How to Build a Cedar Shower Bench

A cedar bench can add more comfort to your shower.

A cedar shower bench provides an area on which to sit while bathing. It removes the hassle of having to bend over to shave your legs or exfoliate your feet. Most shower benches are made from woods such as cedar or teak because these woods have excellent resilience to moisture without the need for wood stain or sealant. Building your own cedar shower bench will not be expensive or time-consuming and can make your bathing experience more enjoyable.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 2 cedar boards, 2-inch by 4-inch by 18-inch
• 2 cedar boards, 2-inch by 4-inch by-9-inch
• 4 cedar boards, 3-inch by 3-inch by-16-inch
• 3 cedar boards, 1-inch by 6-inch by-12-inch
• Screw gun
• 36 corrosion-resistant screws, 3-inch
• Sandpaper, medium- and fine-grade.

Instructions

1. Lay the 18-inch boards on edge, parallel and 9 inches apart. Place the two 9-inch boards perpendicularly between them, so they are 15 inches apart. Screw the 18-inch boards to the 9-inch boards, so you have a 12-inch-by-18-inch frame. Use eight screws for this step.

2. Lay your frame flat and position the 16-inch boards perpendicularly inside of each corner. These are the legs to your bench, and they need to be even to prevent the bench from wobbling. Screw four screws through each corner into each leg.

3. Turn your bench upright, so it is standing on all four legs. Screw each 12-inch board to the top of the frame, so they are parallel with the 12-inch sides of the frame and the ends are flush with the 18-inch sides of the frame. The two outside boards should be flush with the 12-inch sides of the frame as well.

4. Sand down the entire bench with the medium-grade sand paper and then with the fine-grade sand paper. This will prevent the user from getting splinters when they use the bench.

References

• Wayne of the Woods: Free Bench Seat Plan