How to Build an Arbor Bench | This Old House

Learn how to craft a cozy seating spot for your yard. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Sure, you could plop a couple of deck chairs in your backyard for an impromptu sitting area. But a hand-built cedar bench, framed by an arbor, gives you a more permanent place to kick back as the weather warms up, and adds an elegant architectural feature.

Our design incorporates classic touches such as profiled rafter tails, alternating wide and narrow boards for the seat and backrest, and trellis sides to let your favorite climbers ascend to the overhead structure. Or you can let the bench remain free of greenery—it's eye-catching enough on its own. Follow along as This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers puts it all together.

Cost: $400
Time: Three 6-hour days
Difficulty: Moderate. You'll need to keep the structure square and level as it's built, so prepare for some tinkering.

Shopping List for How to Build an Arbor Bench:
All lumber listed is western red cedar.
- 2x4s. Get twelve 8-foot boards.
- 1x4s. Get at least four 8-foot boards.
- 1x2s. Get at least nine 8-foot boards.
- 2x6s. Get three 8-foot boards.
- 2x2s. Get two 8-foot boards or five 4-foot spindles for the purlins.
- 1/4-inch spacers, cut from scrap.
- Post anchors. Get four.
- Construction adhesive
- Stainless-steel trim-head screws. You need three sizes: 1 1/4 inch, 2 5/8 inch, and 3 inch.

Tools for How to Build an Arbor Bench:
- sledgehammer
- miter saw
- jigsaw
- drill/driver and 1-inch paddle bit
- caulk gun
- 4-foot level
- clamps
- combination square
- flexible curve to draw profile for rafter tails

Western red cedar: Find a dealer near you at RealCedar.com [realcedar.com/resources/].

Cut List
2x4 seat-base stringers: 3 @ 18 inches
2x4 reinforcement block for seat base’s center stringer: 1 @ 14 inches from square edge to long point, one end mitered at 30 degrees
2x4 backrest supports: 3 @ 22 inches from long point to short point, with parallel 30-degree cuts off each end
1x4 seat boards: 3 @ 48 inches
1x2 seat boards: 3 @ 48 inches
1x4 backrest boards: 4 @ 40 ¾ inches
1x2 backrest boards: 3 @ 40 ¾ inches
1x4 backrest cap: 1 @ 40 ¾ inches
1x2 lattice: 4 @ 70 ½ inches
1x2 lattice: 2 @ 75 ½ inches
1x2 lattice: 2 @ 17 inches
2x6 rafters: 2 @ 72 inches
2x6 rafter stringers: 3 @ 21 inches
2x2 purlins: 5 @ 36 inches

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
bit.ly/AskTOHIG

For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite

How to Build an Arbor Bench | This Old House
youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/