[Closed] Garden bench recommendations please.

I'd go hand made by a furniture making cyclist if it were me.

I suppose where the bench is sited may influence it's resistance to rotting.
Is it sat on hard ground? Sun and air flow?

Seems to be what everyone wants is zero maintenance but it's always good to do to a certain extent.

Benches I've made I've sealed the end grain of the legs with resin and made sure they're sat on well drained hard ground.

As someone who is part way through refurbing 8 benches I can only suggest that you pick a bench with nice flat, straight pieces of wood to make any needed future sanding easier. Oh add to that nice big gaps so you can fit your power sander into all areas.

*weeps*

Can't you take the slats out @Houns?

No sadly. I was going to recommend the OP find old iron bench edges/sides/whatever they’re called and then find the slats to suit

I'd have a look at these:
Benches
If you are after something traditional, bought one of the wood effect ones for an elderly relative, personally I prefer the coloured ones.

@houns I know exactly what you mean, I had 6 chairs 2 benches and 2 tables to do each summer, many a skinned knuckle. Rattan furniture for me know, more comfy and no maintenance.

wood effect

😩

wood effect

😩

Agree but also, that emoji will be very relevant to a wooden bench after, seemingly, a couple of years

Interesting to see these wood effect ones. As much as it would be a bit 'hmm' for the first few days of ownership / using it I think I'd start to appreciate knowing that it'll just hose off each winter!

OP
Do you not fancy making one?
Hundreds of designs out there and if you look around,there is still timber to be had without taking out a second mortgage.

stumpyjon I showed my wife those she had the same reaction as kayak ! Now found a company called Wealden Benches , they deliver there’s fully made ones £395 and a even heavier duty one for £495 , so will see what wife says later .

I found someone selling an old tired cast iron and larch slats bench. Got the ends powder coated, sprayed the little bits myself, and (very roughly) sanded the larch back and stained it. Looks awesome now and when the slats do eventually go you can buy kits to replace them.

I thought I could angle grind the paint off the ends but it was never going to happen.

It looks great and is solid as a rock now. Chuffed to bits with it.

slight hijack but im affter a picnic table if anyone can recommend. i want a nice sturdy pub beer garden one, not a b&q twiglet special...??

We are just about to bin our Meadow Tableafter 18 years of service. It cost us about £400 then ,which was a lot of cash when the B&Q/Homebase specials were going for around £75.It has been brilliant and if I had looked after it better it would probably still be fine. I have designed a new one and will be building it over the next few weeks,all from recycled steel and timber.

I'm a fan of recycled plastic benches. They don't look as pretty as hard wood ones (although a lot of that is poor design rather than the plastic) but it is a good use of the material. It is very low grade plastic so can't be used for much else like food packaging. If you want to use and recycle plastic then you need a market for the recycled product. It is very robust and needs no maintenance. I'm in the progress of making one using reclaimed cast iron bench ends and recycled plastic slats. Not finished yet but the mock up looks great.

I bought a table and chairs from this place 3 years ago: https://chic-teak.co.uk/collections/teak-garden-benches Two seater benches from ~ £500.

Impressed with the table and chairs, the wood is twice the thickness of the table it replaced and that had been in the family for as long as I can remember ( 40years +).

Here’s what I’ve been grafting away at, I’m only halfway through them all

Before

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During

[img] [/img]

After

[img] [/img]

(Yeah not the same bench, but they’re all in such poor condition to begin with, and that ‘after’ pic could do with another coat)