How to Make Porch Benches From Old Headboards

Option 1

• 1

  Determine the type of wood making up the headboard. Select bench wood that matches the headboard wood. If you are unable to determine the headboard wood, use cedar boards for the bench.

• 2

  Remove previous paint or varnish from the headboard. Don the goggles, gloves and face mask. Apply paint stripper with the brush. Remove old finish with the knife when bubbling starts. Use several applications if necessary for several layers of paint. If the headboard is varnished, rub turpentine onto the surface with the cloth, following the wood grain. Remove loosed varnish with the knife.

• 3

  Sand all the wood pieces with the sandpaper. Clean sawdust from the work area.

• 4

  Prepare the seat box. Use the ruler to measure the width of the headboard at the bottom edge. Use the hand saw to cut the long boards to equal the headboard width. Clamp two long boards to two 16-inch side boards. Pre-drill the holes; attach the boards with 2-inch deck screws.

• 5

  Attach the seat supports. Use the scraps from the 4 x 4 posts as spacers for outside seat supports; place the inner supports evenly between the outside supports.

• 6

  Attach the seat slats onto the inner supports of the seat box, using eight 1¼-inch screws for each seat support.

• 7

  Turn the seat over. Holding the legs firmly into the corners, drill the holes and screw the legs into place. Turn the seat upright. Screw the outside edges of the seat slats into place over the legs and side boards.

• 8

  Cut two 4½-inch spacer blocks. Use the spacers to hold the skirt boards at the proper height while attaching them to the bench. Attach the skirt boards to the side edges first, then to the front and back.

• 9

  Attach the final long board along the back of the seat, centering it 2 inches above the seat. Cut the legs off the headboard. Place the headboard on the seat box. Use 1½-inch screws to fasten the headboard to the edge of the long board above the seat.

• 10

  Finish the bench as desired. Use exterior oil paint in desired colors or leaved unfinished for a natural look.

Option 2

• 11

  Prepare the headboard and seat box as for option 1, except space all the inner supports evenly between the outside supports.

• 12

  Turn the seat over. Drill holes and screw the seat slats into place on all the supports.

• 13

  Select spindles to match or coordinate with the headboard legs. Clamp the spindles to the outside front corners of the seat box, with the top edge of the spindle even with the top of the seat box. Clamp the headboard to the back of the seat box. Use the level to ensure correct and even seat placement. Drill and screw the spindles and headboard legs to the seat box. If the bottom edge of the headboard is also behind the seat box, screw and drill it to the seat box in three or four places as well.

• 14

  Measure from the front of the spindle to the back of the headboard leg. Cut the side skirt pieces to the correct length. Attach the skirt boards to the bench as for option 1.

• 15

  Finish the bench as desired.