Tiled Garden Bench

Unique materials make for unique outdoor carpentry projects. On this creative garden bench, an assortment of ceramic tiles and accent tiles are set onto the bench top and produce quite an impact. In fact, those accents and a few dozen 4 × 4" tiles transform a plain cedar bench into a special garden ornament. And you can easily accomplish the whole project over one weekend.

In addition to the standard carpentry tools, you need some specialized but inexpensive tile setting tools. A notched trowel, grout float, and sponge are necessary for setting the tiles. Snap-style tile cutters are fairly inexpensive but don’t do a very good job cutting floor tiles like the ones used in this project. You’ll have much better luck with a wet saw. Wet saws are more expensive than snap cutters, though they have become more affordable in recent years. They are readily available from rental centers and tile retailers. Because you will be charged an hourly rate (or by half-days in some cases), have all of your tiles premarked for cutting so you can get right to work once you get the wet saw home. If you have never set tile before or feel at all unsure of your skills, many home centers and tile retailers offer free classes on tiling techniques.