DIY Network

Installing a Bench Seat Back Karl Champley creates more seating! From "DIY to the Rescue" episode DTTR-707

DIY to the Rescue gives additional seating along the windows.

At the Tampa Theatre, DIY to the Rescue Karl Champley gets help adding seat backs to the benches that the Beck Group installed under the windows in the green room. First, volunteer Holli Stewart masters saw circular saw cutting out the back supports. Then, Karl shows theatre volunteers Elizabeth Christenberry and Renee Dabbs how a nail gun makes putting the seat back together a snap.

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Materials:

circular saw
wood
nail gun
trim wood
sand paper
paint

Steps:

1. First built a 24" high pony wall (tall) 18" away from the windows.

2. Then, anchor it to the floor with tapcons.

3. Build a 4" pony wall (short) on top of the existing window ledge. Both being at the same height.

Figure A

4. Installed 2x4 horizontal joists from the outside pony wall (tall) to the inside pony wall (short) and then put 3/4" plywood on the top side as the seat, and 3/4" plywood on the vertical face of the tall pony wall to form the bottom bench part of the seat (Figure A).

5. Next, cut 1x6 pine to lengths of 18" and tapered them from 5 1/2" to1/2", these will be the vertical studs of the back rest (Figures B & C).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

6. Cut top and bottom plates made of 1x6 (bottom) and 1x4 (top) and lay them out at 16" on center (Figure D).

Figure E

7. Nail the plates to the studs to form the back rest and then install 3/4" plywood on the face (the part your back rests on) (Figure E).

Figure F

8. Before installing it on top of the bottom part of the bench, install 1/4" plywood on the face that looks at the street (Figure F).

9. Now that the bench is nailed together it is almost complete. Next attach back to the base, and then nail 1/4" plywood to the face of the back rest (Figures G & H)

Figure G

Figure H

10. Add 3/4" wood trim cut to fit outside using a nail gun (Figure I).

11. Finally, sand the bench down and you are ready to paint (Figure J).

Figure I

Figure J

RESOURCES :

For more information about The Tampa Theatre and it's restoration, visit www.tampatheatre.org .

The Beck Group

www.beckgroup.com .