Stone Seating

Since stone is more durable than wood and other materials garden furniture is made of, stone benches and tables are virtually maintenance free. Plus, the ones you construct using separate pieces of stone can often cost less than most pre-made wood, iron or concrete benches at the garden center. Here's how to make your own primitive bench and table.

Select a location in the yard that is best suited for a seating area. Then recruit some help to assist in lifting and placing the stone. Because he is using irregular stone, Glassman builds the pedestal bases for his bench in a pyramidal fashion (figure B). By using the pyramid form, the stack will be more stable in order to hold the top slab for seating. He starts with the largest stone on the bottom and then transitions to the next smaller-sized stones until they are at a comfortable height for seating. As a general guideline, standard benches sit 16 to 18 inches high.

To figure out where each stack goes, divide the length of the stone to be used as the seat into thirds (figure C), and then situate the rocks accordingly. For instance for a 36-inch seat, the legs would be about 12 inches apart at the center. To get a snug and stable fit, move and flip the rocks around until secure in place. If it still doesn't feel secure, try inserting a shim, like a rock shard, in between the stones for stability (figure D). The final product adds beautiful yet rustic seating to the garden (figure E). Place mildew-resistant, waterproof cushions on the stone benches for added comfort.

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