How to Build Outdoor Deck Benches

Place a bench on your deck for additional seating, or pick the bench up and move it to the garden to enjoy your flowers or make vegetable harvesting less of a chore. When taken care of and treated for outdoor use, a bench will last for many years.

Things You'll Need

• 4 deck planks, 4 inches by 1 inch
• 1 board, 2 inches by 4 inches
• 1 wood post, 4 inches by 4 inches
• Tape measure
• Carpenter's square or straightedge tool
• Miter saw
• Electric screwdriver
• 2-inch screws
• 4-inch screws
• Orbital sander or grinder
• Water sealant
• Paintbrush
• Wood stain

Instructions

1. Cut the bench legs from the 4-by-4 wooden post. Cut six pieces, each 15 inches long.

2. Cut the bench frame and top from the deck planks and 2-by-4 boards. The four deck planks should each be 5 feet long. Cut the 2-by-4 into three pieces, each measuring 1 foot long. The tape measure and carpenter's square or straightedge tool will help you measure and make straight cuts.

3. Make the bench legs. Attach two of the post pieces to each end of the 1-foot-long 2-by-4s. Drive the 4-inch screws down through the 2-by-4 and into the center of each wooden post. You should have three legs, shaped in a flat U.

4. Stand the legs on the 4-by-4 posts. Place two leg pieces 4 feet apart, with the third piece in the middle, so that all three pieces are 2 feet apart.

5. Set the four 5-foot-long deck planks on top of the bench legs. The planks should be perpendicular to the bench legs. The middle two planks are centered on the legs, and the outer two planks should sit halfway on the leg pieces of the bench. This means that the outer deck planks extend lengthwise 2 inches past the leg pieces. Drive screws through the deck planks into the 2-by-4 pieces, and countersink the screws by driving them below the surface of the wood.

6. Sand all surfaces of the bench. Use an orbital sander or grinder to remove rough or sharp edges. Completely round down the edges to prevent injuries to small children or people with frail skin.

7. Apply water sealant with a paintbrush. Allow to dry overnight, then paint with wood stain. Again, allow to dry overnight before using the bench.

References

• Ideas for Deck Designs: Basics of Building Benches
• Ideas for Deck Designs: Bench Plans

Resources

• Build Eazy: How to Make a Hall Bench