If
you prefer your
home furniture to
be in wood, you will most probably like to have wood garden furniture as
well.
Wooden garden benches are
great outdoor furniture. They give the sense of relaxation by themselves.
However, you have to be very careful while selecting benches for outdoor
decor as they have to be there for considerable period of time and tolerate
all extremities of weather as well. Here are certain tips to help you with
buying and maintaining a garden bench.
- First of all decide why you are buying an outdoor bench. Is it for
gardener, or to be used for storing your garden tools or just for
relaxing amongst the beautiful surrounding? Then go for the bench best
suited for the purpose- potting bench for the gardener, storage bench or
a sitting bench.
- One more initial work to do is to decide or consider the garden
theme- is it rustic, modern or traditional. You will need to choose the
garden bench accordingly.
- Benches made from cedar, redwood, teak or other hardwoods are best
for outdoor purpose. They are durable and withstand the harsh weather
more efficiently. They can also be protected with a water sealant.
- Teakwood is the most durable wood and is suitable for any
outdoor furniture.
- Cedar is resistant to moths and other insects. It is also
water-resistant and good for outside use.
- If durability is not so much of a concern, you can even select a
lighter wood such as bamboo for your garden bench.
- Choose a suitable sized bench according to the seating requirements
and the garden size. Standard garden benches can seat one, two or three
people comfortably. If you want more capacity, you can go for customized
benches.
- For making the garden bench more attractive, you can place matching
wooden furniture along with it like a
wooden coffee table, end
table, wooden chairs or settee.
- For cleaning benches, first of all brush off any dust, dirt, mud or
spider webs.
- If yours is a teak bench, it can be cleaned with a mixture of bleach,
water and laundry detergent.
- If going for cleanser, buy the one specifically made for the wood
your furniture is made from.
- After using a cleaner, rinse your garden benches thoroughly with the
help of garden hose. Dry them with an absorbent cloth.
- If your bench is made from a wood other than teak, be sure to use a
cleaner that will work for that particular wood.
- If it is a cedar wood bench, clean it gently with a mild cleanser. To
preserve the aroma of cedar, use a cleaner that does not contain strong
chemicals. Soap and water is also fine and won't do any damage to your
garden bench.
