Selecting Outdoor Benches

Outdoor benches are an excellent way to enhance a garden, create additional seating in a backyard or add a resting spot for a business. With outdoor benches, you will discover a huge selection of materials such as stone, wood, concrete, brick, etc. Keep in mind that one type of material is not necessarily better than another with a few exceptions. As an example, if you choose something like granite, marble, stone, or concrete, the seats will be hard so if you are looking to provide a comfortable resting area, cushions would be required. In addition, some types of wood do better than others. Teak, redwood, beech, birch, cherry, ash, maple, oak, mahogany, poplar, walnut, pecan, and cedar are excellent choices for outdoors.

Since wood outdoor benches are the most popular, we will address those in particular for this article. First, wood is easy to work with, offers a warm, rich, and inviting appearance, and is very durable. Depending on the design of the outdoor bench, it may or may not be made with a combination of solid wood and veneer. Regardless of the type of wood being used, the quality of construction for the outdoor bench is crucial. First, the outdoor bench needs to be made using the best joint method and second, the outdoor bench must be stable and sturdy.

For the joints, manufacturers use a number of methods. The tongue and groove method is very popular in that it looks nice and neat while providing the needed stability. Another method is known as mortise and tenon, which involves a socket and two pieces of projecting wood. Other options for the joints include a doweled joint where a wood pin fits tightly into a drilled out hole, rabbeted and butted joint that has two pieces of wood placed at angles, glued, and stapled, bolted or corner blocked if rigidity is a concern, and finally, the least expensive method for outdoor bench joints is with stapling. The downside to this is that as people sit down and get up from the outdoor bench, the staples can eventually work free.

The second factor for selecting wooden outdoor benches is the stability and sturdiness. Since people of all sizes will be sitting down, you obviously want a bench that will accommodate various weights. To ensure sturdiness, you would need to make sure the bench meets certain criteria. If the bench has a back, then the outside posts or rungs on either side will need to go all the way through the bench seat to the underside, making the posts and rungs less likely to break. In addition, the legs of the outdoor bench need to be solid and large enough to handle weight.

One way to tell if the bench is not sturdy enough is to sit on it. If you hear a creaking noise, then you should be concerned. While sitting, move your weight back and forth a little to see if the bench feels secure or wobbly. You can also do a push/pull test with your hands, pressing on the bench's legs to see if they feel solid or loose. Most manufacturers will provide specifications on the various types of outdoor benches so you will know exactly the weight limitations, type of wood used, the joint process, and so on. Use this information to your advantage when selecting an outdoor bench so you end up with the type that best suits your needs.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.SimplyBenches.com. Her sites provide product and information about garden bench styles and other furniture and decor for your patio or home.

---

Metal Outdoor Furniture - Explained

Mention metal patio furniture and you probably think of the... Read More

Tips for Backyard Fish Ponds Care

Installing a backyard fish pond is an aesthetic addition to... Read More

Budget For Your Garden

Have you ever thought about how much it costs to... Read More

Wild Flower Garden - Plan to Plant

In the previous article I discussed design for your new... Read More

Spurce Up Your Garden With Decorative Birdhouses

Decorative Birdhouses are active garden ornamentation --the presence and movement... Read More

You Say Tomato I Say Mosquito

Gathering tomatoes or other fruits of the garden might not... Read More

Lifes a Beach--A Shore Theme in your Outdoor Space

Twentieth century American architect Phillip Johnson once said, "I hate... Read More

Garden for Birds #3

Well, another week is passing us by.I want to thank... Read More

Wind Chimes Go Great With Gardening

What could be more relaxing than gardening on a nice... Read More

Landscape Design

Landscaping is a wonderful pastime enjoyed by many. It provides... Read More

5 Simple Steps to Care For Your Push Reel Mower

Though most Push Reel Mowers made today are durable, they... Read More

The Perfect Porch Swing

There is a magical quality to porch swings. In his... Read More

Lawn Moles and Proper Lawn Care

Are your making mountains out of your molehills? Although lawn... Read More

Everyone Loves Flowers

Flowers Truly Reach Your Soul.Flowers are a heartfelt, natural way... Read More

Unique Flowers make a memorable gift!

Think "outside of the box" when sending your next floral... Read More

The Garden As Healer

The word for 'paradise' comes from the Persian word for... Read More

Secrets of Growing Killer Tomatoes

Tomatoes have always been my favorite garden vegetable to grow... Read More

Want a Garden but Not Enough Room or Soil? Then Hydroponics Gardening could be for You

Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants... Read More

Bonsai Trees - Our Own Little Forest

Bonsai trees have been grown in China and Japan for... Read More

Why Patio Benches are a Great Place to Relax and Enjoy

Having an outdoor patio offers the opportunity and place to... Read More

Tomatoes: History, Origin, Facts... or Fiction?

A tomato importer, John Nix, decided to challenge the law... Read More

Gardening for Kids

Children are continually bombarded with advertising for fast food and... Read More

Cyclamen

Think of cyclamen and the chances are that Mothers Day... Read More

Metal Garden Furniture

Since Victorian times metal garden furniture has become a popular... Read More

Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Come to My Garden

Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybirds, can be a... Read More