Teak Garden Bench - any company recommendations?

wallofbeans

Hi All,

I'm searching for a classic 5ft teak garden bench. I am finding so many companies that all look fine, one of which I almost bought from... But then found a thread here with horror stories about how awful they are! 

I'm now nervous of them all. The one I had found has mostly great feedback on review sites, so now I don't know which to trust or how to know good from bad.

Has anyone bought teak garden furniture and had a good experience? Can you share where you bought from?
Has anyone got advice on what to look for in a bench that will last?

Thanks all!

GDB2222

We have a teak bench that was bought from John Lewis 50 years ago, and it’s lasted very well without any maintenance. 

Can you still buy teak, by the way?

theonlywayisup

We bought our teak furniture from Bridgman and it still looks amazing.  If you go for any decent hardwood make sure you don't use teak oil or anything like that.  Google Marine Teak two part cleaner and Semco sealer.  Have been using them for 20 or so years and have teak that looks like new. 

wallofbeans

Thanks both! 

Bridgman only has a 180cm teak bench, which is too long for what I need, and costs quite a lot more than the others I’ve seen - now £599, down from £899! 

The other I’ve seen have been around £300 but they’ve only had a 1 year guarantee - and this has 3 years, so maybe that’s when I’ll know it’s a better quality bench. 

John Lewis don’t have the right size either, but all there’s are by a company called Barlow Tyrie - are even more expensive - but come with a 10 year guarantee! 

More investigation needed. Any more suggestions out there? 

dharm999

Try local auction places, teak garden furniture cones up every so often, and it’s usually a few years old, so you’ll know how well it’s aged

theonlywayisup

Bridgman, Barlow Tyrie, Hartman, Alexander Rose and Kettler (not to be confused with Keter) etc are premium brands and use top quality timbers.

Like most things there are grades of teak.  https://www.farawayfurniture.com/a-b-and-c-teak-grades-explained.html explains a little about the differences.  

If you are wanting your furniture to last then you should look at premium grade a teak.  Alternatively you could try another quality hardwood like Iroko.

https://duffieldtimber.com/the-workbench/categories/buyers-guides/the-best-types-of-wood-for-diy-garden-furniture-projects offers some help with timber longevity/suitability. 

wallofbeans

theonlywayisup said:

Bridgman, Barlow Tyrie, Hartman, Alexander Rose and Kettler (not to be confused with Keter) etc are premium brands and use top quality timbers.

Like most things there are grades of teak.  https://www.farawayfurniture.com/a-b-and-c-teak-grades-explained.html explains a little about the differences.  

If you are wanting your furniture to last then you should look at premium grade a teak.  Alternatively you could try another quality hardwood like Iroko.

https://duffieldtimber.com/the-workbench/categories/buyers-guides/the-best-types-of-wood-for-diy-garden-furniture-projects offers some help with timber longevity/suitability. 

That's all very helpful - thank you so much!

The confusion I still have though, is that there is so much option for what is called 'grade A' teak from other sites at around £250-300 for a 5ft bench. This do look like a less sturdy thinner frame, but this is not a park bench that is going to be used that often and nobody is going to be jumping around on it. So will this be okay?

Or are these companies lying about it being 'grade a' or even teak at all? How is it so much cheaper than the companies you mentioned?

This is an example that has some good reviews online:
https://www.cyan-teak-furniture.com/windsor-3-seater-teak-garden-bench-5ft-park-bench-1-5m

twopenny

The cyan teak furniture looks thin and slender so the grade may be fine. They cut it cost by using more slender cuts.
It will last but not as long as a thicker cut obviously.
If you're hardly going to use it thats fine. 
I've had to reinforce mine,chunky though it is because as they get older my friends are getting chunkier   

elsien

My Iroko bench from Tesco is still going strong after about 15 plus years. Just been using ordinary oil on it and covering it up in the winter. Cost me about 40 quid.

wallofbeans

elsien said:

My Iroko bench from Tesco is still going strong after about 15 plus years. Just been using ordinary oil on it and covering it up in the winter. Cost me about 40 quid.

Wow. I couldn’t seem to find many Irko benches and I don’t think Tesco do them anymore. What a great deal! 

wallofbeans

twopenny said:

The cyan teak furniture looks thin and slender so the grade may be fine. They cut it cost by using more slender cuts.
It will last but not as long as a thicker cut obviously.
If you're hardly going to use it thats fine. 
I've had to reinforce mine,chunky though it is because as they get older my friends are getting chunkier   

Thanks so much - I might go for one then!

Saying that, I just spotted another version that I'm wondering about....

The one I mentioned is £235, comes already built and they say with dowels, glued, mortise and tenon joints. The cheaper one is £185 and looks very similar but comes flat packed, and they say stainless steel fittings. 

Apart from having to put it together myself, is the more expensive one made in that way better? Or do they do the same thing? Any thoughts?

Flat pack version:
https://www.cyan-teak-furniture.com/york-teak-garden-bench-flat-pack-1-5m

Ready made:
https://www.cyan-teak-furniture.com/windsor-3-seater-teak-garden-bench-5ft-park-bench-1-5m