Custom wooden benches, built to order
A bench is the simplest piece of furniture and the easiest to get wrong. Too long and it will not tuck under the table, too deep and nobody sits back on it. I build benches one at a time in my Baltimore shop, sized to the room, the table or the wall they belong to.
The bench in the photograph
It started as an 1800s headboard that a family wanted to keep. I rebuilt it into an entry bench, so the heirloom stays in use rather than in storage.
Benches I build
- Dining benches, sized to your table.
- Entry and hall benches, for the spot where everyone sits to take their shoes off. For a mudroom built-in, see custom built-ins.
- Headboard benches, made from an old bed that means something.
- Garden and porch benches, in woods that stand up to weather.
- Memorial benches, for one person and one place. More on memorial benches.
More from the shop
Getting the size right
- Length. A dining bench usually runs about 12 inches shorter than the table, so it slides in between the legs.
- Height. Most seats sit about 18 inches off the floor, the same as a dining chair. Tell me if your table is taller or lower than usual.
- Depth. Backless benches are often 12 to 16 inches deep; a bench with a back needs more.
Send me the measurements of the table or the wall, and a photo of the room if you can.
The wood
Indoors, walnut, cherry, oak, maple and reclaimed wood all make good benches. Outdoors, I use white oak, black locust or cedar, finished with a water seal or spar urethane that wants a fresh coat about every two years, sooner in hard sun and weather. A bench can also come from a tree on your own property. How a piece from your own tree works.
Cost and timing
Every bench is quoted on its own, so there is no price list. Length, wood and a back or arms move the price. Most benches take four to six weeks from wood I already have dried.
Questions people ask
- How much does a custom bench cost?
- Every bench is quoted on its own, so there is no price list. Length, wood, and a back or arms move the price. Tell me what you have in mind and I will give you a number.
- How long does a custom bench take?
- Four to six weeks from wood I already have dried. A bench from your own tree takes longer, because the wood has to dry first.
- How long should a dining bench be?
- A common rule is about 12 inches shorter than the table, so it tucks in between the legs. Tell me your table's length and leg positions and I will size it to fit.
- Can a wooden bench live outside?
- Yes, in the right wood. White oak, black locust and cedar stand up to weather. I finish outdoor benches with a water seal or spar urethane and recommend a fresh coat about every two years, sooner in hard sun and weather.
- Do you deliver benches?
- I am based in Baltimore, and I collect trees and deliver across central Maryland and Washington DC. Further away, a bench can go by trailer or freight at your cost.
Start a bench
Tell me where it will go, how long it needs to be, and the wood you have in mind.
Start a commission(443) 534-7457tyler@oakleafcustomwoodworking.com