Live Edge Concrete Block Seat

Recently, I was looking for patio seating that could hold up to the elements. I wanted a compact and unique seat that would not be an eye sore. I will show you a quick and easy set of seats that anyone can make for under $17 bucks each.

Summer is here, the patio calls for BBQ and cocktails. Grab your friends, give them a seat. These little conversation pieces around the fire pit will start the night off right.

- 4 Concrete pier blocks

- Live edge wood scraps 9"x9"x2"

- 16" of 3/8" rebar

- Drill with a 3/8" bit

- Jig saw with a rough cut blade

- Angle grinder

- 80 grit flap disk

- Metal cutoff wheel

- Tape measure

- Pencil

The pier blocks here were 11"x 11"x 7.5". These blocks weigh about 40 pounds each and have a hole in the middle for a post or pipe. The live edge wood scraps were from a pervious wine closet project, but any weather resistant wood stacked at 2" will work great. I was going to bolt down some flat iron but rebar was used as a last minute change for stability.

- Begin by placing the tapered end of the concrete block on the wood slab.

- Then use a pencil to draw out your design so it protrudes beyond the concrete edge for an aesthetic effect.

- Next use a jig saw with a rough cut blade (good for thick material) and then follow the pattern that you drew around the wood slab.

-Flip one of the pier blocks so that it is resting on the widest part.

-Measure the top center hole of the block, then transfer this measurement to the cut slab.

-Next, with your center marked, drill a 3/8" hole at this mark on the slab.

-Measure the depth of the hole in the pier block using your rebar as a guide, this pier block is 3" deep.

-Use a metal cut off disk on the angle grinder, cut rebar to 8". This will cover the slab thickness (2") and 3" into each block as a support as seen in the next step.

-Place the rebar in the base hole of your first pier block. Then put your slab through the rebar, snugging down on the base block.

-Next flip the second pier block, small side down and line up your hole and set it onto the rebar. You now have an 80 pound seat that is...well, pretty rock solid.

-Use the angle grinder with an 80 grit flap disk to shape the slab and smooth out any rough edges.

-Finally using the same flap disk on the angle grinder smooth out the concrete seat and edges. This surprisingly polished it just enough to be smooth to the touch without using a fancy diamond paste.

I made these so they can be taken apart and moved, they are very stable without glue or screws. These seats sit at a standard stool height of 17 inches.

Enjoy your easy modern seat, and cheers!

Thanks for watching.