A garden bench is a great way to relax outdoors. Many people start out putting a garden bench because they saw one in a catalogue or in a store and they thought the look was just great, then they realized that this decoration turned out to be pretty practical. By all means if you already have the bench you like that is what you should be using but if you are hesitating as to what garden bench you should buy then here is a little advice as to what materials are worth looking at.
Today garden benches can be made with many materials, plastic, wrought iron, or wood.
As a garden (outdoor) bench is always exposed to the harshness of weather, it must be sturdy and durable. Plastic outdoor furniture has become so beautiful in recent years that it has in some ways surpassed wood, which does not always withstand harsh weather conducive to mildew and deterioration, for many people as a choice of patio or garden furniture.
However, after a few years even the most beautiful plastic becomes brittle and is looses its appeal. It does not take long to relegate them to the garage sale, or even the dumpster.
If you choose wood, red cedar is one of the most serviceable and stable wood on the market, it is considered one of the best material for patio furniture. Its weathering abilities are only comparable to teak that costs so much more. Because of natural insecticide and fungicide characteristics it is considered almost indestructible even maintenance free.
In spite of its name of red cedar this wood can be from a yellowish tint to a dark brown color. Regardless of its tint its color is always rich and its texture pleasant.
Some advantages of using cedar for your outdoor bench:
Cedar does not require chemical treatment of any kind, it contains sufficient natural oils to keep it from normal damage cause by weather or insects.
It will become more and more beautiful as it ages and weathers, blending even more in its surroundings.
Your cedar bench could very well last 25 years in all its splendor.
In the US Cedar is not an imported wood and therefore reduces shipping expenses as well as protects some depleted forests, since we have environmental laws to protect deforestation.
Care and maintenance:
Contrarily to other woods, red cedar does not require much more maintenance than an occasional (every other year at most) quick finish enhancer to restore its color. Once a year a soft scrub with warm water and mild soap will be all the maintenance required.
Cedar wood like any other can be painted in a variety of colors, in that case it will require a paint touch up every year, but it is generally accepted that because it is not treated chemically paint adheres better to cedar than to other woods.
You will never regret the selection of a cedar garden bench for your home and garden decor as it will give you years of pleasure.