Build an open-front seasonal stable for a sheltered porch or yard spot. Natural cedar walls, a shallow peaked roof, diagonal bracing and a star mount surround your own figures; removable concrete pavers weight the low base boards.
Before you buy anything, it helps to know three things: how big the finished build is, what you’ll bring home from the store, and how the assembly goes. Here they are for the Nativity Stable for Porch or Yard, straight from the plan.
How big is it?
The finished size is 47-15/16 × 26-1/8 × 44-1/2 in (122 × 66 × 113 cm), width × depth × height. Measure the spot where it will stand before you start.
What you’ll buy
The shopping list comes to about $137 at the prices we saw (Sep 27 – Oct 8, 2026). Prices change, so check your own store.
| Qty | What | At the prices we saw |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2x2 SPF, 8 ft | $14.35 |
| 1 | 2x4 PT, 8 ft | $4.78 |
| 1 | 2x6 PT, 8 ft | $10.78 |
| 17 | Cedar fence picket, 6 ft | $67.66 |
| 2 | Concrete pavers | unpriced |
| 2 box | #8 x 1-5/8 in tan star flat-head deck screws | $21.94 |
| 1 box | #9 x 2-1/2 in tan star flat-head deck screws | $10.97 |
| 1 | 3M Pro Grade Precision 9x11 in 120-grit medium sheets | $6.98 |
The shopping list names what to buy; the cut list in the plan turns those boards and sheets into parts. Check both before your first cut.
Tools you need
- Tape measure
- Speed square
- Pencil
- Level
- Miter saw
- Table saw
- Jigsaw
- Drill/driver
- Drill bits (1/8 in and 5/32 in for pilot holes)
- T20 and T25 star driver bits
- Bar clamps (at least 2, 60 in or longer)
- Sandpaper
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection
- Work gloves
- Dust mask
- Scrap block of wood
How the build goes
The plan has 17 steps, each with a drawing and the parts it uses. The plan’s own estimate is about 8–12 hours; treat it as an estimate.
- Check the fit and prepare the runners
- Cut and label the square parts
- Shape the gables
- Sand and protect the stock
- Build the front frame flat
- Build the back frame flat
- Build the left wall flat
- Build the right wall flat
- Join the walls on the bench
- Brace the back against sway
- Brace both sides
- Fasten the ground runners
- Clad the back
- Fit the pitched picket roof
- Add the star mount
- Set up and weight the base
- Inspect and pack away
Before you start
- Compare the shopping list with the stock sizes your store actually carries.
- Check every measurement against your own materials before cutting.
- Read the safety notes at the front of the plan and wear the protective gear it lists.
What the plan includes
- Preparation packet PDF (shopping list, cut list, tools), 11 pages
- Build guide PDF, 36 pages
- Preparation packet PDF, metric (mm) (shopping list, cut list, tools), 12 pages
- Build guide PDF, metric (mm), 38 pages
- Offline animated 3D build guide (ZIP; open guide.html in a web browser; guide-metric.html for mm)
It is a digital build plan: nothing physical ships. See the plan.
These plans are for planning and personal use. They are not engineered drawings and do not claim compliance with any building code. Check local rules and use your own judgment on site.
General planning guidance. Follow your chosen plan and tools’ instructions; ask about unclear dimensions or substitutions before cutting.