How to Brace a Table

Tables should support weight if they're well-constructed, but braces help if you're concerned about your table's long-term durability. They provide structural support to both the table legs and to the top so the table is less likely to buckle. Tables often come with braces already in place but if you have one that didn't, you can add your own to help the table last longer. Bracing a table requires some precision but the braces themselves shouldn't be noticeable once installed.

Things You'll Need

• Blanket
• Ruler or tape measure
• Metal corner braces
• Drill
• Screws
• 2 by 4
• Saw

Instructions

1. Lay the table upside down on either a blanket or carpeting, to give yourself access to the table legs while protecting the top against scratching.

2. Measure the inside of the table legs with a ruler or tape measure. The width of the legs on the inside lets you know how long your braces should be.

3. Place a metal corner brace on the inside of a table leg so it also touches the tabletop from underneath.

4. Screw the brace in place using screws that are slightly shorter than the thickness of the wood, to prevent the screws from going all the way through. Repeat on each of the four legs. Each brace usually requires four screws.

5. Measure the table width with the tape measure and cut a 2- by 4-foot piece of wood with a saw so it matches that width.

6. Drill the 2 by 4 into the center of the table's undercarriage to further brace the tabletop. Use screws that won't go all the way through the table, so it looks better and you don't have dangerous points sticking out of the table.

References

• Osborne Wood: Building a Coffee Table
• The Family Handyman: Fix Wooden Table Legs