DIY Japanese Bridge

DIY Japanese Bridge

• 1

  Measure the area where you will be placing your bridge. This will help you find out how long your support beams should be, especially if you will be building your bridge over a small body of water. Measure your distance from end to end. Lay your two curved wood beams on the ground to gauge your width and length.

• 2

  Cut your cross planks to the measured width of the bridge with the circular saw. Lay the cross planks across the width of the curved wood beams, so the ends line up and touch the outer edge of the beams and so that they abut each other. Fasten the planks to the beams by using deck screws and a screw gun. Repeat this step until you have reached your desired bridge length, or have covered the length of the wood beams.

• 3

  Measure the height you want for your railing by measuring from deck floor to a comfortable adult height. Take some of the 2 by 4s and cut posts to create the railing. You will likely need at least six of these. Space these across the bridge evenly, and drill holes through the base of each piece of railing. This can be done with an electric drill and a 12-inch drill bit. Secure the posts into the floor boards, except for the ones on each end of the bridge. For these, cut an opening in the floorboards large enough to fit the posts through the boards and into the ground. Check with your local building authority to determine your region's "fence depth." This will let you know how deep in the ground to place the posts. Frost level on the ground, humidity, and other factors will determine a different depth for each region. If your bridge is not going over water, or is small/decorative, you can simply lay the bridge down and not go into the ground if you wish.

• 4

  Hammer in some of the bolts, so they go through the post and beam from the bottom of the bridge, in through the center. Place a washer and nut onto the bolt and tighten.

• 5

  Use 2-by-4s to make hand rails and screw them into to the top of the support posts with deck screws. Then add extra screws, bolts and nails wherever anything is still feeling unstable. Stain the wood of your bridge, allow a few days to dry, and then complete a test walk across your bridge for safety and sturdiness.