He Slid Wood Beams Through Cinder Blocks to Build Two Backyard Sofas Around a Fire Pit
Most backyard fire pit projects start with digging up grass or installing a new patio. This one started with a broken basketball hoop and a large concrete pad that no longer served its original purpose. Instead of removing the slab, the homeowner decided to turn it into an outdoor seating area.
The plan involved two sofas made from cinder blocks and wooden beams. Rather than constructing traditional furniture frames, he used the hollow openings in the concrete blocks to support the wood, creating seats and backrests without a conventional sofa structure.
A pile of about 45 retaining-wall blocks left by the previous owner provided the material for a fire pit between the sofas. Imgur user dalewithac documented the conversion, from salvaged masonry and unfinished timber to two cushioned sofas facing a circular fire pit.
Broken Basketball Hoop Left a Large Concrete Patio
Concrete covered a large rectangular section of the backyard, with the basketball hoop standing near one edge. Grass surrounded the slab, while a white privacy fence enclosed the area.
The existing surface offered enough room for a central fire pit and seating on opposite sides. No new paving or excavation was needed for the furniture layout.
Leftover Retaining-Wall Blocks Provided the Fire Pit Material
Red retaining-wall blocks had been left along the fence by the previous homeowner. Each block had a raised lip on the underside that prevented it from resting flat when stacked for the fire pit.
The builder and a friend used a hammer to knock off the protruding edges. He rinsed the blocks with a garden hose before assembling them.
Three Courses of Blocks Formed a Circular Fire Pit
Wedge-shaped blocks were arranged into a circle, with each course offset from the one below. Three courses created a low structure with an open center.
Small gaps remained between some blocks, and the pit was positioned toward one end of the concrete slab, leaving space for the two sofas.
Wooden Beams Replaced Conventional Sofa Frames
Long, thick wooden beams were brought onto the patio for the seating. Their dimensions allowed them to pass through the openings of standard concrete blocks, removing the need for a separate frame built from smaller boards.
The same beams would form both the seat and backrest, with the concrete supports determining their positions.
Construction Adhesive Joined the Cinder Blocks
The homeowner applied construction adhesive along the top surface of a concrete block, including a bead across the center partition.
Blocks were stacked into separate supports, leaving the top openings exposed. Each stack provided the height needed to lift the wooden seating beams above the patio surface.
Drilled Holes Prepared the Beams for Assembly
Close-up photos show cut marks and drilled holes near the ends of the wood. The homeowner prepared the timbers before inserting them into the supports.
The holes accommodated hardware used to secure the assembly, with dark metal fittings visible in later construction photos.
Cinder Block Openings Held the Long Wood Beams
Concrete supports were positioned across the patio, and the timber lengths were placed beside them before installation.
The support stacks stood in pairs, with open block cavities facing the direction of the seats. Their spacing established the length of each bench and the room available around the fire pit.
Two Benches Took Shape Around the Fire Pit
Wooden beams were passed through the upper blocks, connecting the supports without a solid base beneath the seats. The lower timbers formed the seating surface, while raised beams provided the backrests.
Both benches were assembled at opposite edges of the fire pit. Each had concrete ends and exposed wooden beams running across its length, with space left open beneath the seats.
Gray Paint and Dark Wood Finished the Sofa Frames
Pale gray paint covered the cinder blocks, giving the mismatched masonry supports a consistent finish. The dark-stained timbers remained exposed, including their ends extending past the concrete armrests.
The two benches face each other across the fire pit, creating seating on both sides without enclosing the entire patio.
Red Cushions Turned the Benches Into Outdoor Sofas
Red seat cushions cover the wooden beams, while beige and striped throw pillows rest against the backrests. The cushions conceal much of the timber seating but leave the concrete supports and protruding beam ends visible.
The completed area uses the existing basketball pad, salvaged retaining-wall blocks, hollow concrete supports, and wooden beams. What began as a slab with a broken hoop became a patio with two outdoor sofas and a central fire pit.
Would you build outdoor seating from cinder blocks and wooden beams instead of buying patio sofas?
All image credits: dalewithac on Imgur.