HowtoBuildaRaisedBedwithBenches

Thisraisedbedstructuremakesgardeningeasierandmorecomfortable.Cutthelumberyourselfifyouhavesomewoodworkingexperience,ormakeiteasybyhavingtheboardspre-cutatahomeimprovementstore.Besuretochoosealevelpieceofgroundinawell-drainedareathatgetsatleast6to8hoursofsunperday.Tohelppreventweeds,coverthegroundinsidethebedwithnewspaperorlandscapingclothbeforefillingwithpottingsoil.

DETAILS

DesignbyChrisHill

EstimatedTime:4hours**lessifyouhavewoodpre-cutDifficulty:ModerateListofMaterials:• 1–2x2x8board• 3–2x4x8boards• 8–2x6x8boards• 2–2x8x8boards• 3–1-lbboxes2½-inchdeckscrews• 1–1-lbbox3-inchdeckscrewsListofTools:• mitersaworcircularsaw*• drill/driver• clamps• square• measuringtape*orcanhavelumberpre-cutathomeimprovementstoreperdimensionsinPartsListPartsList(seeCuttingDiagrambelow):Part Quantity SizeSideSlats 8 1½x5½x45BottomSideSlats 4 1½x7¼x45InnerPosts 8 1½x3½x14BracketSupports 4 1½x5½x16Brackets 8 1½x5½x15½OuterPosts 4 1½x3½x18¼SeatSlats 8 1½x5½x24SeatCleats 4 1½x1½x20½

HOW-TOINSTRUCTIONS

CuttingDiagram

UsethePartsListandCuttingDiagramasreferencesforpartdimensions.Cutthepartsasneededforeachstep.

Figure1

CreatetheSideAssembliesbypositioningtwoSideSlatsandoneBottomSideSlatwiththeendsflush.PlacetwoInnerPosts13½inchesfromtheendsand1¾inchesfromtheedgeoftheBottomSideSlat,asshowninFigure1.Attachusing2½-inchdeckscrews.Repeattocreatethreemoreassemblies,usingtwoSideSlats,oneBottomSideSlatandtwoInnerPostsforeach.Dividethefourassembliesintotwosetsoftwo.

Figure2

WithonesetofSideAssemblies,positionaBracketSupportoneachasshowninFigure2andattachusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure3

UseFigure3asaguideforcreating/identifyingtheBrackets.

Figure4

StillworkingonthefirstsetofSideAssemblies,positiontheBracketsasshowninFigure4oneach,makingsuretheyareflushagainsttheendsoftheBracketSupport,andattachusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure5

WorkingfromtheoppositesidesoftheseSideAssemblies,drive2½-inchdeckscrewsthroughtheSideSlatsandintotheBracketsoneachasshowninFigure5.

Figure6

WiththesecondsetofSideAssemblies,positionaBracketSupportoneachasshowninFigure6andattachusing21/2-inchdeckscrews.

Figure7

PositiontheBracketsasshowninFigure7oneach,makingsuretheyareflushagainsttheendsoftheBracketSupport,andattachusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure8

WorkingfromtheoppositesidesoftheseSideAssemblies,drive2½-inchdeckscrewsthroughtheSideSlatsandintotheBracketsoneachasshowninFigure8.

Figure9

FlipthissecondsetofSideAssembliesbackoverandpositiontheOuterPostsoneachasshowninFigure9,thenattachusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure10

WorkingwiththesetofSideAssemblieswithouttheOuterPosts,positionaSeatSlatoneach,flushagainsttheendoftheSideSlatsandagainsttheBracketsasshowninFigure10.MarkalinewheretheSeatSlatmeetstheSideSlat.

Figure11

PositionaSeatCleatoneachasshowninFigure11(onthemarkedline)andattachusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure12

PositionaSeatSlatoneachasshowninFigure12andattachtotheSeatCleatandBracketsusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure13

PositionasecondSeatSlatoneachasshowninFigure13andattachtotheBracketsusing21/2-inchdeckscrews.(Useaquarter-inchscrappieceasaspacerbetweentheSeatSlatsforthisstep,ifdesired.)

Figure14

WorkingwiththeremainingsetofSideAssemblies(withtheOuterPosts),positionaSeatSlatoneach,flushagainsttheendoftheSideSlatsandagainsttheBracketsasshowninFigure14.MarkalinewheretheSeatSlatmeetstheSideSlat.

Figure15

PositionaSeatCleatoneachasshowninFigure15(onthemarkedline)andattachusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure16

PositionaSeatSlatoneachasshowninFigure16andattachtotheSeatCleatandBracketsusing2½-inchdeckscrews.

Figure17

PositionasecondSeatSlatoneachasshowninFigure17andattachtotheBracketsusing21/2-inchdeckscrews.(Useaquarter-inchscrappieceasaspacerbetweentheSeatSlatsforthisstep,ifdesired.)

Figure18

PositionasideassemblywithoutOuterPostsandasideassemblywithOuterPostsasshowninFigure18.MakesuretheendsoftheSideSlatsfitflushagainsttheOuterPosts.Attachusing3-inchdeckscrews.RepeatwiththeremainingpairofSideAssemblies.

Figure19

PositionbothpairsofSideAssembliestogetherasshowninFigure19.Again,makesuretheendsoftheSideSlatsfitflushagainsttheOuterPosts.Attachusing3-inchdeckscrews.FinishedDimensions:Height:18¼inchesLength(notincludingbenches):48inchesWidth(notincludingbenches):48inchesLength(includingbenches):67½inchesWidth(includingbenches):67½inches