We are fortunate to live at a time of innovation, especially in the area of outdoor seating. No longer are we limited to wood or metal. The beauty of concrete benches and tables is amazing. There are several color choices for the concrete available, ranging from the old fashioned grey, to a tan terrazzo finish, to the appearance of reddish stone. You can choose a polished surface or leave it smooth. The style of the concrete bench ranges from traditional park bench style, to a backless model or if you are looking for something a bit more avante guard, look at the contour bench. It is so comfortable.

We can create a lovely outdoor conversation area with concrete benches, planters and large or small tables. With at least a half dozen colors and finishes available, there is a choice of mixing or matching finishes, as well as styles. When considering the placement of concrete benches it is important have a design that you will be happy to leave in place for years. These concrete benches are so heavy that it is not an easy task to move them about. If the concrete benches are to be placed in a grassy area, it may be a good idea to create a surface that will not allow grass to grow immediately under them. A possible choice here could be a 3 or 4 inch deep layer of small stones over garden cloth that blocks grass and weeds. This would be especially helpful around a sculptured design picnic table.

For the person who is trying to be a more responsible resident of planet earth, we now have the option of concrete recycling bins large enough to hold as much as a 55 gallon barrel. Of course there are smaller recycling bins available also. Both sizes feature color choices and a hidden locking feature for the top. Some recycling bins offer a choice of a concrete top to shield the contents from the weather. These recycling bins come square or round configurations. They are heavy. This is a very good feature, making them impervious to high winds, or vandals who think it is their job to tip them over. An interesting innovation in recycling bins is a model that is clover shaped, providing the option to categorize the recycled items into metal, glass and plastic. A recycling bin needs to be spacious and very sturdy. Concrete recycling bins fill the bill.

Concrete benches and recycling bins are sturdy but not totally weather proof. They do need some protection in very cold weather, to minimize cracking. In most climates, it is reasonable to expect that a recycling bin will last 20 years or more. This is another good reason to place them in a semi-permanent spot. Concrete benches and recycling bins are cost effective, ranging from about $400 to $1,300. At first glance this may not seem to be cost effective, but consider that wood and metal furnishings must be replaced several times over the 20 years, actually costing more than the concrete furnishings over the long run.