Your bench revival

Bring your outdoor furniture back to life

if your favourite bench is starting to show its age, that doesn’t mean you have to put it out to pasture. With some elbow grease, a few scraps of timber and a durable exterior coating, you can take years off your old outdoor furniture.

FURNITURE REVAMP Gather your supplies

Seat slats 42 x 28mm merbau Corner blocks 86 x 19mm spotted gum decking

You’ll also need

Heavy-duty paint scraper; fine sandpaper; deck cleaner; bucket; gloves; eye protection; scrubbing brush; pencil; jigsaw; power saw with fence attachment (optional); belt sander; clamps; power drill; countersinking drill bit; galvanised wood screws (length to suit); exterior PVA; Cabot’s Exterior Varnish Stain in Rich Walnut; paintbrush

For you to note

When using power tools, wear all safety gear required and refer to your product instructions.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Use a heavy-duty paint scraper to remove any old varnish or paint. Sand timber smooth with fine sandpaper. Try as best you can to get into all nooks and crannies. STEP 2 Dilute deck cleaner in a bucket as per product instructions. Wearing gloves and eye protection use stiff scrubbing brush on the bench. Leave to sit for 20 minutes then wash off with a hose.

STEP 3 To replace broken slats you will need to shape a piece of timber to match. Source timber that has at least the same dimensions and, if possible, is the same species. Trace outline of broken slat on new timber.

STEP 4 If timber is curved, as here, use jigsaw to cut the shape. If straight, use power saw with fence attachment.

STEP 5 Sit belt sander upside down on bench and hold in place with clamps. Run the replacement slat along it to smooth and shape timber to match existing slats.

STEP 6 Place new slat in position on seat. Use countersinking drill bit to predrill through slat into seat. Use galvanised screws to attach slat. To stop other slats working loose, predrill and screw those into seat at front and back.

STEP 7 To strengthen seat, use decking to cut corner blocks to sit under seat. Cut decking on a 45° angle, making sure angle goes in opposite direction across the timber. Cut a curve into the longest edge of block to provide an area to screw through. Sand cut edges.

STEP 8 Predrill and countersink through cut-out in edge of block towards angled end. Turn seat over, spread glue on cut ends of block and press into corner of seat frame. Screw through block into seat. Repeat for all corners of seat and leave glue to dry.

STEP 9 Apply 3 coats of exterior varnish stain to entire chair. Allow to dry after each coat.