Concreting a Wicker Chair

18 years ago

I know someone has done this before but I sure can't find the thread, so I'll ask.

I have a neat large wicker chair that has been on my patio and has seen better days. Rather than pitch it I would like to cover it in concrete and put it under a tree. Do I have to wrap it in mesh first - or will the concrete adhere to what's there? I'm sure the legs will need wrapping but what about the rest? I would like to keep the basic design of the chair as much as possible, with the exception if the wicker that goes from under the arms to the seat. This is (or was) purely decorative and I think it would look better and more open without it, once it is 'reted. The underpinnings are bamboo.

Any and all suggestions are welcomed!

Thanks -

Amanda

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Comments (8)

tango88
18 years ago
Amanda...what a great looking old chair. No wonder you want to save it. However, unless you plan on three inches of concrete all around, I would strongly suggest adding some rebar in several critical areas, then a layer of stucco lath before concreteing. The bamboo won't last long in all that alkalai and I'd hate to see it lost after just one season. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it won't take that much more than you've already planned. Just try and bend and wire some 3/8 ths rebar right to the bamboo following the existing shape. If you place a length of rebar along each of the major bamboo sections and wire them together everywhere they meet, you'll have an heirloom garden piece anyone would be proud of. With rebar and lath, you can probably get by with an 3/4's to an inch of concrete on each side. Good luck and keep us posted. Oh...and you might want to add a drainhole in the seat.
ltd123
18 years ago
Buckyforce, I suspect (no promises since I have not done this yet but as soon as I find a neat chair like yours I will try it) you could get a good result using EIFS mesh and Quickwall (concrete with fibers sold by quickcrete). Sherri Hunter Warner -in her 2 latest books- shows a huge outdoor chair she made with similar materials. Her chair form was sculpted from solid styrofoam and covered with mesh and concrete. She says the finished product is stronger than the form over which it is concreted and mentions using foam rubber or pillows for the form for a chair if you wanted. You might want to check her books out at the library.
Laura
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I don't suppose you have a cut piece of your fabric anywhere? Probably not, or you would have shown it. One trick I've used, is to wrap a seat cushion with my fabric and place it on the frame. Even if you have to leave the rest of the bolt rolled on the floor next to the chair, it can help you to visualize. If you had a cut piece, even if it was just pillow size, you could go into a store with other wicker and place it on the cushion to see how you like it with other wicker colors. I would unroll some of the bolt, wrap the cushion and tuck it back onto the chair, place the chair on the rug and pull the whole thing against the wall. Then, snap your shot. And for what it's worth, I love your mohair velvet. It's going to be awesome! I did my favorite vintage chair in brown mohair velvet and even while I worried it was the wrong choice, the finished product is beautiful! But in your first shot, the one with the original chair finish, the shot is dark and the wicker looks tan or gray beige. That's the color you need to shoot for. I realize that the real color was white, but in that shot, the chairs provide the right contrast to both the rug and the Wyeth Blue walls. With your blue gray velvet, it will be gorgeous. I don't know how to get that color, *(unless you can maybe find Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen nearby, the chalk paint goes on with a subtle matte finish that might suit those chairs well) but take a look at this blog and you will see what I mean. Red Here is a link that might be useful: Cote de Texas...Not your granny's wicker!
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Would you consider repainting the wicker chairs? I think painting them in a bright green or coral would be stunning with your colors on the house, and make them an accent The problem with the cushions is that from any distance, like the street, they won't really show - the color and pattern will be mostly flat on the chair. Your new colors on the house sound very pretty!
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I just bought fabric to cover the seat, as well as a staple gun (which cost more than the chair LOL) so will post a pic when it’s done (we’ve got a storm coming so I’m saving this for a rainy day project). I set the chair in our foyer and I really like it there, which was not my original plan but I think it looks really cute there. Will show you when it’s done! Meanwhile, my friend is helping her parents to downsize, and they have super old, sturdy wicker chairs with similar lines to the chair in my original inspiration pic. I’m hoping they will sell one to me. They’re in great shape but need to be painted. I’m so excited but then I have to stop so my house doesn’t become granny’s wicker emporium.
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tango88
18 years ago
Amanda...what a great looking old chair. No wonder you want to save it. However, unless you plan on three inches of concrete all around, I would strongly suggest adding some rebar in several critical areas, then a layer of stucco lath before concreteing. The bamboo won't last long in all that alkalai and I'd hate to see it lost after just one season. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it won't take that much more than you've already planned. Just try and bend and wire some 3/8 ths rebar right to the bamboo following the existing shape. If you place a length of rebar along each of the major bamboo sections and wire them together everywhere they meet, you'll have an heirloom garden piece anyone would be proud of. With rebar and lath, you can probably get by with an 3/4's to an inch of concrete on each side. Good luck and keep us posted. Oh...and you might want to add a drainhole in the seat.
eva1429
18 years ago
Hi, Everyone,

Here's a link that I'd saved quite awhile back. Doesn't give much info on what changes were made to the wicker chair, but it does look good in concrete.

Amanda, your chair is wonderful...looking forward to seeing it become a great piece of garden art furniture.

Eva

Here is a link that might be useful: Broken Wicker Chair
davidmcdn
18 years ago
Eva
I had my Gardenweb account canceled for posting those same pictures.
rockhewer
18 years ago
Did you post the actual pictures or just a link?
davidmcdn
18 years ago
What do you call this?
http://www.ferrocement.com/products/wickerChair.01.jpg
rockhewer
18 years ago
Well Me, Myself and I would call it a link. You didn't take the photo and show it. I don't see how links are that troublesome. Unless GW doesnt want the net referral comng from here.

Concreting a Wicker Chair

Comments (8)

tango88

ltd123

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