You can decorate a summer cottage or garden plot with the help of various landscape design objects. One of them is a garden bench. It will allow you to relax and enjoy the surrounding landscapes. In this case, the bench should be in harmony with the overall design of the site. It can become its decoration if you pay attention to the aesthetic beauty of the design. In particular, you can opt for a bench with a back.
Varieties
Garden benches (photo below) differ in many ways. They have a different design. The presence of a backrest makes the rest more comfortable. So a person can completely relax, indulging in the contemplation of the surrounding nature. Benches are made with a back from different materials. Their appearance also depends on this.
Of course, you can buy a ready-made inexpensive garden bench. The cost of folding plastic modelsis 800 rubles. and higher. Benches made of wood and metal cost from 2,000 rubles. However, a handmade product will be truly original and spectacular. You won’t be able to save a lot when making a homemade bench with a back. However, the appearance of such a product can be many times better than that of purchased models.
First, you need to develop a diagram of the future bench. Before that, you should determine the type of construction, as well as select the optimal set of materials. A bench with a backrest differs in the installation method. There are stationary and portable models. You can also install swing benches. The choice depends on the preferences of the owners of the house.
Stationary benches with a back are installed on the foundation. They can no longer be moved. In this way, heavy or overall benches are often installed. Folding structures are easy to move into the house in case of bad weather or for the winter. These are light, simple structures that are most often assembled from plastic or wood.
The swing benches look original on the site. This option is especially suitable for families with children. Yes, and adults love to relax on such a bench, slightly swinging it like a hammock. It sets you up for rest and relaxation. On such a bench it is pleasant to have unhurried conversations and enjoy the evening sunset, the smell of the forest and garden flowers.
Destination
As you can see in the photo, garden benches differ in functionality. There are several categories of such structures. The first group includes front benches. They are installed more for decorative purposes. Therefore, suchbenches are almost always located in front of the entrance to the house or in the area of the entrance to the cottage or cottage. This category of shops may not even be intended for people to relax. They are decorated with flowerpots, creating original compositions for landscape design.
Often a garden bench is an element of a water composition. It is equipped with a pool, pond or waterfall. Next to small fountains, such a bench would be appropriate, as the murmur of water soothes, tunes in to peace and harmony with nature. Also, a bench can be installed next to the hearth, barbecue, or just in a beautiful place. Here you can enjoy the surrounding beauty.
Often, these designs are installed next to the dining table. Garden benches in this case can be equipped under a canopy or in an open space. When developing their design, the appearance of the table and the decor of the site are taken into account. If the table and bench are installed in a closed gazebo, they can be mounted permanently. They are not affected by the weather. The outdoor table and bench must be portable. It is better to make a lightweight portable design. The bench can be folded.
A bench can become more functional if a box for storing various things is provided under the seat. If the shop is set up near the beds, you can put the necessary equipment here. A bench installed next to the playground in the recreation area can become a place to store toys.
Plastic and stone
Plastic can be easily madefolding or lightweight portable structures. You can even make the popular upside-down garden bench. At the same time, it is possible to refine its design, providing for the presence of a folding back. This bench greatly simplifies the work in the garden. No more bending over when working in the garden. If necessary, turn the bench over, take out the back and rest.
Plastic pipes are used to create different designs of benches with a back. They are fixed with the help of corners and various adapters. You can show your imagination and assemble different options for benches from plastic pipes (40-50 cm in diameter). This is a kind of constructor.
The disadvantage of plastic garden furniture is its short service life. The material is covered with scratches. The furniture looks cheap though. It will not fit into every style of exterior design. You can use different textiles to create a bench seat. This will give it a more aesthetic look.
Garden bench with back can be made of stone. This is a beautiful material that allows you to create a strong durable construction. Such shops harmoniously fit into the existing design of the site. They look spectacular and noble.
Stone benches are mounted on the site on the foundation. She cannot be moved. The shop near the hearth or barbecue looks impressive. The material is not affected by weather conditions. However, a stone bench has one significant drawback: it is a cold material. Sit on it even in warm weatherunsafe for he alth. Therefore, such benches are necessarily covered with pillows and thick decorative mattresses.
Tree
One of the most popular options for creating benches is wood. This natural material has a lot of advantages. It is easy to process, so even a novice master can make a bench. Garden benches made of wood are distinguished by a mass of positive characteristics. It is a warm material that does not require additional flooring.
