DIY An Interlocking Wood Bench You Can Disassemble For Easy Storage

What could be better than a relaxing outdoor bench you can fold and store at a moment's notice? A super-easy technique to build it, of course! Modular characteristics may make a bench design sound more complex than most DIY garden benches, but sometimes the features that make them so flexible can also save you time and effort. Using a clever process, you can make an interlocking, collapsible wood bench that you can disassemble for easy storage. The DIYer-friendly project only requires basic tools every homeowner should have, with a few straight cuts and careful measurements bringing it together.

For this DIY bench, two-by-two pieces create the supportive frame, while fence pickets make the seat and backrest. The bench breaks down into two pieces. A couple of two-by-twos stand parallel to make the sides of the back piece. Two more two-by-two boards span them, one attached to the front faces of the supports and the other positioned slightly higher on their back side. Now, you'll have a narrow slot for the seat legs to slip through. After building the seat section, you just have to attach a few support pieces, ideally with pocket screws and wood glue for strength, and the boards to make the seat and back. The two pieces can then interlock and let gravity hold them in place. To put it up, just pull the seat out, and you have two slim sections to easily tuck out of the way.

The collapsible bench is a perfect solution for seasonal outdoor seating. Install a couple of heavy-duty hooks on the garage wall to store the pieces out of the way when not in use, and quickly slide them together when you need them. The hassle-free breakdown also makes it easy to manage when bad weather rolls around. Nevertheless, any wood going outside can use a few considerations so it lasts for the long term.

Start with the type of wood. Many common varieties, such as white oak or cedar, offer natural rot-resistance. If you have leftover lumber, you can resaw four-by-four posts or two-by-four boards to get the support pieces you need for the bench. You can also protect the wood with a finish, an especially critical step for less hardy lumber like pine.

Penetrating oil is easy to work with and gets deep into the wood grain, while varnishes sit over the wood as an impenetrable seal. Spar varnishes are an excellent choice, as they remain flexible and less prone to cracking. You can also try waterproofing wood with an all-natural ingredient like beeswax. Exterior paints, meanwhile, give you the vibrant colors you'll want to match the rest of your patio setup. Choose products with UV inhibitors to prevent premature wear and fading, a benefit even for naturally resilient outdoor woods. Although it'll be easy to put up after each use, properly protecting your collapsible DIY wood bench will ensure it doesn't fail even during those rare instances when you forget it out in the rain.