Having an outdoor picnic is a great way to spend a spring day with the family. Unfortunately, many manufactured folding tables need perfectly level ground and no wind to function properly. A slight bump sends them over, taking everyone’s lunch with it.
Build your own stationary picnic table and save the price of a manufactured model. If you are renting, check with the homeowner first and get permission in writing. The table must be left behind, or removed when you move.
This project requires some heavy labor. It is easier to work with a helper or two, or to do the project over several weekends. The finished tabletop will measure four- feet wide by a little over eight feet long. You can adjust the size to fit your needs. Use folding chairs or build a bench similar to the table design. Of course, that requires more digging and more materials.
You will need:
- · Four bags of cement
- · Post hole digger or shovel
- · Four 4-by-4 posts- for a fancier table, use carved or turned solid porch posts with 4-by-4 ends
- ·.
- · Roofing tar -this is available at DIY stores in the roofing section. Check with a friend who has finished a roofing project to see if he or she has any leftover.
- · Wood preservative for underground posts
- ·. The compound has been changed, so the lumber no longer contains arsenic.
Check for level at each step of the project.
Step One:
Choose a spot for your picnic table. Call your local utility company for a free inspection of your yard before you dig. This inspection will help you avoid gas, water and phone lines.
Step Two:
Mark a rectangle on the ground 24″ by 54″. The posts will be installed at the four corners.
Dig four holes at the corner locations, each 24″ deep.
Step Three:
Cut each 4-by-4 to a 51″ length. Soak the cut end in wood preservative. It does not matter if the cut end will be sticking out of the ground. Moisture can still get into the wood. Fill a 5 gallon bucket and soak all four posts at the same time. After 24 hours, soak the other ends just for added protection. Remove after 24 hours and allow to dry.
Coat the end going into the ground with roofing tar up to 24.”
This step can be accomplished first, before the holes are dug.
Dispose of the wood preservative according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Step Four:
Set the four posts in the ground, tar side down. Ensure all posts are the same height out of the ground. This may take a little time. Patience here is a virtue.
Before pouring cement, I found a way to ensure all posts are level without trying to coax each one in place individually.
Cut two pieces of 2-by-4, each 24″ long. Secure them to the ends of the rectangle with decking screws. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4, each 54″ long. Attach these to the long sides of the rectangle. Place them to the top of the posts to help level them as well as keep them square.
Ensure there is at least 2-3″ of space around each post for the cement to hold it properly. You can enlarge the holes, but do not dig them deeper.
Mix and pour the cement into the postholes. If the day is dry, cover the tops with water to help keep it from cracking. Allow the cement at least 48 hours to cure properly.
Step Five:
Cut the two 2-by-6 boards into 48″ lengths. Center them over the posts at the 24″ end and attach to the posts with 4 decking screws. The flat side of the boards will be on top of the posts. You can drive decking screws through the boards into the 2-by-4’s for extra stability.
Paint the end grains of the 2-by-6 boards with wood preservative.
Step Six:
Lay the 2-by-4’s across the 2-by-6’s and space them evenly. Center them on the table so there are equal distances on all four sides. Secure them in place with decking screws.
Paint the end grains with wood preservative. Stain and seal or prime and paint the table.
Carriage bolts, washers and cap nuts may be used instead of decking screws, but these must be tightened periodically. They do have the advantage of making it easier to replace cracked, rotted or broken boards.
A trim board can be made by ripping a 2-by-4 lengthwise and attached to the ends of the table like a frame. Miter the edges for added decoration.
You now have a table that will not move or tip over when the wind blows or someone bumps into it.
Your new table can become the entertaining focal point of your yard.
If desired, you can build this table for your patio. The posts should be 27.5″ high.
Source: David & Jeanie Stiles (1995), “Garden Projects You Can Build,” Shelburne, Vermont, Chapters Publishing Ltd.
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