Jesmonite in the Garden: The Perfect Material for Outdoor Furniture and Features

Why Jesmonite Belongs Outside

Imagine a garden where every element: benches, water features, statues all radiates bespoke craftsmanship, withstands the harshest British weather, and treads lightly on the planet. Jesmonite, the chameleon of composite materials, makes this vision a reality. This eco-friendly, water-based resin system, born from a blend of gypsum and acrylic resin, has redefined what’s possible in outdoor design. Unlike traditional materials like concrete or fibreglass, Jesmonite offers unmatched durability, lightweight versatility, and a kaleidoscope of aesthetic possibilities, making it the go-to choice for architects, designers, and garden enthusiasts alike.

The allure of Jesmonite lies in its ability to combine strength with sustainability. Its solvent-free composition and low-energy manufacturing process align perfectly with the growing demand for eco-conscious landscaping. Whether you’re crafting a sleek garden bench or an intricate water feature, Jesmonite’s adaptability allows you to push creative boundaries while ensuring longevity in the unpredictable outdoors.

In this blog, we’ll explore why Jesmonite is the ultimate material for garden furniture and features, diving into project ideas, mould-building techniques, reinforcement methods, weatherproofing strategies, and its role in sustainable landscaping. 

Let’s bring your garden to life with Jesmonite’s vibrant potential.

Crafting Outdoor Masterpieces

Jesmonite versatility opens a treasure trove of possibilities for garden design, from functional furniture to decorative showstoppers. Here are some standout projects that showcase its brilliance.

High-Quality Benches

A garden bench isn’t just a place to sit, it’s a statement. Jesmonite delivers benches that are both robust and enduring, a far cry from the cumbersome heft of traditional concrete. Its ability to mimic textures like stone, wood, or even leather allows designers to craft benches that blend seamlessly with natural surroundings or stand out as modern focal points. Picture a sleek, marble effect bench with vibrant pigments or a rustic, weathered-stone finish. Jesmonite makes it possible. 

Its high impact resistance ensures these pieces endure heavy use, from family gatherings to quiet moments with a cuppa.

Water Features

Nothing elevates a garden like the soothing sound of water. Jesmonite excels in creating water features, from minimalist fountains to cascading waterfalls. Its capacity to capture fine details in moulds ensures intricate designs, such as rippling wave patterns or organic pebble textures, come to life with stunning clarity. Unlike traditional concrete, which can crack under freeze-thaw cycles, AC730 & AC830 low alkalinity and reduced efflorescence mean vibrant colours and smooth finishes stay pristine, even in damp conditions. A Jesmonite water feature is a visual delight that’s built to last.

Garden Lights

Illuminate your garden with bespoke lighting crafted from Jesmonite. Whether it’s glowing orbs, lantern-style fixtures, or embedded path lights, Jesmonite’s mouldability allows for precise, intricate designs that traditional materials struggle to achieve. Add metallic pigments for a shimmering copper effect or translucent layers for a soft, diffused glow. Jesmonite’s fire-resistant properties, meeting EN 13501-1 standards, ensure safety without sacrificing style, making it ideal for outdoor lighting that withstands wind, rain, and time.

Ornaments and Statues

From whimsical animal sculptures to classical busts, Jesmonite brings garden ornaments to life with unparalleled detail. Its ability to replicate textures - think weathered bronze, polished marble, or rugged stone - lets creators craft pieces that feel timeless yet modern. Unlike heavy stone statues, Jesmonite’s lightweight nature simplifies installation, while its durability resists cracking or fading under UV exposure. Whether you’re designing a quirky gnome or a majestic obelisk, Jesmonite turns imagination into reality.

These projects highlight Jesmonite’s knack for blending form and function, offering endless creative freedom while standing up to the elements. But how do you bring these ideas to life? It starts with the mould.

Building Moulds for Larger Pieces

Crafting larger garden features like benches or water features requires robust, precise moulds to ensure Jesmonite’s potential is fully realised. The process is both an art and a science, demanding careful planning and execution.

