- Joined
- Oct 5, 2008
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OK, Gang...
I can use some ideas on constructing a couple of benches for my wife's church. The benches are positioned at the entrance of a grotto and have severe rot. They need to be replaced. At one time they looked pretty nice, originally made of a series of oak 1x4's with 1/2" spacers. The 1x4's are 4ft long and they are in sets of 2, then a spacer, then another set of two 1x4's, and so on for a total bench width of 19.5". The tube-steel legs are mounted in the concrete pad, so I'm pretty much restricted to using those, which are in pretty good shape. The series of 1x4's and spacers are held together with long bolts.
I'm reluctant to stick with the original oak due to cost and potential rot. These benches only lasted about five years. Replacing the 1x4 set with a single 2x4 would be an option to keep it dimensionally close and eliminating some of the cupping/warping I saw. I'm not thrilled with the idea of using pressure-treated wood. I've thought of making polished concrete slabs but don't know how they'd hold up outside. I'm open to other materials.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Rick
I can use some ideas on constructing a couple of benches for my wife's church. The benches are positioned at the entrance of a grotto and have severe rot. They need to be replaced. At one time they looked pretty nice, originally made of a series of oak 1x4's with 1/2" spacers. The 1x4's are 4ft long and they are in sets of 2, then a spacer, then another set of two 1x4's, and so on for a total bench width of 19.5". The tube-steel legs are mounted in the concrete pad, so I'm pretty much restricted to using those, which are in pretty good shape. The series of 1x4's and spacers are held together with long bolts.
I'm reluctant to stick with the original oak due to cost and potential rot. These benches only lasted about five years. Replacing the 1x4 set with a single 2x4 would be an option to keep it dimensionally close and eliminating some of the cupping/warping I saw. I'm not thrilled with the idea of using pressure-treated wood. I've thought of making polished concrete slabs but don't know how they'd hold up outside. I'm open to other materials.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Rick