How to Build a Rectangle Wood Patio Table

Building your own wood patio table adds an attractive and practical element to your patio. Adding a table to your patio will turn the patio into an extra eating or entertaining area, perfect for lazy weekend breakfasts or brunches, or a summer evening get-together. A simple, slatted tabletop design will suit most patio arrangements and is straightforward to construct. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Lay two planks of 48-inch 2-by-2 lumber flat on your work surface with 24 inches between them. Insert two planks of 24-inch 2-by-2 lumber between the ends of the 48-inch planks to form a rectangle.

2

Glue the ends of the 24-inch planks to the inside of the 48-inch plank ends, then use corner clamps to keep the rectangle shape.

3

Drill two pilot holes, sized a little smaller than 2 1/2-inch wood screws, through the outside of the 48-inch planks into the ends of the 24-inch planks. This is the apron frame of the patio table.

4

Insert a 44-inch piece of 2-by-2 lumber between the 24-inch sides of the apron frame, centered. This is a brace plank for the apron frame, as well as being a support for the slatted table top.

5

Glue and secure the brace plank with screws as you did for securing the apron frame together.

6

Position a 30-inch 4-by-4 piece of lumber upright in each corner of the apron frame. These are the patio table legs. Ensure they are fitted tightly into the corners, with the bottom of the leg flush with the bottom of the apron frame. Hold them in position with G-clamps.

7

Drill two pilot holes, sized slightly smaller than 3-inch lag bolts, through the outside of the apron frame into each side of the legs. That is, two pilot holes through the 48-inch side of the frame, two through the 24-inch side, four per leg.

8

Secure the legs to the apron frame with 3-inch lag bolts, then remove the clamps and turn the frame and legs over so they are standing on the legs.

9

Evenly space 14 1-by-3 slats measure 28 inches across the apron frame. A fraction less than half an inch will be between each slat, with 2 inches overhang on each side of the apron frames long side.

10

Secure the tabletop slats in place with 1 1/2-inch wood screw through each slat into the apron frame side and the brace plank -- three screws per slat.

11

Finish the patio table in the wood finish of your choice. UV protecting paint, stains or varnishes are recommended to help the table resist the weathering it will receive outdoors. Follow the finish manufacturers recommended application method, number of coats and drying times.