Wooden benches fit harmoniously into almost any country landscape design. You can create any type of structure from this material. Moreover, both boards or bars, as well as branches, solid wood arrays, slabs, etc. can be used. This allows you to create a different decorative effect to give the bench the desired look.
When choosing wood, you should give preference to materials that have been dried with high quality. Moreover, you should not hope that the boards will lie down in the barn and dry out over time. If the wood has not been properly dried, it can warp and crack. In this case, it will become unsuitable for creating a shop. When making garden benches made of wood with your own hands, you need to choose boards and timber with a flat surface. They should not have visible defects.
Wood species can be almost any. It is better to purchase soft varieties of materials. The most popular option for making a bench with a back is pine. It's relatively inexpensivetype of wood. However, it is soft enough that it can be processed by hand.
Also suitable for creating a medium hard rock garden bench. They will be more durable than pine. However, they can be processed manually. These species include spruce, linden, larch, etc. It is better not to use hard rocks (for example, oak) for making benches. This material is difficult to machine and requires special machinery.
Be aware that wood is a material that rots. It can be destroyed by insects and rodents. Therefore, before installation, all wooden elements are treated with an antiseptic composition. If high-quality dry wood is used, it can not be varnished. However, additional surface protection in this case will extend the life of the bench.
Metal
Another popular material for making garden benches is metal. From it you can create a durable solid construction. The appearance of a metal garden bench can be different. Forged twisted structural elements look spectacular. At the same time, different technologies are used: most often, the shop is created by hot and cold forging.
The disadvantage of this type of construction is the complexity of manufacturing. Not every master will be able to perform such a work of art. To do this, you need to have blacksmithing skills. You will need to prepare the necessary tool. To simplify the task, you can purchase forged items for the shopseparately. Then they are collected on the site using a welding machine.
Showing imagination, you can design an original shop from different profiles or fittings. Most often, such structures are combined with wood. This makes the bench warmer and more beautiful.
Metal is prone to corrosion. If the material is in the open air, then it requires the application of a protective layer. To do this, the surface is primed and then painted. It is worth considering that the protective layer will require updating in just a few seasons. This procedure must be performed frequently. Therefore, garden benches made of wood are much more common.
Metal is a material that is difficult to process, so benches from it are often purchased ready-made in specialized stores. Independently, similar structures are assembled in most cases from wood.
Creating a project
Wooden garden benches with a backrest, as well as other types of benches, require careful attention to detail. To do this, you need to draw a design diagram. In this case, you will need to consider how many legs the product will rely on. You also need to determine the dimensions of the bench, the height of the seat from ground level and the angle of the backrest.
At the design stage, you need to choose a way to connect the seat to the back. You should also consider how many people should fit on the bench at the same time. When creating a project, take into account the type of bench installation (stationary, portable or in the form of a swing).
To calculatethe length of the seat, you need to determine the number of people who will rest on it at the same time. Each person should have at least 50 cm. At the same time, the standard bench width should be about 45 cm. If 3 people rest on the bench, its length should be at least 1.5 m.
Folding garden benches are designed for a small number of people (no more than 3 people). Therefore, their length cannot be large. Stationary benches are quite long. In this case, it is necessary to provide for the presence of additional supports. They are installed at a distance of 1–1.5 m.
The back can be of different heights. However, the standard is 90 cm. In this case, it will be comfortable for people of different heights to sit here. The backrest angle is most often 20º. This indicator is chosen in accordance with the design of the bench.
Calculation of materials, necessary tools
To make a garden bench with a backrest with your own hands, you will need to purchase the right material. Its quantity is determined in accordance with the developed plan. For example, for the simplest bench with a wooden back, you will need to purchase 2 beams with a section of 10 × 10 cm. Its length should be 1.5 m. Seat boards will be attached to the beams, which will be made of slab. Their length is also 1.5 m. The seat and back will be made of boards, so their width should be about 50 cm.
To connect all the structural elements, you will need about 4 bars. They must be 20see. To make supports for the bench, you need to prepare 2 stumps (blocks). They must be the same height.
To make a wooden garden bench, you need to prepare the necessary tools. In the process, you will need a saw or a jigsaw. You also need to prepare a hammer, drill and screwdriver. For marking, a simple pencil and tape measure are used. It should be noted that the surface of the boards must be polished. To do this, it is better to use a grinder with a special nozzle. You can also purchase sandpaper. Processing wood by hand will require more effort and time.
