Article Surfing Archive

So, you've bought a wonderful patio set and you can't wait to get it together and start enjoying your new purchase. Great! Let's get to it. But wait, you have what seems like millions of different pieces of wood, screws, and things you've never seen before. You don't even know where to start. The good news is this: we are here to help. Just follow these five fantastic tips for an easy and painless way to have beautiful assembled outdoor furniture.

#1: First, make sure you have the right tools. Look at the directions (yes men - look at the directions) and check to see what tools you are going to need to assemble the furniture. Now, check your tool box and make sure you have the tools you will need. If you don't have the tools required to build your furniture, either borrow or buy them for your project. Having the right tools on hand will make the assembly much easier.

#2: Next, we want to make sure that safety precautions are taken before you start on your outdoor furniture project. Have a pair of safety goggles, as well as work gloves to keep your hands and eyes safe. If you are using circular saws or any tools for cutting, make sure those tools are sharpened and ready to use. A dull tool is much more dangerous than a sharp one.

#3: Before you start putting the pieces together, make sure that you have all of the pieces that you need. Read through the directions and make sure that every piece is accounted for. If you are missing pieces, contact your retailer and they should send you the pieces that you are missing, or send a whole new product. You do not want to get halfway through your construction and realize that you are missing an important piece of your project. Next you can separate all of the pieces into different piles for easy access. Most of the time, the directions will label each piece of wood and different screws and nuts with letters or numbers. This will make assembly so much easier when everything is already separated and close at hand.

#4: The fourth tip is included for those of you that will need to be cutting wood pieces for your outdoor furniture. First of all make sure that you know how to make the cuts. It is always a good idea to practice the cuts on scrap pieces of wood before you make the final cuts for your project. It is also very important to measure your cuts to eliminate any wrong cuts that might ruin your beautiful new furniture. As my wise father once said, measure twice and cut once.

#5: The last tip is a fun one that will make your time assembly time much faster. It is a great idea to involve a friend or family member in your project. Your friend may have the tools that you don't have, or more experience in putting together wood pieces. Even if your friend is a novice like you, it is still good to have an extra pair of hands to help out. Plus it is much more fun (and safe) working with a friend than working by yourself.

Now go get started on putting together your stunning outdoor pieces and enjoy your new space. Then, invite all of your friends and family over for a block party to show off your hard work. Who knows, you might even get a few friends that want your help on their next project!