At 02:45 PM 5/6/03 -0500, Bungalow Bill wrote:
I want to make growing benches out of concrete and cinder blocks.
(Stop me here if this is the wrong approach.) Everything made of wood
will rot here in New Orleans. I want to make bench tops about
18inches deep and 30inches wide and 1.5 inches thick. I'll use cinder
blocks to support the bench tops.

Problem is that I don't think that Quickcrete is the right mix for the
job. The gravel is too large and the result is too heavy.

So I want to mix my own. I figure the Gravel is the only component I
can change to make the concrete lighter. Any suggestions on what I
should do here?

Bill.

Bill

Perlite is the most common replacement for rock for lightweight concrete
(tufa?). However, and it is a big however, it greatly decreases the
structural integrity. So, you will want to incorporate some sort of fabric
or wire reinforcement and use a lot more support members.

I built lightweight concrete tops for my propagation tables about ten years
ago. They were fine until the wooden supports began to sag and rot, then
the tops collapsed.


Brent in Northern California
Evergreen Gardenworks USDA Zone 8 Sunset Zone 14

http://www.EvergreenGardenworks.com

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++