How to Build a Homemade Outdoor Tennis Table

Outdoor table tennis offers family entertainment.

An outdoor table tennis setup adds a permanent entertainment area to your home which can be attractive as well as fun. The table requires that the materials be cut to specific dimensions to match the table tennis standards. Using treated wood boards and galvanized hardware is necessary for this type of project to protect the table from the damage weather can do to woodworking. Attaching the net board using removable screws allows you to remove the net easily and use the table for other purposes such as an entertaining buffet or an outdoor project workspace.

Things You'll Need

• 6 treated boards, 3 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-27 3/4-inch
• 3 treated boards, 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-48-inch
• Drill
• Drill bits
• Galvanized wood screws, 4-inch
• Galvanized wood screws, 2-inch
• Treated plywood board, 3/4-by-60-by-108-inch
• Treated board, 1/2-by-6-by-60-inch
• Various blocks, 6-inch

Instructions

1. Stand two 3 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-27 3/4-inch treated posts up on their ends, parallel to each other with three feet between them. Set a treated 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-48-inch board perpendicular to the posts and directly on top of them to serve as the attachment board. Position the attachment board with equal amounts sticking out on each side of the two posts.

2. Drill down through the top of the attachment board and into the top end of each post. Repeat for two holes in each post. Set 4-inch galvanized wood screws into each hole and tighten them firmly with a drill. Complete this process a second and third time with other pairs of posts and other attachment boards.

3. Turn a 3/4-by-60-by-108-inch sheet of treated plywood upside down on the working surface to be the table surface. Put the three attachment boards with legs upside down on the undersurface of the tabletop, evenly spaced but leaving the very center line of the table open. Drill four holes through every attachment board and into the tabletop. Fasten the attachment boards to the tabletop with 2-inch galvanized wood screws.

4. Prop the tabletop up on various 6-inch blocks. Position a treated 1/2-by-6-by-60-inch board underneath the tabletop, perpendicular to it and centered to serve as the net board. Drill six holes down the center of the underside of the tabletop and into the net board. Attach the tabletop to the net board with 4-inch wood screws.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a twist-mounted nylon net if desired instead of the wooden permanent net.

• Remove the net board when necessary by unscrewing the attachment screws on the underside of the tabletop.