How to Build a Backless Bench (Part One)

A backless wooden bench is a great addition to any backyard. It creates seating and adds ambience to your yard. Not only that, but it is pretty simple to make, so it is a fun and easy project for the beginner carpenter.
Step One: Using a 1-by-8 pine board, measure and cut one piece of wood 30 inches long (for the backless bench top) and two pieces of the pine 18 inches long for the legs.
Step Two: Measure and cut two pieces of wood from the 1-by-4 pine board. Cut each of these pieces 30 inches long. They will be used for the backless bench sides.
Step Three: From the 1-by-2 pine board, measure and cut two 20 inch long pieces for braces for the backless bench.
Step Four: Place a "v" on one end of each leg piece, 2 inches from each long side and 5 inches up from the bottom. Cut out the "v" using a jigsaw.
Step Five: On a level work surface, stand one of the legs on its top end. Then set a brace on one long side and position it against the leg at a 90-degree angle. Drill two pilot holes from the outside of the leg and into the end of the brace. Insert the wood screws into the pilot holes and attach the brace to the leg. Repeat to attach the other leg to the other end of the brace.

Keeping White Furniture Clean

Wooden furniture can be painted virtually any color, to create a unique look that is perfect for your backyard. One of my personal favorites is white paint. I think it gives your outdoor furniture a crisp, clean, classic look.
Regrettably, this look can be somewhat difficult to maintain over time, if you do not routinely care for your white furniture. White is an incredibly difficult color to keep clean. Because it is so light, it will show even the tiniest amounts of dirt and grime, ruining the look of your furniture. Unfortunately, with painted wooden furniture, you have to be very careful about what cleaner you use. In fact, the best care is in most cases the least invasive cleaning possible. Many polishes and waxes will damage the paint and the color.
Therefore, to keep your furniture clean, vacuum it regularly with a brush attachment, and wipe off dirt and smudges with a sponge or soft rag. Be sure just to use water and a mild soap. Avoid strong cleaners, because they can strip the paint off the furniture or cause the color to fade. If you need to use wax, use a hard paste wax no more than once a year.

How to Keep Your Wood Clean

Regular cleaning is essential to keep your handcrafted wood products at their best. Daily cleaning can prevent the build-up of dirt and stains, and will keep your wood looking beautiful, longer. It also keeps you from having to spend a really long time cleaning or damaging the wood with harsh cleaners. Here are a few tips for how to keep you wooden furniture clean with daily cleaning.

• Be sure to dust your furniture daily because gritty dust can scratch wood surfaces. You can use either a feather duster or a cloth. Dusting everyday keeps grime from building up on your furniture.
• Clean up spills right away to avoid stains.
• After cleaning, be sure to wipe up any excess water or cleaner with a soft, dry cloth because standing water can cause your furniture to warp.
An excellent product to use for cleaning wood is Murphy’s Oil Soap. There are many different varieties of this cleaner from which you can choose. Click here to find the right Murphy’s product for caring for your wooden furniture.
A little discipline in cleaning and caring for handcrafted wood products will save you time doing heavy cleaning later, and will also keep your furniture in the best shape it can possibly be.

Give Your Furniture an Instant Weathered Look

Let’s say you’ve just purchased some brand new outdoor furniture. It sure is beautiful, but it looks out of place because it is so new. Perhaps it stands out next to your older furniture, or maybe you just want your furniture to have an old, “weathered” feel. Regardless of your reasoning, it is quite easy to create a battered look in your backyard.

Several different manufacturers produce bleaching or weathering stains. These stains give your wood a weathered, gray look. It is also recommended that you periodically apply clear water repellant with mildewcide.

One of the highest recommended of these finishes is Cabot Weathering Stain Silver Gray. This stain is a deep penetrating, oil-based finished that lightens and protects exterior wood. It is a light color and immediately creates a natural silver gray "weathered" look while still allowing the grain, texture and color variations of the wood to show through. This stain is water repellent is also crack, peel and blister-repellant, as long as you apply according to the directions.

Cabot’s is just one of the different options for creating a weathered look. Do your research, and figure out which stain is perfect for your furniture. All of them are easy to apply, and give your wood an aged, grayish appearance.

Dealing with Mildew on Cypress Wood

If you leave your cypress wood unfinished and untreated, it is inevitable that you will soon be dealing with a mildew problem. Mildew is unsightly and damaging to your wood. Unfortunately, you can’t just apply a finishing treatment over top of the mildew; it will continue to spread and destroy your wood.
Luckily, there is no need to panic at the first sign of mildew on your furniture. Your wood CAN be salvaged; you just need to eliminate the mildew before moving forward in saving your furniture.
There are several products on the market that can kill mildew on your wood. However, a treatment by Advantage Cleaners called Spor-X seems to be the most recommended by professionals. Use it to annihilate the existing mildew, then power wash your furniture to destroy any remaining trace of the spores on your furniture. Once the wood dries, apply another treatment of Spor-X to prevent future mildew growth.
After you have been through this whole ordeal, be sure to apply some sort of chemical treatment to your cypress wood so that you don’t let mildew attack your furniture again. You can use opaque paint, or if you want to maintain the natural look of the cypress, use a clear or translucent varnish.
If you haven’t had a problem with mildew yet, but your wood is still untreated, apply a chemical finish as soon as possible to prevent mildew infestation! Trust me; it is much less work in the long run than battling with mildew.

How to Protect Your Cedar Wood Doghouse

Cedar is an excellent choice for a doghouse. One of the biggest advantages of cedar wood is its ability to accept many different kinds of finishes. It is crucial to finish your doghouse, because it will be located outdoors and therefore, face different types of weather. If you do not finish a doghouse, the wood will warp, crack, decay or otherwise fall apart. Unprotected and unfinished wood cannot stand up to nature on it own. Plus, your doghouse needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear your dog will cause it, which makes finishing your doghouse even more important than finishing other outdoor furniture.

Cedar wood protection is simple, as long as you do your research. Paint, or other opaque finishes are the best choice for your doghouse, because they provides the most protection and does not need reapplied as often. However, other choices may be more aesthetically appealing. These options include semi-transparent stains, oils, and natural finishes. They need to be reapplied more often, but they have a natural wood look, which I think looks a lot prettier. Be sure to research all you different options, and follow the directions for use and reapplication. Cedar wood protection is essential for your doghouse, so your beloved puppy has a safe quality place to live!