Nothing says childhood summertime quite like a lemonade stand. While your kids could certainly just set up a folding table on the sidewalk, we think building one from scratch is a better option. A homemade lemonade stand is more likely to attract customers, and it can be a fun family project.
But where should you start? Although it’s not necessarily hard, many parents might not know how to build a lemonade stand. Thankfully, we’re here to help! Follow these steps, and your kids will be selling lemonade in no time.
Buy the materials
This lemonade stand will fit together with slots that fit into one another, so there’s no need to screw or nail anything in. The materials needed include:
- Two 24-inch-by-28-inch plywood boards for the sides
- One 48-inch-by-24-inch plywood board for the top
- One 48-inch-by-24-inch plywood board for the front
- Sandpaper
- Primer and paint for the sign
Tools required for the project include:
- Jigsaw
- Sander
- Drill
- Tape measure
- Combination square
- Straight edge
- Paint brush
If you don’t already have the tools mentioned above, you may be able to rent them from a hardware store or ask your neighbors to borrow theirs.
Cut the panels and notches
You’ll start by making two ⅝-inch notches on the top of the front board and cutting 3-inch notches on all four corners of the top board. Use a jigsaw and a combination square to ensure the notches are the perfect size.
Cut the slots
Use your combination square and a straightedge to mark slots 3 inches from the edges on the front and sides. Make the two long slots on the front and sides 14 ¼ inches deep and the two short slots on the sides 2 ¼ inches deep. Then take your drill and make ⅜-inch holes inside the corners of the slots.
Sand the wood
The next step in how to build a lemonade stand is sanding down all of the wood to ensure there aren’t any splinters. A random orbit sander makes this process much faster, but you can do it by hand with 120-grit sandpaper.
Paint your stand
Now it’s time to paint your stand. Before painting with exterior paint, apply primer on all sides and edges, and let it dry. Don’t forget to paint “lemonade” on the front of the stand to ensure all passersby know what your kids are selling!
Assemble the stand
Because you’ve already cut the slots for the pieces, assembly should be a breeze. Simply slide the front slots facing down into the side board slots, and affix the top piece of wood to the front board by fitting the notches around the interlocking side pieces.
We have all of the materials you need!
Now that you know how to build a lemonade stand, it’s time to get started on this fun summer project. Pay a visit to Stewart Lumber & Hardware Co. today to pick out your building materials or to get some more help from our experts. We look forward to assisting you!