Built-in outdoor seating using Besser bricks

[dhanekom]

Besser blocks and structural Pine were used to transform an outdoor entertainment area and add built-in seating.

• The project
• Steps
• Tools and materials
• How to build a Besser block bench seat
• More inspiration for Besser block projects

The project

We wanted to revamp our outdoor alfresco area with floating built-in seating and more plants in the open spots. This project is all about the built-in seating. It was hubby's first time building and decking. 

We're not finished with the garden behind the seating, but the idea is to create a green backdrop (the house and the fence is bricks, so there is a lot of brick) and to also hide the neighbour's pergola.

Steps

Step 1

Here is how it looked before. To get the area ready, we had to remove the sandstone blocks and take out the pavers where the seating was going to be built.

Step 2

After our first trip to Bunnings (one of many) it was time to start building the bricks.

Step 3

Once we levelled the ground, we put the bricks together like Lego blocks. The back row is for the back of the seating, and the front row is for the seating.

Step 4

To make it more secure, we've added rebar in every second hole and about 50cm into the ground.  

Step 5

400kg of cement (mixed by hand) later... This seating is going nowhere!

Step 6

Add the caps on top and it's time to start rendering the back wall. At this stage we painted the seating bricks black to give it the floating look and redid all the paving.

Step 7

We then built the frame for the seating using structural Pine and attached it to the bricks. It was a happy moment to see the vision of the seating come alive.

Step 8

Time to add the decking to the frame.

Step 9

The hard work was finished!  

Add seating cushions and you've got a cozy outdoor seating area!

 

Step 9

The before and after.

Tools and materials

Materials used in the project:

• Full Besser blocks 
• Half Besser blocks 
• Besser block caps 
• 16mm rebar 
• Dry mix concrete 
• Dunlop fine coat render 
• Blue structural treated Pine 
• Spotted Gum decking.

Tools used in the project:

• Saw
• Drill
• Sander
• Mallet
• Trowel
• Level
• Paint brush.

How to build a Besser block bench seat

Workshop regular Rob created a step-by-step guide How to build a Besser block bench seat based on Workshop member Sandy's incredibly popular project. 

More inspiration for Besser block projects

Bunnings Workshop member fgrieve created a Besser block bench for a new garden.

Check out community member Sandy's Besser block outdoor bench and landscaping.

Get more inspiration from our Top 10 most popular outdoor furniture projects and Top 10 most popular outdoor bench projects.

[Ram01]

Hi @dhanekom,

This looks awesome and well done. I am planning to do a Besser blocks based outdoor seating and really inspired by your project.

Did you build frame for the seating using structural Pine by yourself ? 

Secondly, how did you attach it to the bricks ? 

Thank you. 

Cheers

[JacobZ]

Hi @Ram01,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us and exciting to hear you are keen to get stuck into a besser block outdoor seating project of your own.

I'm sure @dhanekom will be happy to let you know what they did, but just in case they don't return, I'll do my best to advise.

It wouldn't be too difficult to create the timber frame, so I'd say they did it themself. I also can't see any fixings between the timber frame and the besser blocks, but there are a variety of masonry anchors that could be used for this purpose.

If you wanted further advice from the community, you could also create your own post with a few details on your project, so we can help out with more specific advice. Just hit the "ask a question" button at the top of the homepage and follow the prompts.

I look forward to seeing how your project goes and helping out wherever I can.

Jacob

[dhanekom]

Hi @Ram01 

Thank you. The seating area is now 4 years old and still going strong. 

Yes, we built the frame. Think that was the easiest part. Just cut and screw them together. Then attached it to the bricks that was filled with cement with screws. It is also resting on the bricks below for more support. 

 

let me know if you have any more questions  And can’t wait to see your project. 

[dhanekom]

@Ram01 

Photos of the fixings (screws with plugs)