carried it 50 yards with ease)
Items:
4x8 Plywood - $6.50
2x2x8 'stakes' - $1.77ea (10.62)
1/4" Chicken wire (smallest mesh I could find);
(1)1/4"x24"x10' - $14
(1)1/4"x36x10' - $18
Joint Compound (5gal) - $8.50
(2) 3 1/2" Foam Seal roll - $4.67ea (9.34)
Box of screws (already had) min. 96 screws - $2-5 depending on the screw
Paint
At least a gallon for the Monster Mud - $5 (I only buy the 'returned' paint that was either color mismatched or someone didn't want)
Whatever colors you desire
Note: For this project I used monster mud. I used the 5:1 ration (compound to paint), but only need half that.
Box of 5000 (I think) staples - $9.80
4x8x2 Foam (not needed, but this was used as my 'cap' to the well) Only needed 1/3 of the sheet - $22
Weed Mat (already had) - I used a cloth-like material and I don't remember the cost
Tools:
Drill
Staple gun
cement mixer attachment for drill (for monster mud)
Saw (jigsaw to cut plywood, circular for 'stakes')
Paint brushes
Construction:
Frame
Cut the plywood right in half so you have to 4x4ft sections
Make them into 4ft circles. Find the center and nail a nail into it. Tie a string to the nail and stretch it out to the edge of the wood. Tie that end to a pencil. Just pull the pencil around the edge and you'll have a perfect circle. Cut.
Cut out the middle 'hole' to the well. Same method: Tie string to the center nail and stretch it out 12inches from there (will give you a 2ft circle). Drill a hole on your marks, stick the jigsaw in and cut. You now have 2 donuts.
Next, take your sections of 2x2's and cut each to length.
Note: Each section is 8feet long, but don't cut them into 24inch sections because you won't get 4 pieces -- remember that when you cut, you are going to lose an 1/8 of inch or so with each cut (from the saw) so your last piece will be short. I cut mine 22".
With 6 pieces of 8ft length, you'll end up with 4 stakes each. 6x4=24 stakes.
I roughly spaced out where each stake would go --- one donut section on the bottom, the other on top. The stakes will become the frame 'walls'. Remember you'll need stakes along the outside AND inside.
This became an interesting dilemma because I was by myself and I couldn't figure out how to hold the stakes in place as I screwed them into the ply wood. I end up screwing them in like the picture -- a few from the bottom up, then turned it upside down and rested the donut on the stakes so I could secure the rest of the stakes:
I used a bit of wood glue for each stake. Two screws per end of each stake (
24 stakes x 2 ends x 2 screws each end = 96 screws)
Flip over and do the same for the other donut:
Just showing the screws:
