DIY bench seat with storage - Better Homes and Gardens Strona 1 z 4
Gardening
DIY bench seat with storage
This garden or courtyard bench seat is really a mini shed. It's large enough to take all your garden hand tool
to gloves, pots and secateurs. Yet when the lid is down you have a handy timber bench seat and the tools w
If you have a pool, it is also ideal for storing pool toys, umbrellas and chemicals in sealed containers, withou
laundry. And if you have a need for storage on the verandah or deck, it can be used as an outdoor 'mud room
boots, gloves and hats, and even firewood.
While not totally waterproof in the event of a major downpour, it will shed most rainwater. And best of all, wit
merbau hardwood timber finish, it will look great anywhere.
Gather your supplies
Box ends (2) 500 x 340 x 12mm exterior plywood
A
Cleats (6) 31 x 31 x 340mm merbau
B
Box sides (2) 1630 x 340 x 12mm exterior plywood
C
Box base 1630 x 524 x 12mm exterior plywood
D
Lid 1635 x 530 x 12rnm exterior plywood
E
End cladding (6) 90 x 19 x 524rnm merbau
F
Side cladding (6) 90 x 19 x 1668mm merbau
G
Feet (10) 90 x 19 x 90mm merbau
H
Short lid surrounds (2) 90 x 19 x 530mm merbau
I
Long lid surrounds (2) 90 x 19 x 1673mm merbau
J
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DIY bench seat with storage - Better Homes and Gardens Strona 2 z 4
Top cladding (6) 90 x 19 x 1800mm merbau
K
You'll also need
Exterior PVA glue; 1.5 inch (38mm) stainless steel screws; exterior oil
Here's how
15mm in from the outer edges of the box ends (A) mark in the position of 3 holes to fix to the cleats
STEP 1
25mm from top and bottom. If you have one, use a 2-in-1 screw pilot bit to drill the clearance and countersin
pre-drilling much quicker. Otherwise drill the clearance hole and then change to a countersinking bit to bore
the same way drill another 3 holes 27mm in from the edge of the box sides (C). Add another row of holes ha
Glue and clamp the cleats to the edge of an end (ideally if short of flush by a fraction of a millimetre
STEP 2
not only give a better surface to screw into, they also greatly increase the gluing area making for a stronger j
over and drill pilot holes into the cleats to screw in from the outside using stainless steel screws.
Form the whole box by screwing the sides to the ends in the same way. Add a strengthening cleat h
STEP 3
holes have been predrilled. Then add the base (D) screwing directly into the edge of the plywood after predr
cleats. Cut the lid (E) to be about 5mm over size so that when it is fitted to the box it is not too tight. It will be
Measure and cut the merbau decking for the end cladding (F). On each end of the cladding accurate
STEP 4
30mm in from the ends and 20mm from top and bottom edges so that when the unit is assembled all the sta
giving a professional looking finish. Repeat this on the long side cladding (G), but here add a third hole centr
Also mark for 2 holes at the centre of each long board spaced 20mm from the top and bottom edges.
Again using a screw pilot bit, drill the holes and countersink for the screw heads. This is necessary a
STEP 5
are using don't have self-countersinking heads. Even if they did, it's nearly impossible to bury the screw hea
through into plywood.
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DIY bench seat with storage - Better Homes and Gardens Strona 3 z 4
Back on the box mark 78mm down from the top, then add a further 10mm for the space to the top o
STEP 6
be fixed to the box. Then add further spacings of 90, 10, 90 and 10mm for the other boards. Draw lines right
Apply construction adhesive where one of the top pieces of end cladding is to go, predrill pilot holes
STEP 7
The stainless steel screws will remain a visible feature, lasting indefinitely and not rusting. Repeat for the oth
and add the topmost side cladding piece so it is flush with the end cladding.
Keep working on 1 side and the ends, then turn box on its other face and finish the side cladding. D
STEP 8
78mm section of the box. Also, at this stage leave out the bottom-most screws as there is nothing for them to
Screw pairs of feet (H) together for a total thickness of 38mm. Screw 1 of these double square block
STEP 9
from inside. Screw the 2 leftover blocks in the centre along each side. Screw the bottom-most screws of the
blocks.
Fix the short lid surrounds (I) to the edge of the lid, with the screws located 50mm from the ends an
STEP 10
and screw the long surrounds (J) to the lid with screw spacing of 200 and 520mm from each and 1 in the mid
ends of the end surrounds.
Set out the top cladding (K) so there will be a 15mm overhang at the sides and equal spacing at th
STEP 11
slats so there are equal spaces between (around 12mm). Set out the screw positions to coincide with ends a
glue and screw in place from the top, again making a feature of the stainless steel screws.
Use a rubber eraser to quickly and easily remove pencil setting out marks, sand the timber, then g
STEP 12
exterior oil finish such as Intergrain Nature's Timber Oil.
Better Homes and Gardens magazine, June 2006
Source:
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DIY bench seat with storage - Better Homes and Gardens Strona 4 z 4
Stockists: Garden storage box designed by John Rae, Serendipity Furniture, 0402 626 993 (Sydney only) Ha
Ply&Wood, 1300 138 771 or www.misterplywood.com.au.
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