To connect all structural elements, dowels, self-tapping screws and metal corners are purchased. Wood is treated with antibacterial impregnations. You can also paint a bench made of wood. It is better to choose a colored or colorless varnish for decorative finishes. It will additionally protect the surface from destruction.
If the bench is to be installed permanently, it will require a shovel, cement mortar and support posts.
Creating legs
To assemble a garden bench with your own hands, you will need to purchase a sufficient amount of materials in accordance with the developed drawing. Next, you need to transfer each detail to the wood blanks. If they match the length and width of the bench, the job will be done faster.
When all the details are transferred to the material, they are cut out with a jigsaw or manually with a saw. After that, all blanks need to be further processed. Surfaces are carefully polished. They should be smooth and free of burrs and cracks. Ends and edges also require the attention of the master in the grinding process. It is better to make all edges and ends rounded.
After that, the material is treated with an antiseptic. It is left for a while to allow the wood to dry. Then you can start assembling the structure. First you need to make the legs. They almost always serve as a frame for the back, so they must have the correct angle of inclination.
First you need to prepare 2 blanks. Their length should correspond to the height of the back. First, they mark the height of the seat of the bench. Most often, it is in the range of 40–50 cm. Here, the legs do not need to be processed. Above this mark, you will need to make a cut at an angle of 20º. They should be the same on both legs. Otherwise, the garden bench will be skewed.
After creating the legs, they are also polished. After that, they need to be attached to the support beam. They must be installed straight. On both sides of the timber should remain the same distance (about 15-20 cm). At the top, the legs will support the back. Therefore, in this part of the board will firmly fix the structure, preventing it from staggering. After that, you can start assembling the rest of the frame.
Assembling the structure
Assembling a garden bench with your own hands requires accuracy from the master. When the legs are made, a seat frame is mounted to them. This will require 2 more legs. They must be even and have a height corresponding to the plan. They fix the supporting beam of the structure. It is possible to lay bars between the back and front legs, on which laterboards will be mounted.
After that, you can start creating the seat. The material selected for this is attached to the support beam using self-tapping screws. It is better to sink them a little into the boards. In this case, it will be impossible to catch the clothes on the uneven head of the self-tapping screw. If the bench is stationary, you need to make a distance of 1-2 cm between the seat boards. So water will not collect on them. The material will dry faster and break down more slowly.
After mounting the seat, you can fix the boards for the back. Garden benches for giving should be assembled from a sufficiently durable material. It should not bend under load. Boards for the back should be at least 3 cm thick. They are screwed with self-tapping screws, which are also recommended to be sunk into the material. The first board can be at different distances from the seat. The classic version involves its installation at a height of 20 cm.
After that, it is desirable to perform the lower trim of the structure. This will make it stronger and more durable. For this, a beam is used. It is installed first between the rear and then between the front legs. After that, the surface is polished again in the places where the screws are installed. Further, it is treated with several layers of varnish. You can cover the wood with wood stain: this will give it an interesting decorative effect.
Custom bench options
Garden bench can be made from different materials. Often different improvised means are used. For example, benches with a back, assembled from wooden pallets (pallets), are popular. They are easy to assemble by yourself. At the same time, the design will be strong and reliable. The material is most often covered with two layers of waterproof paint.
You can also create a shop from old car tires. This option is suitable if the bench is installed near the wall. To do this, several tires are stacked in one row. Next, the back is attached to the wall. It is also made from tires. Pillows are placed inside.
You can experiment with the location of the bench. To do this, choose the thickest and most beautiful tree on the site. A shop is set up around him. In this case, the tree itself will serve as the back. You should not install such benches under fruit trees, chestnuts or oaks. If there are no other options, you need to make a canopy. Otherwise, the fruit, falling from the tree, may fall on the head of the holidaymaker.
To install a bench, you can also select a group of trees located nearby. Between them make a flooring. It will be a spacious place to relax. Here you can not only sit down, but also lie down if you wish.
Shops from a cross cut of a tree look beautiful. The cost of such a product will be high. However, the decorative effect can not be compared with anything. This will require several cross cuts of a large tree. They are connected together (attached to the support beam). This bench looks great. It is varnished to preserve the natural beauty of the material.
Having considered the options for garden benches, as well as the features of their installation, you can equip an original bench in the country. It will harmoniously complement the landscape design and allow you to enjoy your vacation onnature.
