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Sectionals are modular by definition, and this is the module: an armless three-seat frame that extends an outdoor sofa run around a corner or across a long patio wall. No arms means it disappears into the lineup — and it also means the piece NEEDS its neighbors, which is why the last step screws it to the adjacent sofas. An armless frame standing alone has nothing stopping a sideways scoot; attached, the whole sectional behaves as one heavy, stable unit. Don't skip the attachment screws.
Like the best of the cushion-first designs, the cut list is explicitly a template: it's drawn for three 24" x 24" cushions, and the source says plainly to alter it for yours. Measure the actual cushions, adjust the 69"/72" lengths accordingly, and the frame will fit like it was upholstered.
The frame itself is honest 2x4 work: a seat box squared by diagonals, six legs (the 28-1/2" spread at the feet is specified — it matches the mating sofa frames so the sectional lines up), a screwed-on back, and an optional back support inset 1/4". Exterior glue at every joint plus 2-1/2" to 3" screws; a sectional gets shoved around the patio constantly and glued joints are what shrug that off.
Build it after (or alongside) its companion sofas, match the finish, and the three-piece result reads as bought — except it fits YOUR patio corner exactly, which bought never does.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x4, 12 ftCut the 72" and 69" pieces from these — long stock wastes less against this list. | 6 each |
| 2x4, 8 ft | 1 each |
| Exterior screws, 2-1/2" to 3", self-tapping | 100 each |
| Exterior wood glue | 8 oz |
| Exterior stainMatch the companion sofas. | 1 qt |
| Outdoor cushions, 24" x 24"Three seat + three back. Not in the cost estimate; the frame is sized to them. | 6 each |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Seat frame rails2x4Sized to three 24" cushions — alter for yours. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 69" |
| Seat cross members2x4 | 6 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 25 1/2" |
| Leg pairs2x4 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 12 1/2" |
| Back and seat planks2x4 | 6 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 72" |
| Back rails2x4 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 69" |
Buy 11 boards at 8 ft.
11 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Assemble the seat box — two long rails, six cross members — with exterior glue and screws (pocket holes work too if you prefer hidden joinery). Square it by measuring both diagonals and adjusting until they match exactly.
Six cross members for three cushions is deliberate: a seat frame member lands under each cushion edge, so no cushion ever bridges an unsupported span.
Add the legs with the feet 28-1/2" apart — that number isn't arbitrary; it matches the companion sofa frames so the sectional's pieces sit at the same height and line. Glue and screws, two per joint minimum.
Screw the back planks to the tops of the back legs, then add the optional back support inset 1/4", screwed from the top and sides. The inset keeps the support's face behind the plane the back cushions rest on — it braces without printing a line into the cushions.
Sand, break the edges, and stain to match the rest of the sectional.
Then position it in the lineup and screw it to the adjacent sofa frames — the source calls this 'optimal support' and it's really structural necessity: armless pieces borrow their sideways stability from their neighbors. Cushions on, sectional complete, patio suddenly seats seven.
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