How to build a patio bench

This step by step diy woodworking project is about how to build a patio bench. If you want to learn more about building a patio garden bench, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. There are many designs and plans to choose from, so make sure you take a look over the rest of the woodworking projects that are featured on our site.

Before starting the actual construction project, we recommend you to plan everything, as to save money and to keep the costs under control. Adjust the size and the design of the home bar to suit your needs. In addition, we recommend you to invest in high-quality materials, such as pine, redwood or cedar, as they have a nice finish and are highly durable, especially in a humid environment.

If you don’t have a rich expertise in woodworking field, you should ask a friend to give you a hand with the project. There are many things that you could go wrong, so make sure you plan everything and invest in quality materials. Select the lumber with attention, making sure the components are perfectly straight and in a very good condition. Use a carpentry square to check if the corners are right-angled. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building a patio bench

Materials

A – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 17 1/2″ long LEGS
B – 2 pieces of 2×3 lumber – 42″ long, 2 pieces – 16 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 14 1/2″ long FRAME
C – 2 pieces of 2×3 lumber – 21 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 42″ long STRETCHER
D – 2 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 42″ long, 5 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 49″ long SEAT

1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 8 ft
3 pieces of 2×3 lumber – 8 ft
1 piece of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
3 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 10 ft
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface

Time

One Day

Free bar plans

Building a patio bench

Building the legs

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the legs for the patio bench. As you can easily notice in the plans, we recommend you to make a notch to the base of the legs. Use a circular saw to make several parallel cuts and remove the excess with a chisel. Clean the recess with sandpaper.

Building the frame of the bench

Building the frame of the bench is a straight-forward process. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the supports and lock them to the legs with galvanized screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled and take accurate measurements.

Building the seat supports

Build the rest of the supports, by using the information described in the diagram. Use a jigsaw to make the curved cuts and smooth the edges with sandpaper. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the supports.

Fitting the seat supports

Fit the supports into place and lock them tightly by inserting 2 1/2″ screws. Make sure the corners are right-angled and leave no gaps between the components. Add waterproof glue to the joints in order to create rigid joints.

Attaching the stretcher

Fit the stretcher to the base of the bench, as descried in the diagram. Work with attention and cut the components at the right size.

Fitting the seat slats

One of the last steps of the project is to attach the seat slats. Place the slats to the supports, leave about 1/4″ between them and secure them into place with galvanized screws, after drilling pilot holes.

How to build a patio bench

Last but not least, we recommend you to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood filler and let it to dry out for several hours. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the residues.

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