Table of Contents
Putting in the seat posts
Step two
Putting in the seat posts
Cut all the 90mm x 90m (3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″) seat posts 500mm (20″) long. The number of posts will depend on the overall length of the seat.
Place the posts into the holes that have been cut in the decking (as explained above) so that the posts are 350mm (14″) above the top of the decking and 150mm (6″) below. Use clamps to hold the posts in place, check they are verticalPlumb, upright., then drill and boltA metal rod that has a head on one end and threads on the other and is used to fasten together lumber. The most common bolts used or referred to in projects within this website are coach/carriage bolts and hex bolts. the posts to the joists, as shown in the drawing below.
Use two 12mm (1/2″) galvanizedCovered with a protective coating of zinc. bolts per postsee PILE.
The Parts
A Hardwood decking. 90mm x 18mm (3/4″ x 3 1/2″)
B Seat frame sides. TreatedPressure treated. Refers to lumber that is treated in such a way that the sealer is forced into the pores of the wood. Refers to lumber pressure sprayed with chemicals to lengthen its life expectancy for outside use or inground applications. 65m x 45mm (1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″) on edge
C Seat frame cross members. Treated 65mm x 45mm (1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″) on flat. Approx 400mm (16″) apart
D Galvanized metal braceTo make rigid. strap to fixTo secure with nails or screws. the seat frame to the posts.
E Seat post. Treated 90mm x 90mm (3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″). Goes through the holes cut in the deckA flat floored roofless area adjoining a house. Timber deck: An outside floor structure comprising of posts, bearers, joists and decking boards. and bolted to the joists.
F Existing joists
G Existing deck boundary joistOne of a series of parallel members used to support the floor. Part of the framing that provides the structure for a floor..
H Existing bearerA sub-floor wood supporting the floor joists.. Not necessarily in that position
I Galvanized 12mm (1/2″) bolts to fix the seat posts to the joists
J Existing decking.
K Existing side decking. Decorative only, and not on all decks.
Thanks for your excellent Deck Bench Idea. I built mine in a jiffy. Thanks again for a great website for us DIYers … More projects lined up. Gopi
Hi!
I wanted to submit some of my bench project photos.
I was helped out a great deal by the other submissions and this may help someone else.
I did things just a bit differently.
You can see from the photos that I put a trim piece, “smart-board” we call it here, around the outside of the bench.
Then the topping pieces, 2X4 in this case, hang out over the edge of the trim by about 1/1 inch (could be more if you want).
This way it is not so critical how the top boards are placed. Gives you a bit of room to play with.
In fact, although you would never know it, the front hangs over 1/2 inch but the back is closer to 3/4 inch and it varies all around the bench. Notice also that the first part of the bench frame was just built as a box, and then the second “arm” as added as a second step.
One last thing, the bench frame had to be build not connected to the 4X4 supports because I did not have room to put on the trim pieces because the bench was so close to the house and the fence.
I pre-cut the supports, removing just 1/2 inch from each side, and then glued and bolted the frame to the supports.
All in all turned out well. The bench needs to be painted and stained before it is complete.
Thanks
A while back (about April, 2010) I inquired about the measurements of the lumber you used in your deck plan. You explained that these were measurements from Australia and/or New Zealand. I have incorporated the plans to work in my situation in the USA and attached are the photos of my work and finished product.
Thanks for those plans you provided. I have never built a deck before, let alone a custom bench, and your photos and plans were a motivator to see this through to the finish. My wife and I love the finished project. It is nice and sturdy and adds a nice contemporary element to the deck, with the look and feel of a custom deck plan.
Thanks again.
Jeff Schulze – New Bern, NC, USA
Hi
John Leary is my name. I have been endeavoring to submit a photo of a DIY thru your website but could not access an email connection.
I love the site and it inspired me to undertake a deck project.
Attached is a photo of the almost finished project.
Regards
John W Leary
would love to see the posted pictures…. all blank
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO THIS if you have a deck that is greater than 30″ above grade.
Bench seats bring your railing height down to ~16″ of protection, and children have accidentally fallen over and have been seriously injured or killed.
I’m very surprised this is not mentioned in the first sentence or heading of this post.
What if I do not have access to the joists/blocking? What would be your recommendation to secure to deck? U-brackets?