DIY Outdoor Bench

I find it curious when my husband, Scott, starts building this bench. We have many benches and seating areas around our property, so why is he building another? Read Scott’s narrative below to find out his motivation to create this DIY Outdoor bench.

The Story

My wife and I have dear friends who are wonderful parents and are very thoughtful, kind, smart and spiritual.  It’s a rare combination.  My wife Mary has those attributes.

Several years ago I found out that the wife enjoyed time outside in natural surroundings of quiet contemplation and spiritual introspection.  In early December I came across plans for a wooden “Leopold” bench.

Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) was a conservationist who built the benches for bird watching and nature photography.  Aldo’s bench plans have been refined and published at the Rogue Engineer (link here). I thought it would be a nice gift for our friend to use when she sits in prayerful revery.

The Materials

• Drill/Driver
• Mitre Saw (optional)
• Circular Saw
• Tape Measure
• Pencil
• Safety Glasses
• 4 2x8x8′ pressure treated lumber (untreated if you are painting or staining)
• 2 1/2″ exterior wood screws

Off I go to my local Home Depot for to purchase four 2”X8”X8” and some wood screws.  I don’t have the Rogue Engineer’s wood shop but the plans sound pretty straightforward.

As I start cutting the wood, my sturdy and reliable Craftsman circular saw gives up the ghost.  No problem, who doesn’t need a new Makita 18v lithium battery circular saw? It’s a beautiful machine. Link here.

The Assembly

Wood is cut in accordance with the plans in short order.  Now the process of assembly.  I pre-drill all of the screw holes so that takes me a bit longer.  My pieces do not all fit tightly enough to hold themselves in place but eventually it all comes solidly together.

My wood is Douglas fir so there are the additional steps of staining and several coats of spar varnish to ensure a beautiful outdoor finish.  The plan suggests 30 minutes.  I lack that talent and have several additional steps (staining-drying then varnishing & drying -repeat (twice)).  For me it is 3 days to complete.

The bench is solid and heavier than you might think~ very sturdy.  Mary and I present it as a Christmas present to our wonderful friends and it is now used regularly. 

Though this is a wooden bench, I must say it is VERY comfortable! The angle of the back is just perfect and if you add a pillow or cushion, it just makes it even more cozy.

I think Aldo would be very happy to know someone is enjoying nature and solitude on his Leopold bench design.

Since being outside in the fresh air is such a necessary part of life now, this DIY outdoor bench is a wonderful project for anywhere in your yard.

If you like to build things, I strongly suggest checking out the Rogue Engineer. There are several projects with extensive tutorials. To see another build project that we use frequently, click here.

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DIY Monthly Blog Hop

Thanks for joining me today. Now onto our monthly DIY Blog Hop where the topic is Building something.

Niky from The House on Silverado makes this DIY Farmhouse Coffee Cup Stand.

Andrea from Design Morsels makes this DIY Corner Desk.

Chas from Chas’ Crazy Creations shows an Easy DIY Heavy Duty Garage Shelf here.

Tarah from Grandma’s House DIY builds a Hallway Closet into a Storage Room

Amy from Health Heart and Home creates this beautiful accent wall using wood trim here.

Kippi from Kippi at Home provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to make this sweet birdhouse. Check it out here.

Kim from Shiplap and Shells shows us How to Make a Faux Fireplace Surround here.

Thank you for joining me today for our monthly DIY Blog Hop. Hope this inspires you to build and create! Comments and feedback are like gold to us so thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #692.