How To Build A Weatherproof Cedar Patio Bench

Cedar is nature's perfect outdoor furniture wood. Its natural oils resist rot and insects, it's lightweight enough to move seasonally, and it weathers to a beautiful silver-gray.

Use mortise-and-tenon joinery at critical stress points rather than just screws. The seat should have a slight backward angle (5-10 degrees).

For finishing, tung oil maintains the original color. Or let it weather naturally to silver-gray.