Do-It-Yourself Concrete Outdoor Seating Bench

Molds

• 1

  Cut two lengths of 1-by-4-inch lumber to measure 4 feet long. These are the sides for the seat mold.

• 2

  Cut two lengths of 1-by-4-inch lumber to measure 2 feet long. These are the ends of the seat mold.

• 3

  Place the two sides of the seat mold on their sides on a flat surface. Arrange the boards so they are parallel to each other and 2-feet apart. Slide the end pieces in between the ends of the side boards to form a rectangle. Nail the rectangle together.

• 4

  Cut a 2-by-4-foot piece of plywood. This is the bottom of the seat mold. Place the bottom on top of the rectangle flush with the boards. Nail the bottom of the seat mold in place. Turn the mold lover. Seal the joints of the mold with a silicone sealer.

• 5

  Cut four lengths of 1-by-4-inch lumber 2 feet long. These are the sides for the leg mold. Arrange the four boards to form a square, and nail them together. Cut a 2-by-2-foot length of plywood for the bottom of the leg mold. Attach the bottom to the square with legs, and turn the leg mold over. Seal the cracks with silicone. Make a second leg mold in the same fashion.

Concrete

• 6

  Place the three molds flat on a level working space. Paint an even layer of vegetable oil covering the bottom and all sides of the insides of the molds. Doing so lubricates the mold so that the concrete will slip out.

• 7

  Mix a batch of quick-drying concrete in a large bucket. Follow the package instructions carefully while mixing.

• 8

  Pour the concrete into the molds, filling them all the way to the rim. Use a scrap board to smooth out the surface of the concrete. Allow the concrete to set for several days.

Installation

• 9

  Lightly tap the molds of the bench loose from the concrete using a hammer. Remove the concrete seat and legs from their molds.

• 10

  Select a location to install the bench. The area should have hard ground and be level.

• 11

  Place the two legs in the selected location upright and parallel to each other, with a 2-foot gap between them. Apply liquid nails to the tops of the legs.

• 12

  Place the concrete seat on top of the legs. Adjust the seat so that it overhangs evenly on both ends. Sand the surface of the bench to remove rough spots in the concrete.