In parks or in your our very own backyards, benches provide a comfy seat for two or three. Not only that but benches help to inspire us to stop for a few moments from the hectic pace of life and enjoy the simple beauty of nature and being outdoors. But wooden benches like teak or cedar are expensive and require a good amount of upkeep. Try resin benches, a useful alternative in more ways than one.
Similar: Sustainability
Both wood and resin benches are environmentally sound, but for their own reasons. Wooden furniture comes from lumber, aka trees, which is a renewable resource in that trees can be replanted. However, replanting is a big job and most companies have trouble physically and financially keeping their replanting efforts balanced with their logging efforts. Also, illegal logging has led to mass amounts of deforestation in many countries, which affects the condition of air, soil and animal habitats.
Resin benches on the other hand come from a sustainable manmade material that is both cheap and easy to work with and replicate. Not only that, but plastic furniture is often manufactured using recycled materials, so less waste ends up in landfills.
Similar: Appearance
The great thing about plastics, poly resins in particular is their ability to mimic other materials. Wood is no exception. Resin benches can look almost identical to wood ones in color shape, and even texture of wood grain. You have to get right up next to it to be able to tell the difference.
Different: Cost
One of the main differences between resin and wood furniture is cost. Top quality wooden benches made from exotic hardwoods like teak and shorea are expensive because they are a superior product. What should be noted though, is that while people pay more upfront, these hardwoods will last well into the years
so there is less need to buy new furniture every few years.
Resin benches are made from a cheaper material, but the tradeoff is that they are not as durable as hardwoods, so the money you save from your initial purchase will go towards more furniture down the road. However, if you are a fan of buying new furniture every so often, this might work out perfectly.
Similar: Durability
In terms of general quality, though, wood and resin benches are on par, though in different ways. Wooden benches are naturally durable, especially hardwoods, and are suited to outdoor exposure to rain, snow, sun, etc. Some woods even produce their own resinous oils that further protect the heartwood from rot, infestation, warping, etc.
Resin benches are waterproof, so they will never rot or warp. They are tempered to be able to withstand moisture and sun even better than wood, and will only start to break down in extremely cold temperatures.
Different: Maintenance
Wood generally requires more work than plastic. For starters, most woods need to be oiled a few times per year to prevent cracking and splitting. Then, most people choose to coat their furniture with some sort of finish, a varnish or paint, for example. These must also regularly be maintained. Wood furniture must also be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent discoloration and staining, and pains must be taken to keep it dry so that there is warping or molding occurring.
It's easier to clean up plastics when it comes to moisture and stains since the material is waterproof, although porous, so stains that sit for awhile might be absorbed after a time. However, resin benches don't need to be painted since the color is constant throughout, but if you decide to do it, you can use spray paints instead of traditional furniture paints.
Author Resource:-
Todd Arend is a freelance writing professional whose expertise covers a variety of areas, including patio and backyard furniture, landscaping and design. He regularly writes about Resin Benches and Resin Outdoor Benches.
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