You don’t need power tools to create your own outdoor furniture.
Just some materials, elbow grease, and a good tutorial.
Sometimes it’s just nice to DIY it, even if the cost of materials is high, though you might be able to get some nice patio benches on Facebook Marketplace for cheaper if you’re looking to be frugal.
If you already have materials handy or just want that personal touch, keep on reading.
Over 1 million people have viewed BM sculptures modern cinderblock bench tutorial.
And it’s going viral for good reason, too. It’s beautifully simple to put together.
Learn how to make it by using the materials and steps below.
To make the bench, you’ll need:
- 14 Cinderblocks 8″x8″x16″ ( Big box store)
- Six 8 foot 4×4’s or standard garden posts (Big box store)
- Construction Adhesive
- Exterior paint – Valspar Stormcoat exterior (home Depot)
- Paint roller
- Caulking Gun
- Wood Stain
- Wood Sealer
- Sandpaper sponge
For the upholstery, you’ll need:
- 4″ Foam cushioning
- Fabric (Local Fabric store)
- T-50 Staple gun
- 1/4″ Staples
- 1/8″ x 4’x8′ piece of fiberboard (EUCABOARD)- (big box store)
- Hand Saw
Step 1) Sand your wood so that it’s smooth and so that it won’t splinter and is safe for use.
Step 2) This tutorial uses a walnut-colored stain for the 4x4s, but you can keep the wood’s natural color or use whatever color stain you’d like. Let dry for 15 minutes or however long your stain requires.
Step 3) You can follow the directions on your can of stain or use this tutorial’s method, which waits 15 minutes for the stain to dry, then wipes off any excess stain with a rag.
Step 4) Paint your wood with a polyurethane coating to seal in your stain.
Step 5) Decide where you are going to place your bench. Once you lay your cinder blocks and glue everything, it will be very heavy and hard to move.
Step 6) Lay two horizontal cinder blocks side by side and stack more on top so your stack is three blocks high and two blocks wide. Determine how long you want your bench to be and copy this pattern on the opposite side of your existing stack where you want the bench to end. Place a vertical cinder block over the top hole in your horizontal cinder block that’s closest to the wall.
Step 7) Run 4x4s through the holes in the top cinder blocks to make sure your bench will be level.
Step 8) Once you’re happy with the placement of the blocks and 4x4s, remove the wood pieces and glue your blocks together on each side where the blocks meet with the construction adhesive and caulking gun. Let them dry overnight.
You may want to consider laying a tarp or some plastic down beneath your blocks before you glue to avoid paint splatter in the next step.
Step 9) Use exterior paint to paint your cinder blocks. Make sure to get the small spaces on the inside of your cinder blocks. Let dry.
Step 10) Have a friend help you to lift your bench so you can remove the tarp or plastic underneath your blocks.
Now you can run your wood pieces through the holes in the cinder blocks, four for the seat and two for the back.
Step 11) There will end up being a 4″ gap between your planks which may make it uncomfortable, so you can make your cushions for comfort.
Step 12) Use your hand saw to cut your fiberboard to size and sand it smooth with your sanding sponge.
Step 13) Place your foam down on your upholstery.
Step 14) Lay your fiberboard on top of that and wrap the ends of your fabric over your fiberboard. Staple the fabric to your fiberboard. Use a hammer to drive in stubborn staples.
Step 15) Place on your bench. Add a few decorative pillows and enjoy your new handmade bench.
Get the full tutorial in the video below!
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Source: BM Sculptures, 1001 Gardens
