Wooden benches for DIY
A bench made of wood is one of the oldest pieces of furniture that was used by man. Previously, in order to create a convenient shop, it was enough to take an ordinary wooden snag, carefully trim it with a stone ax and ready. It was she who became the great-great-grandfather of modern furniture, in particular wooden benches, which are relevant and in demand to this day. It is the bench that can become a sought-after element, both in the house and in the enclosing territory of the cottage.
Style
At first glance, it seems that the bench is not an important element of landscape design, but this is completely not so. Experts confirm the fact that it is from the bench that garden design begins and ends with it. Why, then, is there such a rich variety of choices and why come up with original bizarre benches if they are not so important and no one can enjoy them?
It is because of its importance that you need to pay a little attention to the placement of a piece of furniture. It is best to install it where the most beautiful and charming view opens, the bench itself should become an elegant accent, which complements the perfect beauty of the country garden.
A convenient bench in the garden of a summer cottage area can become exactly the place where you can retire, breaking away from the hustle and bustle, relax and take a breath, just enjoy the view of nature, feel unity with it. For complete enjoyment, you can read a good book, listen to quiet and calm music, or just go on a mental journey. In addition to aesthetic use, it is also possible functional, because the bench is primarily a piece of furniture, as well as a “weapon” that can be used for zoning the adjacent area.
The garden bench for a summer residence has a number of functional purposes, namely:
- Front - is installed at the porch of the house, near the entrance. It is a wooden bench with decorative ornaments, hand-carved, can be used as a venue for a photo shoot.
- Dining - is located near the barbecue or barbecue, on the terrace or in any other place where the family prefers to dine outdoors.
- Garden - a small bench that is installed near flower beds, flower beds or in areas where you can sit down and relax a bit during land work in the garden of a summer cottage. Often these are simple benches without any decorative decorations or unnecessary frills.
- Relaxation - often such benches are “hidden” somewhere in the most quiet and secluded corner of the summer cottage, away from anyone's eyes. This place should be the most quiet and comfortable so that you can enjoy your vacation in the fresh air. The main requirement for such a bench is comfort, in addition, it can be of impressive size so that you can not only sit down, but also lie down.
The optimal dimensions for the bench that will be placed on the territory of the summer cottage:
- Height - about half a meter, the legs will reach the ground, but not much rest, which means they can relax.
- The width of the seat is 50-55 cm, in addition, you can make a tilt of 10-15 degrees so that it is more convenient to lean and as if to “fall through” inside.
- The height of the back is from 30 cm, but not more than half a meter, it is best to also place it at an angle of 15-45 degrees so that you can lean on it, lie down slightly on it.
- The armrests (if installed) should be located at a height of 15-29 cm from the seat.
The best material for making benches is wood, the most resistant to moisture and decay - larch, cherry, hazel and oak. The best option is a teak, which contains natural resins in its breed, which protect the piece of furniture from rot and various insects that destroy tree species.
The shape and appearance of the shop depends only on the whim and imagination of the person that will create it. Having engaged in the construction of a bench, you can personally bring all ideas to life. If Country style was chosen, then the shape of the shop should be as simple as possible, and the color should be brown or natural. If you build a bench in the Provence style, you will have to make an old bench, and then paint it in white or the color of a blue hue (blue, purple, blue).
If the cottage has an oriental inclination and the bench should correspond to this, then it can be made of bamboo. In general, benches with a similar wood species should be installed near wooden dachas.
Bench making
Often, a bench is made of wooden bars, slats or boards since they are easy to manufacture, have a long service life. Approximate parameters of the shop are indicated above, the length of the shop depends on desire and opportunity. It is important to note that the slats cannot be placed closely, as they can begin to rot due to stagnation of rainwater. You need to either position the slats at a short distance, or use one continuous wide board.
In order to create an original bench, it is not necessary to spend money on expensive materials, because a masterpiece can even be created from branches and roots. Having correctly processed natural wood, pallets and fallen wooden tables, you can create an unusual and interesting bench with natural shapes.
The most elementary example of an ascetic bench is the "Monastic" bench, which is made of sawn wood along the trunk, mounted on two round supports. The support is made of small pieces of the trunk of a small diameter.
Garden Bench Care
High humidity is the main problem for wooden benches, so it is best to use benches of the mobile type, which for the winter period can be brought into the barn or house. It is also best to install the bench on special rubber or brick linings in order to prevent the entry of soil moisture into the tree.
A number of recommendations:
- Regular painting is required (varnishing). It is best to do the painting in the spring, first clean the bench from the previous paint.
- During the heat, it must be placed in the shade, since the constant direct rays of the sun damage the quality of the tree.
- If rot appeared on one of the boards, then it urgently needs to be replaced in order to avoid the spread of the problem.
- A regular check of fasteners (screws, nails and bolts) is necessary, if necessary, it is necessary to fix them (tighten) so that the structure does not loosen.