Composite Decking: Patio Benches Offer Seating For Outdoor Living

No matter what type of patio you have, you will likely want at one or two patio benches to use while enjoying your outdoor area. There many styles and designs of benches available made from a variety of materials. Everything from pour concrete, all wood, metal or a combination of them all is being used to make patio benches for every conceivable environment.

There are many inexpensive patio benches made of a combination of wrought iron and wood slats that make a nice impression. However, due to their basic design and the shape of the seat and back, they may be a little uncomfortable for more than a few minutes of use. Even those made of all wood should be tried out before using them as patio benches or no one will want to stay in them very long. Wicker and resin materials are also popular when making cheap benches, with some of them actually more comfortable that some of the more expensive ones.

Many decorators will use several patio benches to form a faux wall around a patio while providing seating for several persons. Individuals may use one bench for seating and another for holding pots of flowers or other growths. Regardless of the materials used, all outdoor furniture requires some care and maintenance.

Concrete Can Be A Cold Choice

While patio benches made of cement may seem to last longer, they can be cold to sit on, depending on the temperature, and if left in direct sunlight will absorb the heat and hold it longer than most other materials will, making them uncomfortable during weather shifts. Concrete may also begin to degrade after several freeze-thaw cycles and due to their weight will probably remain outdoors through every season.

Wood patio benches can be some of the most comfortable, provide the angle of the back and slope of the seat matches the user’s physical profile. The wood slats will need protection from the weather, much like a wood patio deck and failure to do so can result in rotting wood, sometimes not noticed until someone goes to sit down and ends up on the ground. They can be disassembled and repaired if needed, including repainting the metal sides and feet.

Resin patio benches have come a long way in terms of color choices and designs in the past few years. However, the problem with most resin products is when they get too cold they can easily chip or crack if bumped. Additionally, if they are left in extremely hot sun they can be warped by using them as a bench.