Built In Patio Benches For Urban Spaces
Wood benches can beautify any patio setting so why not consider built in patio benches if you have a small outdoor living space?
I turned this previously bare concrete planter wall into a focal point with these attractive benches.
These built-in patio benches were designed to shed water and promote air flow at all moisture contact points, greatly reducing the potential for rot. It was not that difficult to do either.
Here are some detailed diagrams showing what was involved.
The key point to remember when you are building a built in bench for a patio that attaches to a wall is to create air flow at all moisture contact points.
Building patio benches such as this particular design will withstand heavy rain and humidity for years to come because the bench support brackets never touch the concrete.
In this case, the location was wet and rainy Vancouver, BC. I know it can be nice and dry for months at a time during the summer (some times) but the winters are WET.
So here was a solution I used and the benches are still in great shape over three years later.
Building Gaps Between Deck Bench Boards
Corner built in benches can use this building technique very well.
Notice how each board (2x2s)in the bench seat is separated by a 1/8" shim rather than simply nailing each board together. This building technique should be used where ever possible.
It is imperative that you create air space around each board - as much as possible otherwise once the rain comes all the water will sit on each board and saturate them. Then the rotting process begins.
But this applies not just to the wet Pacific Northwest but also to humid areas in the east as well. Places like Georgia, North Carolina, even New York State can have a lot of wet humid weather for much of the year.
If you are not yet ready to build your own deck benches, let me share with you some information about other outdoor furniture tips and ideas that might help you out.