How To: Creating A Timeless Garden Bench

Figure A

Landscape designer Lisa Van Cleef designed a natural-looking bench in a classic, timeless design of a heavy slab of wood atop cobblestone columns, commonly found in national parks, zoos and other public places. Leading to the bench in both directions is a pathway of recycled concrete made to look like flagstone but without the cost.

While White's yard is small, it has a view of surrounding backyards, so it has the feel of more spaciousness, similar to a park. Van Cleef says to set your bench in a spot where you'll enjoy the view or near a flower bed in a smaller setting.

Van Cleef estimates that a professional would charge about $2,500 for the design, materials and installation of the bench and path (excluding the cost of plants). Do-it-yourselfers can cut that cost to only $200 for all the materials. This project is rated a 2 on a difficulty scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult), and can be completed in two or three weekends, primarily because of the drying times required.

Figure B

Step One: Preparing the Site

Clear the site and rake it level. Use a couple of stakes to mark where the columns will go, about 4 feet apart.

Build two simple, 15-inch square frames out of 2x4s and center them against the stakes (figure B). Score around each one and dig out a shallow trough 4 inches deep. Place the forms into the holes and check that they're level and lined up. Pound in a couple of stakes to hold them in place.

Fill each form half-way with quick-setting concrete. Place a 13-square-inch sheet of wire mesh, with a hole cut out of the middle, into the concrete to help strengthen the pad. Fill the form with more concrete to the top and smooth out the surface.

Figure C

In the center of each form, sink in a piece of rebar that's bent on each end (figure C). Let the concrete set overnight and remove the forms.

Step Two: Building the Columns

Use two half cinderblocks (7 1/2 by 8 inches) for each column. Mix up a small batch of mortar and apply a 1-inch layer to the tops of two cinderblocks. Place the other two on top, pressing them firmly into the mortar. Scrape off any excess mortar and let them sit overnight.

Step Three: Cladding the Columns

Van Cleef chose Mexican beach pebbles, which are a soft, neutral color, for the cobblestones. Lay out the stones, flattest side down, on the ground first to determine their placement. Vary the size, color and shape for more interest.

Figure D

Prepare the face of each column by painting it with a concrete bonding agent. Then spread a 1/2-inch layer of mortar. You can stain the mortar with a pigment for a more natural look. Coat the back of each stone with the bonding agent and press it firmly into the mortar (figure D). Give each face time to dry before moving on to the next one. Depending on the weather, it may need to set overnight.

Figure E

After the cinderblock columns are clad with cobblestones, set them on the concrete pads, centered over the rebar studs, and check that they're level. Fill up the cinderblock cells with mortar to give them extra strength. Before the mortar sets, sink 3 inches of a 6-inch threaded anchor bolt into the center of the cell (figure E).

Step Four: Completing the Bench

To keep with the park theme, Van Cleef chose a thick plank of wood to top the cobblestone columns. She found a 4-foot-long, 4-inch-thick, 14-inch-deep Douglas fir plank at a salvage yard for only $5. You can buy a plank at a lumber yard (for three to four times that cost), but make sure it's thick and deep enough for a comfortable seat.

Figure F

Sand the plank for a smooth finish. Drill a hole at each end to line up with the anchor bolts in the columns. Attach a piece of predrilled plywood to the bottom of each end (figure F) for added strength.

Set the plank on top of the columns over the anchor bolts. Place a washer and nut into the holes and tighten them with a socket wrench. Apply wood glue to a couple of dowels and use them to plug up the holes.

Figure G

Finish the bench with a few coats of exterior grade polyurethane. Figure G shows the completed wood and cobblestone bench.

Step Five: Laying out the Path

Instead of using flagstone, which would cost $260 for an 85-foot path, you can use concrete from an old walkway and stain it to look like flagstone. The easiest way to break up concrete is with a jackhammer, available for rent for about $50 per day.

Select the larger pieces of broken concrete for the stepping stones and scrub them with a concrete degreaser. To give the gray slabs the warm look of flagstone, apply a concrete stain. Because the stain contains acid, be sure to wear rubber gloves. Let it dry overnight and then apply a coat of sealant to keep the color from fading.

Figure H

Dig out the course of the path, about 16 inches wide and 3 inches deep. Frame the walkway with bender boards, held in place with stakes. Rake out a 3-inch layer of sand to cushion the stepping stones. Set the concrete stones in place, embedding them in the sand. Space them about 21 inches on center for a comfortable stride (figure H). Remove the bender boards, plant ground cover in the gaps between the stones and spread some mulch.

Planting: A Park Setting

Van Cleef chose low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, native shade plants in a soft color palette of pink and white. The calming, natural setting includes native berry shrubs, assorted blooms, ferns for added texture and ground cover between the stones of the path; the plants include:

Coral bells (Heuchera 'Wendy'), Zones 8-10
Viburnum japonicum, Zones 8-9
Lace fern (Microlepia strigosa), Zone 11