Concrete garden seat

[23vc]

I want to cast a basic concrete seat, like a cube shape or an upside down square “u” shape. Easiest option is to use a pretty standard concrete mix, vibrate well and then paint it later. But I’m tempted to try and get a decorative finish using broken glass chippings. Anyone ever done anything like this? Doesn’t have to look amazing, just good enough so the mrs doesn’t laugh at it and make me paint it. Not planning on going as far as polishing it etc.
Was thinking snowcrete could make it a lighter colour, and possibly use grano/pea gravel rather than the 20mm ballast I normally use.
Gonna knock up a melamine form and paint a load of olive oil over it.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Interesting little project, if you can make it work, why not line the edges with a scotia profile for a more user friendly finish?
eg https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-PVC-Scotia-Moulding---18mm-x-18mm-x-2-4m/p/121286

 

[^woody^]

I think you'll need to use grano, not normal ballast or pea gravel. Or at least a higher sand/grit content than normal concrete. This will give a much smoother surface

Broken glass? DIY with the sharp edges, or commercial stuff that's worn, or DIY that gone around the mixer? Otherwise as the surface wears or even right away, the glass edges will be exposed and hazardous

 

[23vc]

Fmt- yeah could do but don’t mind sharpish edges as going to put wooden slatted seat on top
Woody - didn’t think of DIYing the glass, sounds a bit messy and hazardous. planning to get some from somewhere, garden centres possibly.
Reckon snowcrete is worth it or no visible effect? Gonna do some small trial runs I reckon

 

[^woody^]

White cement will certainly lighten it up, but you may want to be sure to use a light yellow sand too, not red.

 

[23vc]

So white cement, grano and some yellow (soft?) sand potentially? Or can I leave out the sand altogether

 

[Tigercubrider]

I have seen one made where the U shape has been lined with brown parcel tape. This gave a shiny surface.
They used some rebar and sand/cement rather than ballast

You can get plastic fibres to add to the mix

 

[23vc]

Gonna do a sample run with white cement, grano, yellow sand, and some glass bits I found for a fiver on an arts and crafts website. I’ll post the result. Mrs has already said she’s not keen on the idea, which obviously encourages me

 

[^woody^]

Not soft (building) yellow sand, sharp.