Choosing the Right Mould Material

Silicone moulds are the gold standard for Jesmonite due to their flexibility and ability to capture fine details. For large pieces, such as a bench or fountain base, high-quality, tear-resistant silicone is essential to withstand the weight and pressure of the material. Alternatively, fibreglass-backed moulds offer added rigidity for oversized projects, ensuring stability during casting. For one-off designs, polystyrene (EPS) can serve as a cost-effective mould base, as Jesmonite causes no degradation to EPS, unlike some resins.

Designing the Mould

Precision is key. Start by creating a prototype or master model using clay, wood, or 3D-printed materials to define the shape. For complex designs, like a water feature with cascading tiers, consider multi-part moulds to allow easy demoulding. Ensure seams are tightly sealed to prevent leaks, and apply a release agent, such as Jesmonite’s own release wax, to ensure clean separation. For large benches, incorporate internal supports within the mould to maintain structural integrity during curing.

Casting Techniques

Jesmonite is a two-part system, a powder and a liquid, that mixes easily for pouring. For large pieces, use the traditional pouring method to fill the mould evenly, tapping gently to release air bubbles. For thinner panels or cladding, spraying Jesmonite can create lightweight, strong layers. Rotational moulding is another option for hollow structures like planters, ensuring uniform thickness and structural integrity. Aim for a minimum thickness of 5mm for decorative elements to balance strength and weight.

Curing and Demoulding

Jesmonite fast-setting nature means initial curing can take as little as 30 minutes, though full strength develops over 24 hours. Once cured, carefully demould the piece, taking care not to stress intricate details. Sanding with abrasive nylon wheels can refine surfaces, especially for terrazzo or stone-effect finishes, revealing aggregates for a textured look.

Building moulds for large pieces is a craft that rewards precision, but Jesmonite’s user-friendly nature makes it accessible to both novices and professionals. Next, let’s explore how to reinforce these creations for maximum durability.

Reinforcement Techniques for Strength

Jesmonite is inherently strong, but for large-scale garden features exposed to wind, rain, and foot traffic, reinforcement is crucial to ensure longevity.

Glass Fibre Reinforcement

For benches or cladding panels, Jesmonite AR Quadaxial Glass or chopped AR strands can be layered into the mix during casting. This creates a composite with exceptional tensile strength, ideal for load-bearing structures. Apply the glass fibre in thin layers, ensuring even distribution to avoid weak spots. For example, a garden bench might include two layers of quadaxial glass within a 10mm-thick cast to handle heavy use.

PVA Fibres

For smaller ornaments or statues, PVA fibres offer a lightweight reinforcement option. These fibres integrate seamlessly into the Jesmonite mix, enhancing impact resistance without adding significant weight. They’re particularly useful for intricate designs where flexibility is needed to prevent cracking under stress.

Structural Fillers

Adding structural fillers, like chopped fibreglass strands, can boost durability for thick, solid casts like water feature bases. Mix these fillers into the Jesmonite at a ratio of 2-5% by weight to maintain workability while enhancing strength. For outdoor applications, ensure the mix is consistent to avoid voids that could weaken the structure.

Lamination Techniques

For large, thin panels, such as decorative screens or cladding, lamination with Jesmonite and fibreglass matting creates a lightweight yet robust composite. Apply thin layers of Jesmonite, followed by fibreglass, and repeat until the desired thickness is achieved. This method is ideal for creating expansive garden features that need to withstand environmental stresses without adding excessive weight.

Reinforcement ensures your Jesmonite creations are as tough as they are beautiful, ready to face the elements year after year. But how do you protect them from the British weather?

Weatherproofing and Seasonal Care

Jesmonite is designed for outdoor durability, with high resistance to UV, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. However, a few simple steps can extend the lifespan of your garden features.

