Got a tricky spot in your garden or patio where no seat seems to fit just right? Need a budget friendly accent? Please say hello to this nifty concrete bench! The best part is you can easily customize the size and make it bigger or smaller.
Things you will need:
- 6 Hollow double blocks (end pieces) and 4 single hollow blocks
- 4x4 treated lumber (3 pieces)
- Porch and floor paint
- Paint roller and brush
- Wood stain
- Caulking gun and landscape adhesive
- Disposable gloves
- Drop Cloth
- Paint liner and tray
When dealing with large and expansive concrete surfaces, as well as inside concrete blocks, it is recommended to use a combination of rolling and brushing to ensure proper adhesion. Though spray paint is an option, it may necessitate more paint. Opting for porch and floor specialty paint is perfect for enduring outdoor weather conditions. This type of paint is available at Sutherlands in various pre-mixed colors, this for our project, we have chosen Iron Gray. Let dry as instructed by the type of paint.
Now let’s make the seat. The original 4x4 is about 12 feet long. For easier transporting, Sutherlands staff is happy to cut them. We have 3 pieces of 4 ft wide for our seating. You can stain or paint treated lumbuer in any color of your choosing. This one is Early American 203 from Minwax.
We recommend assembling the bench where you want it. These can be quite heavy to move. Use a caulking gun to attach all the loose pieces together. Thread 4x4 seat into each hallowed block as shown. You can glue the wood onto concrete, but it is not necessary.
This is the final bench design. However, after testing it, we found that it is rather uncomfortable to sit on. To improve comfort, consider using seat cushions. If you opt for this, ensure that the bench's width and depth match the size of the cushion.
You can turn this into sectional pieces by adding another section on either side (pic 1). Perhaps you can add another layer of bricks to make an end table on the sides (pic 2). Imagine all the possibilities (pic 3)!
