EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR BENCH

Strong and sturdy, these DIY benches will stand the test of time. Complement them with a matching wall shelving unit. Instructions are for a bench 1500mm wide, however you can adjust the length to suit the dimensions at your place.

Gather your supplies

• 90 x 90mm x 3.6m H4 treated pine post

• 90 x 45mm x 2.4m H3 treated pine (7)

• 135 x 19mm x 17 lin. m blackbutt decking

• 2440 x 1220 x 12mm marine plywood

• 70 x 35mm x 2.4m H3 treated pine (4)

• 2440 x 1220 x 18mm marine plywood

You’ll also need Clamps; pencil; circular saw; hammer; sharp chisel; countersinking drill bits to suit screws; drill; 5mm bit; 85, 100 and 50mm galvanised batten screws; black exterior paint; painting equipment; 50mm stainless steel decking screws; 10mm plastic packers; spirit level; 8mm masonry drill bit; blue wall plugs; hammer; clear exterior varnish

Here’s how

STEP 1 Sit a pair of legs on your workbench, clamped together. Sit an offcut of 90 x 45mm pine on the legs flush with one end and draw a line along it. This will be the bottom of the rebate for the rail. STEP 2 Using a circular saw set to cut 45mm deep, cut along line drawn in Step 1, then make multiple passes across the legs where the rebates will be.

STEP 3 Knock out the waste timber with a hammer, then use a sharp chisel to make the bottom of the rebates smooth.

STEP 4 Use a countersinking drill bit to drill holes in the ends of the rail where it will sit over the legs.

STEP 5 Sit rail in rebates on legs, clamp together, then join using 85mm batten screws.

STEP 6 At other end of legs, and on the face opposite to where the rail sits, clamp, predrill and screw another rail to the legs 30mm from end of legs. Use 100mm batten screws.

STEP 7 Repeat Steps 1-6 to create a second leg and rail assembly.

STEP 8 Apply 2 coats of exterior paint to leg and rail assemblies and all other components of bench frame. Let dry after each coat.

STEP 9 Sit 1 leg and rail assembly upright and

upside down on bench and clamp. Butt upper cross rails into rail and against inside of legs. Predrill and screw together with 100mm batten screws. Fix remaining cross rails between these, spacing them evenly.

STEP 10 Sit second leg and rail assembly against open ends of upper cross rails. Predrill and screw together to create bench frame.

STEP 11 Turn bench frame over so it is upright. Sit lower cross rails between rails at bottom of legs, then predrill and screw together. Make the spacing match that of the upper cross rails.

STEP 12 At 1 end of shelf end rails, cut off 1 long corner on a 45° angle to soften its edge. These will be the ends facing the front of the bench. Place against legs so tops of the rails are halfway up legs and with 45mm to outside faces of them. Screw in place with

100mm screws. Screw shelf back rail to back end of these rails, then shelf front rail between them in the centre of shelf end rails. Screw shelf cross rails between them, aligned with cross rails above and below.

STEP 13 Sit outermost top boards on bench so they overhang bench frame by 5mm. On the end where boards will continue down the side of the bench, make boards overhang the bench by 20mm. Predrill boards along lines of cross rails using a countersinking drill bit to suit the screws and screw down with 50mm decking screws.

STEP 14 Place remaining decking boards on bench so the ends of all the boards are aligned. Use 10mm plastic packers to create an even gap between them. Mark lines of screws in the outside boards across these remaining boards, then predrill and screw them in place. 7 PUT IT TO GOOD USE Whether it’s for work or play, a timber bench or two can be adapted to just about any use. The shelving unit can be used for storage or display while the large plywood backing board helps to visually break up the large expanse of red bricks.

STEP 15 Cut and fit upper and lower shelf lining out of 12mm marine ply. Notch corners to fit around legs. Predrill and screw together with decking screws. STEP 16 On bench end where boards will run down the side, attach board fixing blocks between the legs flush with outside faces and in line with top of frame and shelves. Place end boards against this end, leaving a 10mm gap to boards on top and 30mm to bottom of legs. Predrill and screw into board fixing blocks, aligning the screws along these.

STEP 17 For hanging unit, use 70 x 35mm treated pine to make shelf frames 275mm wide. Make them various lengths to suit, here 900, 1200 and 1500mm. Clad shelves with blackbutt decking with a board flush with back of frame and a 10mm gap between them.

STEP 18 For backboard, cut 18mm marine ply to size. Lay it flat on bench and lay shelves on top in desired style. Predrill through backboard into shelf frames using a 5mm bit and join using 50mm batten screws.

STEP 19 Lift backboard into place behind bench and make level, propping under as required to hold in place. Drill through backboard for screws, making sure they will go into centre of bricks.

STEP 20 Remove backboard and, using masonry drill bit, drill into bricks where screw holes through backboard are. Insert blue plugs in holes and tap in with hammer to make flush with bricks.

STEP 21 Reposition backboard on wall and screw through holes in board into wall plugs with 85mm batten screws.

STEP 22 Apply 2 coats varnish to all raw timber on wall shelves and bench. Let dry after each coat, sanding after first coat to remove raised grain.