How to build a block bench in your garden

Try your hand at concreting and brickwork with this solid garden bench. Painted in your choice of colour, its rough and ready finish means the odd mistake here or there just adds to the charm! While you're at it, why not also add a fire pit to accompany your new garden nook?

Gather your supplies

Formwork sides (2) 70 x 35 x 1720mm pine
Formwork ends (2) 70 x 35 x 520mm pine
Concrete blocks (16) 390 x 190 x 190mm
Concrete block caps (8) 390 x 190 x 40mm
Set-out paint
75mm screws
200mm trench mesh
Cable ties
Concrete (6 bags)
Wood float
Yellow brickie’s sand
Cement
Brickie’s trowel
Acrylic render (2 bags)
Steel float
Plasterer’s hawk
Dulux 1 Step Primer, Sealer and Undercoat
Dulux Weathershield Low Sheen Acrylic in colour of choice

Here’s how...

Step 1

Mark out position of garden bench and remove grass. Butt formwork sides into ends and screw together using 75mm screws to make
a rectangle. Lay formwork in your location and mark on soil. Excavate to create a level surface. Put formwork back in place and ensure level.

Step 2

Cut trench mesh to 1590mm lengths. Join using cable ties. Mix concrete and spread in formwork until half full. Put trench mesh in concrete and continue filling until you reach top of formwork. Put a screed on formwork and, slowly moving back in a side-to-side motion, level concrete with top of formwork. Smooth off using wood float. Leave to set for 24 hours, then remove formwork.

Step 3

Lay out 2 rows of 4 blocks along length of your slab, leaving a 10mm gap between both blocks and rows. Mark outside edge of blocks on slab.

Step 4

Mix 6 parts brickie’s sand and 1 part cement. Add water until mixture is stiff but workable. Using brickie’s trowel, lay 2 rows of mortar on inside of marked line to suit width of blocks. Lay first block to meet your marked line and make level in both directions.

Step 5

Butter vertical end of next block with mortar and place against first until you have a 10mm gap between them. Tap down until level with first block and in line along its length. Scrape off excess mortar. Continue in this way until you have laid 4 blocks. Check again that whole row is level and in line. Lay another row next to first, leaving a 10mm gap in-between. Lay a second course on top of first, starting with a block laid across 2 rows at end.

Step 6

Spread mortar along top of second course and lay block caps across width of bench so they are level. Make sure all mortar joins on bench are filled and there are no gaps.

Step 7

Mix acrylic render following manufacturer’s instructions. Load onto plasterer’s hawk and use steel float to evenly spread render over blocks to a consistent thickness. Let set for 30 minutes.