Sealing for Protection

Apply Jesmonite Penetrating Sealer or Flexiguard to create a water- and stain-resistant barrier. For high-traffic items like benches, Flexiguard offers superior protection against wear and tear. Apply two thin coats with a brush or spray gun, allowing 2-4 hours of drying between applications. For food-safe surfaces, like a decorative tray used for outdoor dining, use a food-safe sealer to ensure compliance.

Acid Etching for Texture

To enhance Jesmonite stone-like finish, acid etching can reveal aggregates, creating a rougher, more natural texture that resists slipping in wet conditions. This is ideal for pathways or water feature bases. After etching, reapply a sealer to maintain weather resistance.

Seasonal Maintenance

In winter, cover large pieces like statues or fountains to prevent water pooling, which can stress the material during freeze-thaw cycles. Clean Jesmonite surfaces annually with a mild detergent and soft brush to remove dirt or algae. For glossy finishes, buff with a small amount of Vaseline to restore shine, wiping away excess with a clean cloth.

UV Protection

While Jesmonite resists UV degradation, prolonged sun exposure can fade vibrant pigments. Consider using UV-resistant sealers or positioning pieces in shaded areas to preserve colour intensity. For example, a brightly pigmented garden light might benefit from a canopy to shield it from direct sunlight.

These steps ensure your Jesmonite features remain vibrant and durable, enhancing your garden’s beauty through every season.

Sustainable Landscaping and Eco Materials

As the world shifts toward greener practices, Jesmonite stands out as a beacon of sustainability in landscaping. Its eco-friendly credentials make it a natural fit for environmentally conscious garden design.

Low-Impact Production

Jesmonite’s manufacturing process is a masterclass in efficiency. Unlike concrete, which relies on high-temperature kilns, Jesmonite requires minimal energy, reducing carbon emissions. Its water-based, solvent-free composition helps eliminate harmful VOCs, ensuring a safer working environment for creators and a cleaner footprint for the planet.

Recyclability

Jesmonite can be broken down and reused as decorative fillers, supporting a circular economy. Unlike traditional glass-reinforced concrete, which is challenging to recycle, Jesmonite’s composite nature allows it to be repurposed into new projects, minimising waste.

Durability Reduces Replacement

Jesmonite’s long lifespan means fewer replacements, conserving resources over time. A Jesmonite bench or statue can endure decades of exposure with minimal maintenance, unlike plaster or low-grade concrete, which often crack or erode.

Local Sourcing

Jesmonite’s global distribution hubs in Europe, the USA, Australia, and the Middle East ensure materials are sourced through local supply chains, cutting down on transport emissions. This commitment to localisation aligns with sustainable landscaping principles, reducing the carbon cost of your garden projects.

Aesthetic Versatility

Jesmonite’s ability to mimic natural materials like stone or wood reduces the need for resource-intensive quarrying or deforestation. A Jesmonite statue with a granite finish, for example, delivers the same visual impact without the environmental toll of mining.

By choosing Jesmonite, you’re not just crafting a beautiful garden, you’re contributing to a greener future. Its blend of sustainability, durability, and aesthetic flexibility makes it the ideal material for eco-conscious outdoor design.

Transform Your Garden with Jesmonite

Jesmonite is more than a material, it’s a revolution in garden design. Its durability, versatility, and eco-friendly nature make it the perfect choice for creating outdoor furniture and features that stand the test of time. From elegant benches to mesmerising water features, Jesmonite empowers creators to bring bold visions to life without compromising on sustainability. By mastering mould-building, reinforcement, and weatherproofing, you can craft pieces that elevate any garden into a masterpiece of form and function.

Ready to transform your outdoor space? Explore Jesmonite endless possibilities and join a global community of innovators pushing the boundaries of eco-conscious design. Visit our Jesmonite Projects blog for more inspiration and connect with our network of skilled manufacturers to bring your vision to reality.

Let Jesmonite be the cornerstone of your sustainable, stunning garden.