How to Build an Outdoor Bench

Whether you want to place it in your garden, patio, or back yard, a wooden outdoor bench can be a great addition to your life. But why pay hundreds of dollars for one when you can just build it yourself? What better way to enjoy the great weather than to get outside with your tools and create something? These steps will guide you through how it's done.

Materials

You'll want to make your bench out of wood, but what kind specifically is up to you. Any kind of wood practically can be made into a bench. You'll find that they vary in price so choose the kind that fits what you have in mind. The amount of wood you'll want to get depends on the size of the bench you're thinking of making. For this guide, I'll recommend 12 planks of 2 X 4 X 18 inches and 10 planks of 2 x 4 x 48 inches.

You'll also need: wood glue, a drill, safety gloves, and a screwdriver.

Step 1

Lay two of the twelve 18 inch boards on a table horizontal and parallel to one another. Then, apply wood glue to the tops of each plank. Place the ends of two more 2 X 4s where the glue is so that you make a rectangle, the longer part being two planks put together. You have 12 planks, so enough to make two rectangles. These are the supports/legs of your bench. Use screws to reinforce these.

Step 2

Use four of your 48 inch planks to connect the two supports. These are the sides and extra support. Use glue and screws to connect them to the supports.. Two of these will be the sides and the other two will be the bottom supports below where the actual seat will be laid.

Step 3

Use the remaining six 48 inch 2 X 4s to make up the seat of the bench by laying them long ways across the planks you've already laid and securing them with wood glue and screws. The final result will then be ready to be sanded and stained, if you want to make it a little more comfortable. Otherwise, what you have now is a completely functional bench.

Be sure to remove any excess glue with a damp cloth and when you varnish, be sure to be in a well ventilated area for your own health. What you have now made is a perfectly functional piece of wooden art. As your skills improve, more features like arms and more artistic touches can be added, but for now be proud of your accomplishment.