Ever wondered how to make an easy cinder block bench for your outdoor area? I had built this outdoor bench years ago and it was time to fix it up. This great DIY project is easy to create, and affordable especially compared to the price of outdoor furniture. This beautiful bench can be put in just about any outdoor space you need extra seating whether it’s your front porch, back deck, or around a fire pit.
This post is in collaboration with Wagner. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A big thanks to Wagner for providing me the PaintEater & Flexio Paint Sprayer
Here’s my original bench – as you can see it was time to give it a little love.
How To Make A Cinder Block Bench Video
How To Make A Cinder Block Bench
For this project, you’ll need wood posts, I used 3 Redwood 4x4s. You can pick the length that works depending on the length of your bench. You can readily find wood planks at any building material store, home improvement store, or the home depot. Start by sanding the wooden boards on all sides. I did this the easy way and used my Wagner PaintEater to clean off the old product and sand it down. It worked like a charm and took me only minutes to clean up each board. If the boards are uneven you can level them with a router or jointer. Not everyone has such tools, so you can find yours on the beginner wood routers list. But I don’t think it’s worth the trouble for a street bench.
After all the wood is sanded I wiped each board on all sides. This will clean off all the sawdust, dirt, debris, and get it ready for painting or wood stain.
While the wood was drying I poured Varathane Ultimate Spar Urtheane (waterbased for exterior) into my Flexio Paint Sprayer. I read the instructions and adjusted all of the setting for what I needed.
I started by painting the top of each board. This Flexio paint sprayer made painting so incredibly easy. I even said it was therapeutic to my family.
After I painted the top of each of the boards, I let it dry for 30 minutes.
I then rotated the boards and painted the next side. I repeated this process until all 4 sides were painted. I then repeated this process with all the boards giving them a second, then a third coat.
I painted the ends of the wood as well to seal it. I just have to say that after hand painting them the first time, and this time using the paint sprayer…. it was so much faster and easier this time around! The paint sprayer is definitely a great way to go.
Don’t the boards look much better? I let the boards dry completely before moving forward.
This project needs 6 cinder blocks or concrete blocks and you set them up in this shape. 2 stacked on top of each other and the other one is vertical behind the first 2.
Next, I slid each of the boards into the top hole in the cinder blocks on either side.
We made this outdoor seating area in tribute to people and pets we have lost. It’s our memorial bench. It was a fun and easy DIY project and a great way to make inexpensive outdoor furniture.
Here is the finished product and I love how my concrete block bench turned out, and I’m super thrilled with how easy my Wagner PaintEater and Flexio Paint Sprayer made it.
Where would you put a bench like this in your home? Drop that in the comments!
So you know I love the Wagner Steamer, PaintEater, and Paint Sprayer…. what product do you think I want next? Go here to Wagner, look at the options, then come back and tell me in the comments what you think!
How To Make A Cinder Block Bench Video
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Love this DIY project! I know it is something I will be making soon. Nice to see that you like the Wagner products I like them too.
Thank you so much Cynthia, and I’m so excited you want to make one too. I’m such a fan of Wagner, they’re the greatest!
Can you tell me how easy or hard it is to clean? I’ve been thinking about getting one of these but I’ve never tried using a sprayer. Great post!
Great question Andrea! I used a water based product this time around and it was really easy to take apart and clean. The instructions in the manual are fantastic and walk you through every step of the cleaning process whether you use water based, oil based, etc.
Wow! Looks great! Using the Wagner painter made this so quick and easy. This is like a brand new bench now! You rock with those tools!
Thank you so much Chloe! You’re so sweet, thanks for the kind words. I love my Wagner tools, they make everything so much easier and faster!
This bench is genius! I love how it looks and how doable it is! The color is so beautiful!!! I would put it down by the lake.
Thank you so much Kristin! Oh I love that you could use this at your home too … lake view sounds lovely. It was super easy and so versatile for anyone’s porch/deck/patio/yard… etc
Wow – that’s so cool!! I’m betting you want the paint roller next. (At least if you don’t, I’m happy to take it for you) 😉 You have such great ideas Chas, and the memorial part is so sweet! 💗 Nice work!
Thank you so much Barbara! It’s so hard to choose… I like so many of their products… but you are right! I was thinking about the roller. Thank you for your kind words and glad you like the memorial tribute.
What a fabulous idea. It is funny but cinder blocks remind me of when I was growing up. Our barn and old grainery were made of cinder blocks. I miss the farm when it comes to things like this. I could have totally found the cinder blocks and wood to make this bench on the farm. It was so much more fun than going and buying these type of things! Thank you for sharing.
Oh Amy, thank you so much for sharing that memory. My childhood home had a basement made of cinder blocks so I totally know what you’re saying. Love that you grew up on a farm. My grandparent’s farm (now run by my uncle and cousins) celebrated 100 years this year.
It looks great, you’ve created a lovely spot to sit in that gorgeous dappled shade.
Thank you so much Julie, I appreciate it. We enjoy it and it’s a great memorial space.
Simple enough that a newbie to DIY could do it. It looks really nice.
Michelle
mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you so much – and it’s so true! Just buy the supplies and create 🙂
Now I want one for my yard! You did a great job of fixing it up to last even more years. Thanks as always for stopping by and sharing your projects each week. #HomeMattersParty
Thank you so much Donna and I’m thrilled you want one for your home too 🙂
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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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Thank you so much Marilyn, I hope you’re having a great week.