garden bench

[Kristina J]

I have some decking left over, size 28 x 120, which I would like to build a very simple garden bench from. The dimensions should be 2.5 meters with a width of 0.60. I plan to screw the seating part onto a frame of 45 x 45 studs, which I also have left over, and I want to make the "legs" from the same studs, screwing/gluing them together in a square, alternately so there is space between every other stud (as I have seen in a picture). My question now is, do I need to have additional support in the middle of the 2.5-meter-long bench?

 

[Testarn]

Hello! I'm a bit unclear about how you plan to make the legs, but it's irrelevant for the answer. I think you need support in the middle. Standard decking in 28x120 is built on joists with 60 cm c/c, and the load is "only" one person at a time. On the bench, 3-5 people can sit, and then it will likely deflect quite a bit. Depending on the attachment with the legs, it will probably "hold," but there's a risk of the attachment breaking or feeling a bit wobbly.

With the proposed leg construction, could you add legs in the middle afterward? If so, you can build it without and then add legs in the middle afterward if it feels unstable.

 

[Kristina J]

Hello! I'm a bit unclear about how you plan to make the legs, but that's irrelevant to the answer. I think you need support in the middle. Common decking in 28x120 is built on beams with 60 cm centers and then the load is "only" one person at a time. On the bench, 3-5 people can sit, and then it will likely flex quite a bit.
Depending on the attachment with the legs, it will probably "hold," but there's a risk that the attachment will break or feel a bit wobbly.

With the proposed leg construction, could you add legs in the middle afterwards? If so, you can build it without and then mount legs in the middle afterwards if it feels unstable.

Thanks, that's what I'll do!