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Garden Benches - Hardwood V Softwood
When you are deciding about the merits of a garden bench and the materials from which it made, don't just consider the initial cost. You must think about the climate where you live and the effect that will have on the product you choose. Can you store it away in the harsh weather ? Do you have the time and inclination to maintain it every spring ? Read on for more helpful tips.
Wooden garden benches are beautiful additions to nearly every outdoor space one might imagine. They add warmth, rest and tranquility for anyone who would sit and take in the fresh air, the sounds of nature, and perhaps a little relaxation.
Choosing a wooden garden bench for yourself, however, takes a bit of consideration. To the garden connoisseur, not all benches are created equal. The piece you choose will reflect upon you, your style, your value of your garden and the joy you get from tending to dressing and beautifying your garden.
There are many different kinds of wood, all with different features, colors, textures, smells, and durability. Some woods are harder and stronger, such as teak, while some woods are soft enough to scratch deeply with a fingernail, such as pine.
Deciding how to choose could be as simple to you as choosing a wood indigenous to your area. In the northwest, you might use knotty pine wood. That fact that it is soft and scratches easily could be considered a strength or a weakness. The good thing is if you don't like that factor, you can opt for harder wood like a teak garden bench. Or you may think that those wear and tear scratches will give your bench character. Maybe you have thought of carving names or images into the bench. A softwood bench would make that easier.
Hardwood benches tend to be a little bit more expensive, but not always. Part of the reason for the cost is simply because they last longer. Hardwood can stand up to the elements longer, and endure use better. You will need to do less maintenance like sanding and refinishing with a hardwood bench. Hardwoods also tend to be darker than softer woods. Depending on your color preference, that may make a difference in choosing the type of wood for your garden bench.
So whether your are planning on buying or building your wooden garden bench, your choices vary depending on the characteristics of the wood you choose. Choose well, and enjoy!
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