Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
PARAPET BAR AND DESK
Build a bar/desk in two pieces and don’t fix it in place, so you can move it if needed. Cover a brick wall that can’t be refinished with painted plywood.
Gather your supplies • Desk 265 x 1000 x 18mm marine plywood
• Upright 250 x 1000 x 18mm marine plywood
• Top 270 x 1000 x 18mm marine plywood
• Hook 150 x 1000 x 18mm marine plywood
You’ll also need Heavy-duty 200 x 200 x 40 x 6mm brackets; PVA glue; drill and countersinking bit; 50, 20mm screws; cloth; sandpaper; exterior clear coating; paintbrush
For you to note
Make width of top piece to suit the thickness of your parapet, and the height of the upright so the top of the desk is about 750mm from floor level.
Here’s how
STEP 1 Spread PVA glue along 1 long edge of the desk. Butt into upright so face of desk is flush with its edge. Predrill using a countersinking drill bit then screw together using 50mm screws. Remove excess glue using a damp cloth. STEP 2 Place 2 angle brackets on underside of the top so upright legs of brackets are 18mm from one long edge of the top. Predrill and screw brackets to top using 20mm screws.
STEP 3 Spread glue along long edge of upright. Sit on underside of desk so inside face of upright meets angle. Predrill and screw brackets to upright using 20mm screws. Leave for glue to set.
STEP 4 Spread glue along the long edge of top. Place hook centrally on this edge so it overhangs each face of the top evenly. Predrill and screw through the hook into the top.
STEP 5 To reinforce join between desk and upright, place 2 more angle brackets on underside of desk and inside of upright. Predrill and screw through bracket into both components using 20mm screws.
STEP 6 Lightly sand top faces and edges of unit. Remove dust then apply 2 coats of clear exterior coating. Allow to dry after each coat.