BUILDING DECK BENCHES 182 Prt your deck with one or more com- fortable benches and you just might end up with some of the best seats in—or out of the house. Orient benches so sitters take in an attractive view—or turn their backs on one that's not. To define the edge of a grade-level deck without blocking your line of sight, build a backless bench, like the one shown in the illustration ‘opposite, top right. On a higher deck, integrate the bench and railing, as we did with the one shown going together at right + Bench basics ‘As you plan benches, refer (o the standard seat- ing dimensions in the box at the bottom of the opposite page, allowing 30 inches of width per person. Make the backs slightly lower if you ‘want an unimpeded view, slightly higher for privacy. Open, slatted construction lets air circu- late and also discourages water from puddling ‘As with railings, you can secure benches to the same posts that support the deck or fasten uprights to joists. Unlike rails, you also can at- tach benches to decking. For safety's sake, be sure to use bolts, not nails, at all critical structur- al points. Consider, too, whether permanently anchor- ing your benches really is necessary. Freestand- ing benches, built of the same materials as the deck itself, can be easily moved around to ac: commodate different functions. Come winter, you can put your freestanding benches away or use them indoors. On higher decks, of course, you should butt any nonanchored benches against a firmly attached railing, + Beyond the bench While you're planning your benches, think about how you might integrate benches with structures other than railings. Two benches and a table, for example, could be built diner-booth style, Add a trellis or sunscreen overhead (see pages 100-105) and create an inviting open-air spot where every summer meal will taste better af each past, nailing short pieces of 2 Between them to support ibe leg assemblies, To prevent rast, use boicdipped galvanized nails for all outdoor pn For comfart. rowed off the front edges of 204 swat and back slats with a plane or router You ako can buy prerouted boards, For seating use only good quality, splintertes lumber. anal al it wellVES ER SECURES, Tagine bie lagng all. Fira tre aii, bak ‘the decking, Balt slighily slanted bench that also can provide a = S hack and seat supports to the joss, plasform for potied plants, extend For the legs, assemble threesided 2x4 then natch decking around them. ‘posts abore the deck surface and bolt Sip abese into tbe back suppert, and nail to Joists can protrude from the deck, as 204 teood saddles to them, Build the oros braves and deck. Alio nai! through tbe “howe, or be cit. fuss with it the seats by laying 24s or edge, Tx 12s into the 2x4 boxes. Chuck that everything Finish of with 2c6 horizontal shen mailing there together with i plumb, keel, and square railings, a 2x6 cap, and 2x8 Kévinch spacers between them. Nail seating boards, setts to saddles and post, Faararmeicc a eeaeenanIae tana STANDARD BENCH DIMENSIONS Incorporate the dimensions of the bench we built at left inio aany tha | soe design For comfort, cant the ‘hack of a bench about 15 degrees and lif; the front edge of the seat | about 5 degrees. Allow 30 inches of widel for each person, - ae k kee slats 10 the 2x4 legs. Countersink nailheads they don’t nag clothing, Cap the back with 4 Ax6 or 2x6 tm proect cut ends from maictre that could cause rot | 4 || {| | || 4 ‘Nail back slats to each 112, Nail seat