How to Build a Wooden Park Bench

If you love to sit outside and watch the sunset or sit under a shady tree in the summer, then you should build a wooden park bench. You need to make the wooden park bench out of material that weathers well. Treated wood is not a good choice for the bench since the material used to treat it contains arsenic. Arsenic absorbs through the skin, and while most people will have the areas that touch the bench covered with clothing, there's no need to take any chances. Find out whether the wood is for furniture.

Things You'll Need

• Wood made for outside use Saw Galvanized screws Drill with screwdriver heads and drill bits Bolts Wrench

Instructions

1. Purchase enough wood to build the wooden park bench. You can use treated pine for an inexpensive choice as long as the material used to treat it is safe. Redwood, cedar, teak and eucalyptus are good woods to use. Purchase enough 2 by 4 boards to cut 16 pieces 17 1/2 inches in length and 10 pieces 48 inches in length.

2. Cut and stack the boards according to size. The 17 1/2 inch boards are for the base. Lay a 17 1/2 inch board down with the wide side face up. Butt one 17 1/2 inch board against the end of it to create a 90-degree angle. Predrill holes at the side for 2 1/2 inch galvanized screws. Lay a board on top of the vertical board so the cut end is flush with the outside face of the vertical board at a 90-degree angle. Drill holes and connect the two boards with galvanized screws.

3. Finish off the square by putting the wide part of another 17 1/2 inch board against the cut end of the last board, the one at the top. This board's cut end also attaches to the wide end of the first board on the bottom. Drill holes to attach it to both the horizontal top board and the first board on the bottom. You've created a square with the wide faces of the board on the outside and the narrow edge as its edge. Create 3 more of these squares.

4. Connect the squares together. Use a 48 inch board. Line it up with the upper outer edge of one 17 1/2 inch box. The top of the board should line up with the top of the box and the cut edge of the board should line up with the outside edge of the box.

5. Predrill holes and use two 2 5/8 inch galvanized screws to connect the two. Put each screw in 3/4 inch from the edge. Attach a box to the other end of the board in the same manner.

6. Measure in 16 inches from the edge on the 48 inch board. Make a mark. From that mark, measure over another 16 inches and create a second mark. Line the outer edge of a third box to the mark you created. The top of the third box should also line up with the board. Screw the 48 inch board to it. Put the edge of the fourth box on the last line and connect it to the board as well.

7. Use a second 48 inch board to connect the other sides of the boxes. Put a board at the bottom of each side also. Lay the remaining six 48 inch boards across the top of the framework you just created. Use a drill to make holes for round head bolts to connect the boards to the framework. Tighten down the bolts and your wooden park bench is complete.