Make a Potting Bench – Concrete Countertop & Metal Roof

Set the Footing Form in place

Once the holes are dug I level the frame and screw it to stakes.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — levelling footing form frame

And Max came by to inspect these holes and give his approval. Thanks Max.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — Max checking my work

A few bags of concrete are mixed and shovelled into each hole. And I realized I could have used less concrete if I levelled this spot better and placed the form frame closer to the ground. With less of a gap for the concrete to flow away.

Pouring Concrete

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — shovelling wet concrete into form

For these small footings I use galvanized carriage bolts as the anchors. I’ll mark the center then push the bolts into the wet concrete.

Carriage Bolts as Anchors

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — making center of footing

The next day I’ll strip the forms by disassembling the entire frame. I could have poured a concrete pad for this instead of footings but I need to consider the sink drain.

Stripping the Concrete Forms

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — strip form frame from concrete footings

The sink will be for occasional summer use so I’ll drain it into a dry well below the bench. I dig a hole then line it with heavy landscape fabric.

Dry Well as a Sink Drain

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — make a dry well for the sink drain

I cut a hole in the bottom of a pail for the drain pipe. This is set in the hole and surrounded and covered with drain rock. The fabric is folded over and more drain rock holds it in place.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — make a dry well for the sink drain

Later I shovelled in a layer of crushed stone where I removed the sod.

Assemble Potting Bench Frame

I can now begin assembling the frame for the potting bench. I attach the rails to the legs starting with the front side. Then repeat the same steps that for the back side. Roughly positioning the legs, laying and squaring the rails, then driving in a few screws.

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Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — attach rails to legs with screws

I used all GRK self drilling screws for this project. Sure they are expensive, but they make assembly faster, hold better, and should last a lot longer.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — adding side rails

With the frame flipped over I’ll attach the 2×4 and 2×6 side rails.

Connecting the Front and Back Frame

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — setting back of frame over side rails

With the front side frame laid over the ends of the side rails I’ll run in some screws to complete this bare bones frame.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — standing up bench frame

This frame can now be placed on the post saddles that are loosely bolted to the footings. These saddles are slightly adjustable so that made this step easier.

Setting the Frame on the Post Saddles

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — setting frame on post saddles

This was a bit tricky but once I had it balanced it went okay.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — setting frame on post saddles

Then screws secure the legs to the saddles.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — screwing legs to post saddles

A 4×4 is screwed to the back post and the front rail. And a 2×4 added for mid support of the bottom shelf boards.

Adding Countertop and Shelf Supports

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — attaching countertop support

The beams will be attached to the tops of the legs with a long lag bolt. I need to countersink the head so I’ll first drill a flat bottomed counterbore with a forstner bit. Then using a drill guide I make the hole for the shaft of the bolt.

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — drilling holes in beam ends

The beams are set on the legs and holes drilled before the lag bolts are run in. I guess you could also call these posts instead of legs at this point.

Installing the Beams with Lag Bolts

Make a Potting Bench with a Cast Concrete Countertop and Galvanized Corrugated Metal Roof. — attaching beams to legs (or posts)

The middle back side leg (or post if you like) is brought into line with a clamp then drilled and bolted.

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