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Plan OL-009 · Frame collection

Frame L Sectional

The big outdoor living room. Two 3-seat one-arm units meet at a corner unit for an L about 110 inches each way, seating seven. Each unit fits on 8 ft boards and goes through a gate, and they lock together with two screws per seam. Corner on the left or right: both are in the plan, with the same open-frame arms, 17-inch seat and standard 24-inch cushions as the rest of the Frame collection.

$59for the plan · PDF + 3D guide, instant download
Skill
Level 1–2
Build time
About 3 weekends
Size
110" × 110" × 26"W × D × H
Lumber
34 boards, all 8 ft
Every version is in the plan
  • Corner on the right110 × 110 in
  • Corner on the left110 × 110 in

Each with its own cut list, shopping list, PDF and 3D guide, plus a finished-back version.

Build-ready or your money back. If anything in the plan doesn't work as drawn, email us within 30 days for a full refund.

Buy it finished$4,900+
Build it yourselfFrom $430pine lumber + hardware

You buy the materials at Home Depot, not here. Cedar: from $1,230. Cushions extra, from $64.

  • Printable plan and interactive 3D build guide
  • One-trip Home Depot shopping list
  • Yours to keep. Build it as many times as you like
What’s in the plan

97 parts in 3 units, only 4 lengths per unit.

Every part gets a letter you pencil on its end. The drawings, the cut list, the cutting diagrams and the 3D guide all use the same letters, so you always know exactly which board you are holding.

  • DrawingsFront, side and top views with dimensions
  • Cut listEvery part by letter, board and length
  • Cutting diagramsWhich part comes from which 8 ft board
  • 10 stepsEach with time, check and common mistake
Exploded view of the Frame L Sectional with every part labeled by letter
Free 3D preview

Try the build guide before you buy.

The first 2 of 10 steps are free. It’s exactly what you’ll follow in the garage, on your phone or laptop.

  • Watch each step build itself, board by board, screw by screw.
  • Spin and zoom the model with your finger or mouse.
  • Tap any board to see its letter and cut size.
Open the free preview
Try steps 1–2 free
Materials

One list. One trip to Home Depot.

ItemQty
2x8 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime6
2x6 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime8
2x4 × 8 ft pressure-treated pine, #2 Prime20
2-1/2" exterior wood screws, rated for treated lumber (hidden joints)127 (2 × 1 lb box)
2-1/2" exterior trim-head screws, rated for treated lumber (slats, arm tops)168 (2 × 1 lb box)
5" structural wood screws (GRK RSS or SPAX)48 (2 × 25-pack)
Behr semi-transparent stain & sealer, Cedar Naturaltone4 qt
Estimated build cost
$430–$470
Cushions: pick any 24 × 24 deep-seat set
  • BudgetHampton Bay CushionGuard 24 × 24 deep-seat setSeat and back, per seat · 7 needed$64
  • PremiumGreendale Sunbrella 24 × 24 deep-seat setSeat and back, per seat · 7 needed$112
Building in pine
  • Pick #2 Prime boards and sight down each one. Take the straightest and grab one spare of each size.
  • Treated pine comes wet. Stack the boards flat with scrap spacers between them, out of the sun, for 2–3 weeks before you cut. Dry boards don't shrink or twist after you build.
  • Use screws labeled for treated lumber (most coated exterior screws are).
  • Sand the faces and edges smooth, then stain once the wood is dry. A cedar-tone stain gives it the honey look in the photos.
  • Wear a dust mask when cutting and sanding treated wood, and never burn the scraps.

Estimates based on typical Home Depot prices; your store may vary. Same cuts and same steps in either wood. The list updates with the version you pick.

The build

10 steps · about 3 weekends

  1. 1Cut the partsFree in 3D1 hr 15 min
  2. 2Build the armFree in 3D40 min
  3. 3Stand the arm and fit the front45 min
  4. 4Add the back1 hr
  5. 5Add the cleats30 min
  6. 6Lay the seat slats1 hr
  7. 7Cap the arms20 min
  8. 8Build the second 3-seat one-arm unit (mirror image)about 8 hrs
  9. 9Build the corner unitabout 5 hrs
  10. 10Finish, join the units and add the cushions1 hr + drying

Good to know

How big is it?

About 110 inches along each side and 32 inches deep. It seats seven on standard 24 × 24 cushions, with one extra back cushion in the corner.

Can I build it a unit at a time?

Yes. Each unit is its own build with its own 3D guide: build a 3-seat unit one weekend and use it as a sofa with one open end, then add the corner and the second unit later.

How do the units join?

Their end boards touch, and two 2-1/2 inch screws go through one into the other at each seam. The cushions run over the seams. Back the screws out to move it.

Which tools do I need?

A drill/driver, a miter saw or circular saw, a tape measure, a speed square, two clamps and a sanding block. Every cut is a straight crosscut, and every joint is wood on wood with screws: no pocket holes, no glue-ups, no brackets.

Which cushions does it use?

Standard 24 × 24 deep-seat sets, one per seat, bought ready-made. Home Depot's Hampton Bay CushionGuard set is about $64 a seat, or a Sunbrella set about $112. The seat pocket is sized so the set fills it front to back with no bare wood showing, and the seat top lands at 17 inches.

What are the boards on the back?

Back uprights: a 2x4 on the back at each end and at every seat seam. They tie the back apron and both back rails into one stiff panel, so the long rails don't flex when three people lean back, and they stand on the floor as the back legs. Want it to look finished from behind? The plan also includes a finished-back version with vertical 2x6 boards across the whole back.

Can I build it in pine to save money?

Yes. Every version comes with a second shopping list in pressure-treated pine, with the same cuts and the same steps. Pine needs a couple of weeks to dry and a coat of cedar-tone stain, but costs about a third as much as cedar.

Does it match the Frame Lounge Chair?

Yes. Same open-frame arms, same 17-inch seat, same cushions and the same honey finish, so the chair and the sofa or sectional make a set.