🖼️
The project:
A large Mediterranean inspired besser block bench seat in our backyard to entertain with our family and friends, as well as for relaxing and spending time together as a family of 4
- Materials:
Besser blocks
Half besser blocks
Concrete
Mortar
Reinforcing mesh and rods of various types and sizes
Road base
Bar chairs
- Tools:
Ozito grinder
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-125mm-5-angle-grinder-kit_p0048825
Ozito mitre saw
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-1600w-210mm-8-corded-compound-mitre-saw_p0025645
- Step 1:
Measured out the dimenstiojs of our 2.8m x 2.8m bench seat then used star pickets and string lines to map out the location
- Step 2:
Made some concrete form work using 90x45mm timber and put it into its location
- Step 3:
Once the formwork was in place I compacted the soil and added some Ki-karma road base which I then compacted again
- Step 4:
Using reinforcing mesh and bar chairs, I prepared for the upcoming concrete pour!
- Step 5:
Hand mixed 36 bags of concrete, poured and levelled to form a concrete slab as my base
- Step 6:
Mixed up my mortar and got to work laying the besser blocks!
- Step 7:
Once I had laid 2 full rows of besser blocks for the seat and another 2 half rows for the backrest I was ready to core fill the blocks
- Step 8:
I used reinforcing bars horizontally throughout the seat and vertically to ensure it had stability.
All blocks were core filled as was the middle of the bench to form a smooth seat
- Step 9:
Using a grinder and a cup disc I ground off any rough bit of concrete to ensure I had a smooth surface before rendering
- Step 10:
The final step - RENDERING!
Using some render I transformed this grey block bench into a Surfmist coloured practical seating area that makes us feel like we have our own Mediterranean escape right in front of us
