How to Build an Outdoor Sofa | House One | This Old House

This Old House DIY expert Jenn Largesse shares how to build this handsome three-seater outdoor sofa from 2×4 boards.This Old House DIY expert Jenn Largesse shares how to build this handsome three-seater outdoor sofa from 2×4 boards. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. To see the steps and tools/materials for this project, go to ThisOldHouse.com [https://ift.tt/DXrUk57] Cost: About $165 (not including stain and polyurethane) Time: About 4 hours Difficulty: 1/5 There’s no debate that all-weather outdoor furniture and accessories can cost a pretty penny—especially when shopping during the peak spring or summer season. Enter this clean-lined outdoor sofa. Made from inexpensive 2×4 boards, the project requires only a few basic tools. After you cut the lumber to size, pocket-hole joinery makes assembly quick and easy. For the cost of a few cushions—I found mine online for $35 per set (one seat and one back cushion)—and a few hours of work in the shop, you can have this comfortable couch for a fraction of what you’d pay in most stores. Once assembled, stained, and protected with exterior polyurethane or paint, this sturdy outdoor sofa will let you focus on what matters most— entertaining friends and family—for many summers to come. Building an Outdoor Sofa: Before You Begin For this project I hand-selected the best-looking 2×4×8' boards—sold as “studs”—from my home center. Using dimensional lumber is the most affordable option, but bear in mind that the boards come with rounded edges and grading stamps, so you’ll need to spend some time sanding to transform them into stain-grade stock. If you have access to a workshop, you can run the boards through a thickness planer or use a table saw to remove the rounded edges. You can substitute a naturally weather-resistant wood, such as cedar or cypress, but keep in mind that this would double the cost of the wood used in this project. Cut list: • 2x4 front legs – 2 @ 28 1/2 inches • 2x4 back legs – 2 @ 30 inches • 2x4 armrests – 2 @ 23 1/2 inches • 2x4 side crosspieces – 6 @ 22 inches • 2x4 seat frame – 2 @ 68 inches • 2x4 seat slats – 11 @ 22 inches • 2x4 backrest boards – 2 @ 68 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: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Materials Cushion sets (3) [amzn.to/3qsicbF] 2×4×8' boards (10) [homedepot.sjv.io/4PJrvn] 2½" exterior-rated pocket-hole screws [homedepot.sjv.io/Mm5DMq] Exterior wood glue [amzn.to/3IYWr9K] Sandpaper (various grits) [amzn.to/3quAsRC] Stain (1 quart) [amzn.to/3NhL3s9] Polyurethane (1 quart) [amzn.to/3qrX5Gq] Lint-free cloths [amzn.to/43JKZGV] Tools Tape measure [https://amzn.to/3qzmMof] Miter saw [https://amzn.to/3Nd0eCO] Drill/driver [https://amzn.to/43rqb7a] Driver bits [https://amzn.to/3oINWc3] Pocket-hole jig [https://amzn.to/3oMj0aN] Random-orbit sander [https://amzn.to/3qyjEcd] Paintbrush [https://amzn.to/3IUC6lV] 4" paint roller [https://amzn.to/43p2qNj] Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/0rRW6G2 About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG How to Build an Outdoor Sofa | House One | This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/