How to Build a Backyard Bench

Measure your wood pieces, and cut them into the following lengths: From the deck planks, you will need 12 pieces measuring 5 feet long and 6 pieces measuring 15 inches long. From the 2-by-2 wooden posts, you will need 10 pieces measuring 11 inches long.

Lay three of the deck planks down on a floor. These pieces should sit flat on the ground, parallel and aligned at the ends with one another. Set one of the 11-inch pieces at each end of the three 5-foot pieces; these short pieces should sit perpendicularly on top of the longer pieces.

Center the 11-inch piece, and drive wood screws down and into the planks, one screw into each plank. Repeat this step and the previous step with the rest of the 5-foot pieces to make four sheets, each with three 5-foot pieces and two 11-inch pieces.

Align three of the short deck planks parallel to one another, and attach one 11-inch piece to the center of these deck planks. Remember to place the shorter 11-inch piece perpendicular to the deck planks. Drive nails through the 2-by-2-by-11 boards and into the deck planks. Repeat this step with the remaining wood pieces.

Lay one of the longer, 5-foot sheets you constructed in previous steps on the floor. Set two more sheets of the same size at the ends of this piece. Align along the 5-foot sides to create two 90-degree corners and the front and back of the bench. Attach these pieces with screws driven through the front and back pieces and into the ends of the bottom piece.

Attach the two square pieces made from the three 15-inch long deck planks and the 11-inch post piece to the ends of the piece you constructed in the previous step. Drive screws through the edges of the square pieces and into the ends of the wooden pieces that comprise the ends of the bottom, front and back piece of the bench.

Set the remaining 5-foot sheet on top of the open end of the bench. Attach this top piece with hinge fixtures along only one 5-foot side of the bench. Attach the hinge fixtures an equal distance from the ends of the bench, using the screws included with the fixtures.

Sand all exterior surfaces of your bench, then wipe off dust from all surfaces.

Paint your bench inside and out with a wooden water sealant to protect it during outside use.