Turn up the heat Transform a bleak outdoor area into a cosy winter retreat with a Japanesestyle burnt wood table

Break out the tools to turn your bleak outdoor area into a cosy winter wonderland

2021-04-01 -

Ahh the ’70s! Blonde brick and concrete as far as the eye could see. But you can transform a bland space such as this into a spot to chill out and soak up the winter sun or gather around the fire with friends to enjoy those brisk winter nights. Add a warming touch by painting the bricks black, then fill the space by building a bench seat and a co ee table finished using the Japanese wood-burning technique called shou sugi ban. A couple of comfy armchairs and potted plants complete the revamp.

PROJECT 1 BURNT WOOD COFFEE TABLE Here’s how

STEP 1 Use circular saw to cut plywood sheet in half for base. Use spirit level to draw diagonals across base to find centre. STEP 2 Make a router template from scrap 3mm plywood. Screw plywood to router, then mark points along the plywood at 50mm increments from centre of router bit. Screw through 600mm point of template into centre of base.

STEP 3 With the straight bit fitted, use the router and template to cut a circle, rotating it in an anti- clockwise direction. Do this in about 4 or 5 passes, cutting a few millimetres deeper on each pass. This will make the job easier.

STEP 4 Fit the chamfer bit to the router and set the depth so the bearing on the bit just touches the edge of the base. Go around the base to cut an angled edge.

STEP 5 Use a countersinking drill bit to drill holes along the line drawn on the base. Also continue this line, drawing it down the edge.

STEP 6 Cut a cypress board slightly longer than the base. On underside of board, use a combination square to draw a line down the centre for a couple of hundred millimetres at each end.

STEP 7 Spread glue along the underside of the board. With the base raised si ing on other boards, slide this one under the table and

align the centre with the line drawn on the edge of the base. Predrill through holes in base into board, then screw together using 30mm screws. Do not screw through the centre hole. STEP 8 Turn base over, laying ratchet straps under it as you do. Cut board to cover base, spread glue on bo om and bu against the first. Use an offcut and hammer to push the boards tightly together. Continue cu ing and laying boards in this manner until you have covered the base.

STEP 9 Bring ratchet straps together and tighten to pull boards together and hold.

STEP 10 Turn table over and draw the line of the centre of each board on the base. Predrill along lines, then screw all boards to base. Drill through centre hole all the way to mark its position on the other side.

STEP 11 Turn table over again and fix router template to centre hole. Fit router with the straight bit and cut off ends of cypress boards in a circle as you did for the base. Switch bit in router to rounding-over bit, then run around top edge of tabletop.

STEP 12 Sit table on edge and use a blowtorch to char the surface. You can go easy for just a light char or let it burn a bit for a distinctive burned texture.

STEP 13 Lightly rinse the surface of the table to cool the timber and remove excess charcoal.

STEP 14 Leave table to further cool for a few more hours, then apply 2 coats of clear exterior finish.

STEP 15 Use mitre saw to cut 400mm long segments of sleeper for hexagonal plinth with a 30° angle on each end. Apply 2 coats of black exterior paint to segments, then glue and screw together, using 75mm screws, to form plinth.

STEP 16 Turn table over and sit plinth on base so it is centred. A ach plinth to table using angle brackets.

PROJECT 2 OUTDOOR BENCH Here’s how

STEP 1 Measure the extent of your bench, here from the corner to the end of the wall. Build a simple pine ladder frame for the bench that is 535mm wide. Evenly space cross rails of frame, not exceeding 400mm apart. Predrill using a countersinking drill bit and screw together using 100mm ba en screws. Paint the frame with black exterior paint.

STEP 2 Use mitre saw to cut merbau board to run along front and visible end of frame. At the visible end, make front board overhang end by 19mm to cover board at end. Clamp boards to frame so top edges are flush with top of frame.

STEP 3 Use square to mark line of screws on boards, which will line up with screws going into cross rails. Slightly offset screws from centre of cross rail so they don’t hit the ba en screws in the frame. Predrill and screw boards to frame using 50mm decking screws.

STEP 4 Cut and fit boards for top of bench. Use a chalkline to mark the line of screws across the boards. Predrill and screw boards to bench, using a 3mm plastic spacer between them to create an even gap.

STEP 5 Apply 2 coats of decking oil to the bench. Allow to dry a er each coat.

STEP 6 Drill 10mm holes through frame for fixings to go into bricks. Space fixings about 600mm apart. At ends, make fixings towards front of the bench for be er support.

STEP 7 Place bench in position so top of bench is 450mm from ground, then mark bricks using a 10mm masonry drill bit. Remove bench, then drill 70mm deep holes at marked points. Reposition bench and fix to bricks using masonry screws and ratchet.