Assembling a Built-in Bench Seat for your Kitchen Table

 

Most of us will always encounter problems when it come to adequate seating in the kitchen area. There is always a solution for these kinds of issues. You do not need to add large chairs that will only create cluttering within your dining or kitchen area. Simply by assembling built-in bench seating will always help you in providing extra seating whenever you needed them. It is the most ideal solution because built-in bench seating provides you with suitable option and only takes up a small portion of your kitchen area without the need for you to sacrifice your large dining table.

To assemble a built-in bench seat for kitchen table, you need:

  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil and paper
  • 2-by-4-inch lumber
  • Table saw or jigsaw
  • Stud finder
  • 3-inch wood screws
  • 1/2-inch plywood
  • Wood filler
  • Fine-grain sandpaper
  • Paint or stain
  • Throw pillows or seat cushions

Assembling a Built-in Bench Seat for Kitchen Table

How to Assemble a Built-in Bench Seat for your Kitchen Table

  • First thing that you need to do is to determine which section of the wall that you want to use for installing your built-in bench seat for your kitchen table.
    • Take your measuring tape to measure its width accordingly.
    • To make things easy for you, you can make use of your kitchen chairs in order to get the correct height and depth for your bench.
    • Make sure you record all the measurements on a piece of paper so that you will not forget the correct measurement.
  • The next step that you need to take is to cut four pieces of the 2-by-4 lumber according to your required measure that you have determine earlier for your built-in bench by using table saw or jigsaw.
    • Make sure that you cut eight pieces of 2-by-4 lumber following the depth measurement of your required bench minus 4 inches.
    • You also need to cut another eight more pieces following the height measurement of your bench minus 8 inches.
  • If there are studs in your existing wall, you need to find them by using a stud finder.
    • Once you find them, you have to mark their position using a pencil right below the height that you measured for your bench.
    • You do not have to worry about the pencil mark that you made on the wall because it will be concealed once your built-in bench is installed.
  • After that, you have to lay one of the four longer pieces of 2-by-4 lumber on the lumber’s narrow edge on the surface of the floor flush with your kitchen wall.
    • Next, you need to position another equal-length piece of your lumber in a flat position against your kitchen wall just above it in order for the top edge to be able to sit according to your desired height for your bench.
    • Then, you can proceed to secure both pieces of your lumber onto the wall using 3-inch wood screws. You have to drive the screws through the lumber and into your wall studs that you have marked earlier.
  • Then, you can proceed to place four of your pieces of 2-by-4 lumber that you have cut according to the depth of your bench seat minus 4 inches on your kitchen floor on their narrow ends while its edges flush with the lumber that you have installed earlier.
    • After that, you need to position one piece of the lumber at each end of your longer piece of lumber and make sure that you space the other two lumbers evenly between them.
  • For your outer two pieces of lumber, you need to secure them tightly by driving 3-inch wood screws into the wall studs.
    • As for the other remaining two longer pieces of lumber should be secured using toe-nailing screws.
    • You need to position the remaining four equal-length pieces of lumber on top of the first four and ensure that their edge is butting against the upper horizontal piece of lumber.
    • The above same method has to be use in order to secure these four pieces of wood in its correct position.
  • Next step for you to do is to install your remaining two long pieces of 2-by-4 lumber parallel to the first two before you start to press the back side flat against the short lumber and perpendicular pieces that you have installed earlier.
    • Then, you can proceed by securing the longer pieces of lumber in place using 3-inch wood screws that you drive through the front of your lumber and into the shorter pieces behind.
  • After that, you need to slip the remaining pieces of 2-by-4 lumber in an upright position between cross braces located in the upper and lower of your bench seat frames.
    • One piece of the lumber should be positioned in each corner in a flat manner against your kitchen walls on either side of your window.
    • As for the other four remaining pieces below the interior cross braces where its edges should be aligned with the long and horizontal pieces of lumber.
  • By using toe-nailing 3-inch wood screws, you have to secure the upper and lower bench seat frames so that it will have vertical supports.
  • If you are building a bench seat with a wall-to-wall concept, you have to cut pieces of 1/2-inch plywood according to size in order to cover the front and top of your built-in bench seat.
    • If your bench seat is not built against a side wall either one or both of its sides, make sure that you cut the plywood covers to size.
    • Take the pieces of plywood and lay it flat against your wooden frame according to your correct position. You must ensure that they are secure in place by driving nails using a nail gun via the plywood into your wooden frame.
  • You must double check all the screw and nail holes that you used are already being covered with wood filler.
    • The filler should be allowed to dry thoroughly and always follow its manufacturer’s instruction whenever you are applying it.
    • After that, you need to sand the filler smooth by using fine-grain sandpaper.
    • If you feel it is necessary to paint or even stain your built-in bench seat, you can do so using any color of your preferred choice.
    • Leave the paint or stain to dry thoroughly before you start to use the bench seat.

If ever you decide to paint or stain your built-in bench seat instead of covering them with beadboard. Make sure that you counter-sink the screws deep enough enabling for you to cover over its head using wood filler.

  • If you want to create a more comfortable bench seat for your guest, you can simply place throw pillows or seat cushions on top of your built-in bench seat.
    • The bench seat should be placed at a comfortable gap between your kitchen table while the rest of your chairs can be arranged around the other sides of your table.

    Always remember that whenever you want to assemble a built-in bench seat for your kitchen table, you have to measure accurately.

    • For example, you need to measure the area that you intend place your built-in bench in order to find the right length, proper height and seat depth.
    • In order to assist you further and easier, you can also sketch out a five-sided box where the top should remain open. You need to transfer all the measurements that you have gathered onto the illustrations so that you can use them as your guide when you start to cut and assemble your built-in bench seat.

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