Bench seat

[chippy]

I want to make a circular or probably hexagonal bench seat to go around the base of a tree. What is the best material to use for that? Is dense pine ok? or should I go for a hardwood (from a managed forest of course).

Its obviously going to get wet, will have sap dripping onto it, will be subject to insects of all types crawling on it and will need to be cleaned regulary. So it needs to be hard wearing and have a resilient finish.

Any recommendations?

[tusses]

what's your budget ? how long should it last ? .....


pressure treated pine is ok and functional. paint with a fence type treatment to whatever colour you like.

Hardwoods cost more, but can look nicer.

Teak Ceder Larch Iroco oak etc are all ok outside with various maintenance treatments. Cost more tho !

Rich

[engineerone]

don't forget with pressure treated wood, you have to carefully treat each joint and design the joints to allow for proper water flow.

paul

[chippy]

I'd like it to last something like 20 years. So I don't mind buying a really nice timber for it.

I like idea of Cedar, if I could keep it natural, it would be a nice reddish shade which would look good, particularly in the winter when everything is a bit drab.

[Telos]

Keeping cedar a nice reddish shade... ... ain't gonna happen!

It naturally weathers to a silver shade which has no effect on its properties or weather resistance. Most architects choose it specifically for that reason. You'll have to stain it if you want to keep the warm red colour - or manically oil it every couple of months!

[chippy]

Really?, I didn't know that. I probably would manically oil it... for a while at least

So as you say, I guess I could use Cedar for its longevity but would need to stain and seal it. I'll make it a modular construction so it can some apart easily and that way I can give it an overhaul every few years.

Here's a commercial example of what I envisage www.global-furniture.uk.com/furniture-store/item/store/Garden-Furniture/department/Teak-Benches/item/Hexagonal-Tree-Seat-2m.html

Should be a fun project, cant wait to get started.

[simuk]

I agree with Telos what ever timber you use you gonna have a job keeping its original colour out side exposed to the elments.

What about Douglas Fir, i used it on this job below


Simon

[chippy]

Wow, that looks really nice.

What treatment will you give it?