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A patio coffee table built almost entirely from cheap furring strips, with a slatted top that drains rain and a lower shelf that stiffens the whole thing.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breadboard ends | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 23 1/2" | 1x4 | ☐ |
| Top supports | 8 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 45 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Front and back legs | 4 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 17 1/4" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Leg sides | 4 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 17 1/4" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Top side aprons | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 18 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Top front and back aprons | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 42" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Tabletop boards Spaced 1/2" apart so rain drains through. | 8 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 41" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Bottom shelf supports | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 21 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom shelf top pieces (1x2) | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 45 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom shelf top pieces (1x3) | 6 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 45 1/2" | 1x3 | ☐ |
| Bottom shelf side aprons | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 18 1/2" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Bottom shelf front and back aprons | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 42" | 1x2 | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1x4 board, 4 ft (Douglas Fir) Breadboard ends. | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1x2 furring strip, 8 ft (Douglas Fir) Buy a couple extra and sort for straight ones. | 9 each | ☐ |
| 1x3 furring strip, 8 ft (Douglas Fir) | 10 each | ☐ |
| Exterior wood screws, 1-1/4" and 2" Coated deck screws — plain steel rusts and streaks outdoors. | 120 each | ☐ |
| Waterproof wood glue | 6 oz | ☐ |
| Wood filler, exterior | 4 oz | ☐ |
| Exterior paint or stain and topcoat | 24 oz | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Circular Saw, Drill / Driver, Pencil. Materials: 1x4 board, 4 ft, 1x2 furring strip, 8 ft, Exterior wood screws, 1-1/4" and 2", Waterproof wood glue
On the bottom face of each breadboard end, mark where the eight top supports land. The outer supports use a different gap than the middle ones and there's a 1-1/4" inset at each end — follow the plan's numbers, don't space them evenly by eye. Fasten with 1-1/4" screws and waterproof glue; screws are the right call here for strength.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x2 furring strip, 8 ft, 1x3 furring strip, 8 ft, Exterior wood screws, 1-1/4" and 2", Waterproof wood glue
Each leg is a 1x3 face with a 1x2 wrapping one edge, making an L that looks like solid stock from both show faces. Glue and screw them up, keeping the ends flush.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Exterior wood screws, 1-1/4" and 2", Waterproof wood glue
Fasten the legs to the top support assembly with 2" screws and glue. You don't need to drive through the top. If you want to beef the table up later, you can add screws down through the breadboard ends into the leg tops.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 1x3 furring strip, 8 ft, Exterior wood screws, 1-1/4" and 2", Waterproof wood glue
Fasten the side aprons, then the front and back aprons, around the perimeter to frame the top and stiffen the leg assembly. Keep the frame square as you go.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x3 furring strip, 8 ft, Exterior wood screws, 1-1/4" and 2", Waterproof wood glue
Space the eight top boards 1/2" apart. Flip the table and fasten up through the supports into the underside of each board so no screw holes show on top. Use glue and 1-1/4" screws. If you're skipping the bottom shelf, you're done — but the shelf adds real rigidity, so read on.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: 1x2 furring strip, 8 ft, 1x3 furring strip, 8 ft, Exterior wood screws, 1-1/4" and 2", Waterproof wood glue
Fasten the shelf supports to the legs, then lay the alternating 1x2/1x3 shelf boards across them, fastening from underneath with 1-1/4" screws and glue. Wrap the shelf aprons around with 2" screws. This ties all four legs together low and stops the table racking.
Tools: Random Orbit Sander. Materials: Wood filler, exterior, Exterior paint or stain and topcoat
Fill screw holes and gaps with exterior filler, then sand the whole table smooth — furring is rough, so budget time. Prime and paint, or stain and topcoat, with an exterior-rated product. This table lives outdoors; the finish is what buys it years.