AC units can stick off the side of your home like a sore thumb. Even surrounded by nice landscaping, they can still be an eyesore. In fact, many HOAs require an AC surround to reduce their visibility.
AC surrounds can be made from wood, vinyl, fencing, even metal. Each come with their own issues. Wood needs annual maintenance to keep looking nice year after year. Vinyl and fencing may not be strong enough to stand up to the elements. And metal can be expensive. Enter composite lumber as a solution.
Materials:
Composite Riser Composite Fascia Board
We tried a different material, composite riser, and fascia boards from TimberTech®, to make our AC surround. These boards are made from the same material as TimberTech composite decking, so you get all the same benefits: low-maintenance, durable, no fade or stain, natural looking wood grain, great color selection, and budget friendly price from Warehouse ’71!
Traditionally, riser and fascia boards are used in deck construction.
Note: Click images below to see what products we used!
Riser boards are used to cover the vertical part of the step. These boards are 7¼” wide, 12′ long, and ½” thick.
Fascia boards are used to cover the rim-joists of the deck framing. The framing is almost always lumber, so adding the fascia board covers the lumbers and gives the deck a clean, complete look. These boards are 11¾” wide, 12′ long, and ½” thick.
½” thick, you might be thinking that is really thin?! You’re right. These boards are thin compared to their 1″ thick deck-board cousins. While these cannot be used for structural purposes, they can be used in countless other applications—only limited by your creativity and DIY skills! We love working with these boards because they are easy to work with, come in a variety of colors, and will last a very long time with no maintenance!
Our Project
Ok back to the AC surround. This summer, we wanted to redo the beds on the side and front of the house. But the AC unit sticks out so far from the house, that it would still be an eye-sore regardless of the landscaping. So we thought, maybe we can build an AC surround with neutral colored boards to make it ‘blend in’ to the surroundings. We used TimberTech Sandy Birch Riser and Fascia boards, pressure-treated 4×4’s, fasteners, power tools, and a Saturday afternoon to build it. The project is a simple design, easy installation with two people, and very budget friendly!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is the materials list, cut list, and steps so that you can make your own. However, I do recommend building this with the help of another person. The riser and fascia boards can be very heavy, making them somewhat difficult to work with if you’re by yourself. The design is simple and can be customized to any AC unit!
Materials List
- Measuring tape
- Sharpie or marker
- Right angle
- Fasteners – Use deck any deck fasteners that closely match the color of the boards. I used tan Deck+Plus fasteners.
- Drill
- Drill bits for fasteners and drilling pilot holes
- Jigsaw
- Table saw or saw for cutting 4×4’s
- 4 TimberTech Composite Riser Boards
- 1 TimberTech Fascia Board
- 2 4″x4″x10′
- 1 4″x4″x6′
These boards may differ depending on the dimensions of your AC surround.
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Steps
1. Measure AC unit
- Measure for 6″ between the AC unit and where the AC surround will stand According to the size of my AC unit, my surround needed to 5′ deep, 6′ wide, and 4′ tall.
- The measurements provided will match the dimensions for my AC unit.
2. Cut List
- 3 – 4″x4″ posts cut to 4′ 6″ in length
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- I used an extra 6″s on the posts to be used as footers. While the unit is heavy and sturdy, I wanted the extra security of the footers to ensure the unit wouldn’t move over time. The footers aren’t necessary if you’re putting the surround on a concrete slab.
- 4 – 12′ Riser Boards cut to 4 – 5′ sections and 4 – 6′ sections
- 1 – Fascia Board cut to 1 – 5′ section and 1 – 6′ section
- You’ll have 5 leftover pieces ~ 1′ long, save these to use for spacing
3. Measure boards according to the cut list using your measuring tape. Mark cut lines with a sharpie or marker.
- Wear your safety goggles!
- Use table saw to cut 4×4’s
- Use jigsaw to cut riser and fascia boards
4. Assemble the 5′ side
- I started with the 5′ side first. Set two of the 4×4 posts 5′ apart on your workspace or on the ground. Put the first riser board across the posts so the edges are flush with the post. Use a right angle to adjust the boards to ensure the riser board is straight and level.
- Next, mark where your fasteners will go. Use two fasteners at 2″ on-center to fasten the riser board to the posts.
- Drill pilot holes before screwing in the fasteners. The pilot holes will make the process go much faster and the fastener heads will screw in at a more consistent depth, than blindly fastening through the board. If you’re watching the videos, you’ll see I fight with a few of the fasteners because I didn’t drill pilot holes. Learn from my mistakes, definitely drill pilot holes 😊
- Fasten the riser board to one of the posts.
- Double check your alignment before fastening to the other post. Once you’ve measured and drilled your pilot holes, fasten the other end of the board to the post.
- Spacing: Place the next riser board on the posts, just like the first board, to attach it to the posts. Here’s where the leftover pieces come in handy. Use the extra pieces of riser or fascia board as spacers to keep a consistent gap between the two boards.
- Measure, drill pilot holes, and fasten the second board to the posts.
- Continue this process until the 5′ panel is complete.
5. Install Side 1
- Dig 6″ holes where the footers will go.
- With a second person, take the panel over to the AC area and put the footers into the holes. Adjust the panel until it is straight and level.
- Fill in the holes so the panel is secure. Keep one person holding the panel to keep it level.
6. Install the 6′ Side
- Measure 6′ from the installed post to dig the third and final footer hole.
- Take a few moments to measure, mark, and drill all of your pilot holes before starting the installation process. It will make the installation much easier.
- The first board is the trickiest part. The person with free hands, pick up the first riser board that will be attached to the top of the structure and line it up with top of the post that is in the ground. Since you have your pilot holes already drilled, simply screw in the first fastener, attaching the riser board to the post.
- Take a moment to level the board and make sure it is flush with the posts. Install the second fastener.
- Keep one person holding the riser board. The person with free hands, pick up the last post and put it in the footer hole.
- Align the riser board with the post and fasten the riser board to the free-standing post. Now the structure should stand on its own, you shouldn’t need someone to hold it in place while you install the rest of the boards.
- Have one person hold the next board up against the posts. The other person should get the extra pieces of board and use them to space out the area between the two boards. Once the boards are aligned, fasten the board to the posts.
- Continue this process until the 6′ panel is complete.
7. Fill in the footer holes to ensure the structure is secure.
8. Take a step back and admire your work!
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Photo Credits:
- https://www.timbertech.com/start-your-journey/deck-and-railing-101/