Does anyone have pointers for garden storage bench designs?

[RC]

I'm looking into building some custom sized storage benches into my back yard for next summer and I've been looking for designs for practically working benches with storage room under the seat for pillows, toys, etc.

What I'd like to build is something that is somewhat rain proof but at the same time well aired to dry what ever gets into it i.e. some sort of solid top to run water off the bench top from direct rain and some sort of mesh bottom to let air circulate inside the box to let the pillows, etc. dry and not get moldy. The design should ideally be adaptable to both straight & L-shape bench configurations as well as to varying lenghts (three different length benches in the works) and have a back rest since they will be situated in front of large windows so one cannot lean against them. The benches are under a patio roof, but wind will blow rain & snow directly onto them and they will be in direct sunlight about 12h a day in the summer. 

Closest things I've found Googling are

• this bench but I'm not too fond of the back rest with bolts approach.
• this one has a nice back rest and curved rear foot, but obviously lacks the box part.
• this one would be about right looking but too short and not rain resistant.

All of these commercial offerings have shortcomings in lack of length, not available here  [unsure] and no L-shaped ones available... Therefore I'm planing on building my own - how hard can it be [scratch chin]?

Any pointers to designs for something of a fusion of the examples above & my needs for a lenghtier (L-bench: 2m + 4m and another 3m stand-alone one) benches?

Hardwoods like teak are expensive here and birch and scots pine cheaper. Decks are usually built out of pressure treated scotch pine with CC-treatment (copper and chrome-salts).
What materials would you suggest for garden furniture that has to withstand being outside 365 days a year under a patio roof & Canada-like four seasons?

 

[Kev]

I really like te second example - I'd be inclined to do something along the lines of that design.

I've got the same problem to solve soon - so I'll be watching ths thread  [wink]

 

[hobbes]

I'm going to start to build something similar so when I finally get started with something I'll post what I did or plan to do and maybe that may help you too.

My bench will be for the front porch and will have storage underneath for shoe storage so will likely not be very ornate since I'm thinking to make it in a plain-style and have wooden sliding doors to hide the shoes from view.

Currently, I'm thinking to make the bench from redwood, it's very durable and I like the grain patterns on it. Fo the legs I may use cedar fo some contrast but I'm not sure yet, it depends on what I can get locally. I think birch will be nice too, probably will depend a lot more on what you treat it with and how many coatings you put on it. With enough coats it should stand many seasons.

If you decide on something, post it too so we can see your progress. I'll do the same.

 

[RC]

Will do - I'm going to try and draw what ever I end up building first in sketch-up to get a feel of the looks and go from there.

The end of the longest bench I'm planning will also feature a shoe rack forthe family's backyard Crocs, though I wasn't going to put doors in front, just slanted shelves but I was going to utilise the top of it as a side table for the bench.

 

[hobbes]

Reiska,

Here's one that is simliar to one of the ones in your link but shows all the steps to the design. I might modify this one to fit what I'm looking to do. I'll probably substitute those tenons with dominos to speed up the construction and this also gives me a chance to really put my new tool to the test.

http://www.shawcreekgeneralstore.com/plans_garden_bench.htm

Check it out!

 

[RC]

Great catch Hobbes! I wonder if could talk my darling wife into letting me buy a Domino for this [drooling]

I suppose the Sipo Dominoes would be the correct ones for this outdoor gear - pitty that they don't sell them in a systainer set like they do with the beech ones.

What glue would you use outside? Something like Titebond III Ultimate maybe for water resistance?

 

[hobbes]

I haven't used it myself, but here's what I read would a good choice for outdoors and waterproofing and I believe it because anything that's good for marine use should do a good job of waterproofing (it better if you're in the middle of the ocean and your wooden boat should not start to leak or that would qualify as bad news).   [scared]

http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?BrandID=64&SubcatID=10

Titebound III should be good too and probably much cheaper than the one above.

Check out this basic bench too, so many ways to slice the cake.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20508104,00.html#

I like that this one can be done much faster and will show more of the wood grain in large panels.

 

[Kev]

Reiska,

Here's one that is simliar to one of the ones in your link but shows all the steps to the design. I might modify this one to fit what I'm looking to do. I'll probably substitute those tenons with dominos to speed up the construction and this also gives me a chance to really put my new tool to the test.

http://www.shawcreekgeneralstore.com/plans_garden_bench.htm

Check it out!

There's a design waiting for the Domino if ever I've seen one!