Build Your Own Deck Bench

Building a bench gives you the ability to match it precisely with the rest of the deck furniture.

A bench is convenient for seating more people. Allison H. Smith/Shutterstock

Dear James: I need to add some additional seating on my deck for entertaining. I want something more unique than just buying more chairs. What do you suggest?—Vicki N.

Dear Vicki: Your best option for additional seating at a reasonable cost is to build an attractive movable bench. This way, if your family needs more open deck space at times, the bench can be moved. If you design and build it yourself, it will be unique to your deck and home.

Building a basic movable bench should take only a few hours. To start construction on your movable bench, first match the wood type to your deck, or for extra style, choose a wood that complements your deck. For example, cedar and redwood are both very attractive to use and go well with most other wood types.

Typically, benches should be between 15 and 18 inches high with seats at least 15 inches deep. To meet your specific needs, adjust the height, depth, and length depending upon your deck style.

Assemble the base with four four-by-four posts cut to length with a table saw or power miter. Place these pieces on a flat surface and drill pilot holes. For a professional look, counterbore the holes for the lag screws and washers. Fasten all of the parts together. Be sure to construct a base section for each three feet of bench length.

To attach the seat boards, use either two-by-two or two-by-four pieces of wood, leaving between 1/8 inch and 1/2 inch between each board. Again, work on a flat surface and keep the wood as straight as possible. Before you begin attaching the boards, make sure they all fit with an equal gap between them. Attach the end seat pieces first with decking screws.

To complete the top, drive the screw heads 1/8 inch below the surface. Next, cut two one-by-four trim boards and attach them, using more decking screws, to the seat and base pieces. Sand your new bench and round the sharp edges with a router equipped with a round-over bit or sandpaper. The final step is to stain or treat all the wood surfaces.

You can also purchase a ready-made bench if you don’t want a custom-built one. Chairs and tables are also available in the types of wood typically used for decks, or you can finish them to match.

Now that your bench is taken care of, you can add extras to make your deck even more charming. There is a wide variety of post caps and newels available at most hardware stores. They are easy to install on plain post tops. These range in price from about $1 for a simple four-by-four pressure-treated drilled post cap to $3 for a four-inch contemporary pressure-treated post top. Depending upon your budget and the number of posts to cover, you can purchase round copper tops for about $7 each.

So go enjoy the new look of your deck this summer, and don’t forget the lemonade!

Courtesy of James Dulley

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