How to Build a Bench for Outdoor Deck Plans
Spending time outdoors is one of the best ways to share your life with your friends and family. When planning your patio or deck ideas, consider your seating arrangements as well. Outdoor patio furniture should be as unique as the interior design of your home. Benches made from redwood or oak are stylish enough to fit any décor and rustic enough to withstand time and the elements.
Things You'll Need:
- Measuring rule
- Pencil
- Carpenter’s square
- Saw
- 30/60 degree triangle
- C-clamps
- Power drill with 3/8 inch bit and bit extension
- Adjustable wrench
- Hammer and nail set
- Block plane
- Sanding block
- 12 Pre-selected pieces of wood including four-by-four stock pieces and two-by-four stock pieces
- 3/8-by-seven inch and 3/8-by-five inch carriage bolts
- Flat washers
- Locknuts
- 40 six-penny brass finishing nails
- Multiple-grade sandpaper
- Decide on the wood type and make your purchase along with all of the required fasteners, nails and hardware.
- Measure and mark four pieces of four-by-four wood a length of 12 and one-half inches; these are the bench legs. Cut the legs with the saw. Square the legs with the carpenter’s square to ensure even levels. Repeat this step with the two-by-four pieces of wood by selecting eight pieces and cut all of the leg cross brace pieces on a 30-degree angle. You will use the 30/60 degree triangle for this step. You can set the legs into a pair of braces with the long sides down and set a four-by-four leg piece in between. Use another four-by-four leg piece for the outside brace. Use the C-clamps, attach together and let set.
- Use your power drill with the 3/8-inch bit to insert holes through the legs and brace joint.
- Put one 3/8-by-seven inch carriage bolt in every hole. Thread a washer and locknut on each bolt. Use the adjustable wrench to tighten the nuts and take the clamps off.
- Repeat this process for the second set of cross braces at the top of the legs.
- Measure, mark and cut another two-by-four approximately 47 inches long.
- Drill two holes diagonally 3/8 inches. Make sure the measurements are ¾ inches from the end and one inch in from the sides of the stretcher.
- Support the bench top by placing the legs opposite one another. Center between the legs; the stretcher will be resting on the inside bottom leg braces.
- Adjust and mark the holes at the top edges inside the braces. Drill 3/8 inch holes through the inside bottom braces.
- Place the stretcher across the braces and add one 3/8-by-five inch carriage bolt in all drilled holes. Thread a flat washer and locknut on every bolt and use the adjustable wrench to tighten.
- Measure and cut 7 two-by-four wooden pieces. The length should be six feet. Mark the pieces six inches in from the end.
- Place 1 two-by-four across the assembled legs. Make sure the outside is flush with the top corner.
- Use the hammer to nail the wood piece to the legs with four six-penny brass finishing nails.
- Repeat process for all additional two-by-fours using all remaining penny brass finishing nails.
- Cap the bench ends by measuring the precise distance from the ends of the bench top. Cut 2 pieces of two-by-four wood to your calculations. The carpenter’s square will ensure the cuts are level and even.
- Place one of the cut two-by-four pieces of wood, flat side up against the bench top. Make sure it is flush. Secure with 16-penny brass finishing nails. Repeat the process for the other end of the bench and round all edges by hand with sandpaper or use a sandpaper block.
- Apply clearcoat varnish.