Mosaic Garden Bench

Photography by Paden Reich/SPC

Brighten up a corner of your garden or add a focal point along a wall or fence with this beautiful project. The design can be easily adapted for any location, even against the side of a house or garage.

The homeowner also had stipulations - a limitallic-nickel finish, the kitchen is transformed into a brighter, more organized area for holiday entertaining.

Step-by-Step
  1. Build the seat.
    • Outline the shape of your bench as desired on your surface.
    • Prepare mortar mix according to the manufacturer's instructions.
    • Use mortar to secure a layer of stepping stones, followed by a layer of cap blocks, a layer of concrete blocks, and then another layer of cap blocks. Alternate the directions of the joints in each layer for a solid structure. Use a square and a level to check your work.
    • Allow the mortar to dry per the manufacturer's instructions.
  2. Build the back.
    • Cut a 1 x 4 to the width of the seat, and attach it to the wall or fence 24 inches above the seat, making sure the 1 x 4 is level. For information on how to determine the proper fasteners for your wall or fence, click here.
    • Cut a 2 x 4 to the width of the seat, and attach it to the wall (or fence) and the seat where they meet.
    • Cut five back supports from 2 x 8s as shown. Including the notch for the 2 x 4, the front edge of the back support should be 7 inches away from the wall at the seat to achieve the angle for the seat back. Use construction adhesive to attach the back supports to the two horizontal pieces at 16 inches on center. Reinforce the connection to the 1 x 4 at the top with (#7 x 1 5/8-inch) screws.
    • Cut a piece of 1/2-inch plywood to fit your seat back.
    • Wearing gloves, use tin snips to cut a piece of lath to fit the seat back. Use roofing nails to attach the lath to the plywood.
    • Use the notched trowel to work mortar up onto the lath, covering the back, until your desired results are achieved. Then use the pool trowel to smooth the surface. Allow to dry.
  3. Build the arms.
    • Cut the pieces for two small frames for the arms from 2 x 4s and 1/2-inch plywood as shown. Our arms measure 8 inches high, 4 inches wide, and 16 inches deep. Assemble using (#8 x 3-inch) screws.
    • Wearing gloves, use tin snips to cut pieces of lath to fit the arms. Use roofing nails to attach the lath to the plywood.
    • Use the notched trowel to work mortar up onto the lath, covering the arms, until your desired results are achieved. Then use the pool trowel to smooth the surface. Allow to dry.
  4. Create a mosaic.

    This step takes as much time as your design requires. You can use tile, broken terra-cotta pots, or even stones in any pattern you desire. The key is to keep your surface as flat as possible to make the grouting process easier and the bench more comfortable. You can build up mortar behind thinner objects if desired to bring them even with other pieces.

    • Wearing safety glasses and gloves, use tile nippers or a bricklayer hammer to break tile and other materials into a variety of sizes.
    • Add a dab of construction adhesive to the back of each piece, and affix it to the surface. Arrange or cut pieces to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Be sure you leave a small gap between each piece for the grout. Have patience, and have fun!
  5. Grout and seal.
    • Mix grout according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a grout float to work it across all tile and well into the gaps between pieces. Move the float across each section in at least two directions to avoid leaving air pockets in the gaps.
    • Wet the grouting sponge, and wipe it across the tile to remove all grout from the tile surfaces. Repeat as needed. Allow to dry.
    • Use the grout sealer according to the manufacturer's instructions, and allow to dry.
    • Apply a penetrating sealer, following the manufacturer's instructions, and allow to dry.

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Project Details
Skillset: Advanced
Rough Cost Estimate: $360*

Bench materials: $170
Mosaic materials: $190

Rough Time Estimate: 1 week**
Bench Materials
  • 10 (12-inch-square) stepping stones (gray, #19183)
  • 22 solid cap blocks (#149067)
  • 11 concrete blocks (#10050)
  • 5-6 (60-lb.) bags of mortar mix (Quikrete, #10391)
  • 1 sheet of lath diamond mesh (#11811)
  • 1 box (1-inch) galvanized roofing nails
  • 1 box (#7 x 1 5/8-inch) Phillips II screws (#51784)
  • 1 box (#8 x 3-inch) Phillips II screws (#56665)
  • 2 (8-foot-long) 2 x 8s, treated
  • 1 (8-foot-long) 1 x 4, treated
  • 2 (8-foot-long) 2 x 4s, treated
  • 1 (48- x 96-inch) sheet of 1/2-inch treated plywood
Mosaic Materials
  • 35 (8-inch-square) quarry tiles (Versatile, #18967)
  • 55 (4-inch-square) tiles (American Olean, Iris, #70546)
  • 1 (4-inch-square) tile (American Olean, Gloss White, #1224)
  • 6 (1/2- x 6-inch) liner tiles (American Olean, Iris, #76110)
  • 45 (1/2- x 6-inch) liner tiles (American Olean, Gloss White, #189731)
  • 6 tubes heavy-duty construction adhesive (Loctite Exterior Power Grab, #205801)
  • 1 (25-lb.) bag premium-grade, polymer-modified sanded grout (Keracolor S, white, #5434)
  • Extra large grouting sponge (#43743)
  • Grout sealer (Aqua Mix, #201092)
  • Penetrating sealer (Aqua Mix, #201094)
Tools
  • Notched floor trowel (1/4- x 1/4- x 1/4-inch, #41413)
  • Pool trowel (14-inch, #30170)
  • Caulk gun (#65810)
  • Grout float (#43292)
  • Square
  • Level
  • Tape measure
  • Hammer
  • Drill/driver
  • Circular saw or jigsaw
  • Tin snips
  • Tile nippers (#36392) and/or bricklayer hammer (#92979)
  • Hoe (#99681)
  • Shovel (#94322)
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Safety goggles (#79788)
  • Gloves (#184258)
  • Damp cloth

*Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market.

**Does not include lead time for special-order materials.

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