How to Build a Planter Bench

Ron visits the California coastline to the charming town of Carmel where Donna Enneking is fortunate enough to have a back yard deck that looks out over the breathtaking Carmel Valley. Ron responds to Donna's request to help her build a piece of deck furniture that will be every bit as functional as it is beautiful.

Ron designed a bench that was flanked by two end panels joined together by boards called stringers. Seat slats nailed to the top stringers created a bench and then planter boxes were attached to each end panel.

Click Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.

1. Cut the wood
There is a lot of cutting to do for this project, so it is a good idea to create a cut list to keep track of it all. Set an adjustable stop block on the saw since you will be cutting many pieces of lumber to the same length. The stop block will ensure consistently accurate cuts.

2. Cut notches
A notch joint has several advantages. First, it provides more glue surface than a simple butt joint, second, it makes the assembly easier allowing one piece to nest into the other and lastly, it requires more common 3 1/2 inch screws rather than five or six inch long fasteners.

Measure the size of your first notch and then create a template by nailing a small piece of wood to a larger piece. Push the template up against the wood that is to be notched and trace the outline directly onto that piece. Use a jigsaw to cut these notches out.

3. Assembly
To assemble the end frames, attach the pieces together with both glue and screws. For outdoor furniture, it is a good idea to use water-resistant glue. Pour the glue in a small container and then use a brush to apply it onto the surface.

After applying the glue to both pieces of wood, align the two pieces together, check them for square and then clamp them firmly together.

Before driving in the screws, first drill a countersink hole or clearance hole to allow the head of the screw to be flush with the surface of the wood. After the countersink holes are drilled, follow behind with a screw gun.

Once the frames for the end pieces are complete, fill in the centers with wooden slats.

After completing the two end panels, use clamps to position the end panels to stand up on their own. This will make it easier to complete the assembly. Clamp a temporary ledger in place on each end panel. These will support the first stretcher while you attached it. The stretcher connects the two end panels together.

Again drill clearance holes with a countersink bit so that the rust resistant screws were flush with the wood.

5. Bench slats
Use a router to round the edges of the seat slats to make them more comfortable. These evenly spaced slats are attached using a countersink bit so that the screws lie well below the wood's surface.

6. Planter boxes
The sides of the planter boxes are made the same way the end panels for the bench were assembled. Simply attach the pieces together. Predrill clearance holes so it will be easier to attach the panels.

The planter box was designed so that the height of the bottom can be easily adjusted to suit individual needs. Use blocks of 2 x 6's or 2 x 4's, depending on the height you want your bottom. Lay the blocks up against the insides of the box and then set planks across the blocks to create the bottom.

7. Apply wood sealer
To keep the bench looking good and to extend its life, it is strongly recommended that you apply a wood sealer to the finished planter bench. Use a garden sprayer or spray bottle to apply the sealer, leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then use a rag or a cloth to redistribute the sealer.

This bench makes a beautiful addition to any deck.