Benches are a must have for any park setting, they offer a place for people to sit down and relax. While they are well worth the investment, it’s important to make park benches last as long as possible so that you can get the most out of your money. Buying park benches made from the right, long lasting materials, as well as simply placing them in the right locations can make all the difference when it comes to making benches last longer.
4 Tips to Help Park Benches Last Longer
1. Buy the Right Materials
First and foremost, it is essential to buy benches made from the right materials to get the most use out of park benches. Purchasing benches made from cheap materials can quickly backfire. All it takes is some sun exposure, a cold winter, or too much use and the bench will start to come apart, requiring maintenance or replacement.
While wood benches may look nice at first, they are quick to deteriorate, especially if they are exposed to a lot of wet and cold weather. Metal benches are a better option, although they are still susceptible to rust – especially without proper maintenance. The lowest maintenance bench you can get is made from our unique resin-based plastic.
In addition, it’s important to purchase park benches that can withstand a wide range of weights and activity. For instance, children may stand and jump on the bench, and everyone from small toddlers to overweight grownups will take a seat. That’s why it’s important to avoid cheap or flimsy materials that will not stand up to this sort of wear and tear.
TerraCast offers two different types of benches – we have personalized metal benches as well as maintenance-free benches made from 100% recycled plastic. Our plastic line is incredibly durable with stylish splinter-free frames. Plus, you never have to worry about the bench rusting, rotting, corroding, or requiring touch up paint or sealant.
Learn more about our reliable, customizable benches
#2. Proper Maintenance
Taking good care of your benches is adamant if you want them to withstand the test of time. Different bench materials will require unique forms of maintenance, from sealant to paint, to cleaning up bird droppings and stuck gum, as well as fixing and replacing rusty or loose screws. Checking in on benches regularly to see what they need will ensure that small problems don’t balloon out of hand, turning into the need to completely replace a bench. Not only will proper maintenance ensure benches last as long as possible, but it’ll also help keep everyone who uses the benches safe. For instance, a loose or rusty screw could cause injury to a small child. Or, if the bench becomes unstable it could collapse under the weight of someone. It’s always more affordable to avoid these issues from the get-go by implementing proper maintenance.
#3. Bench Placement
The location you place a bench will also play a role in how well it stands up over time. For instance, placing a bench in direct sunlight may result in the color fading faster than if it were parked in the shade. In addition, people tend to utilize benches more frequently if they are placed in a shady location. Benches located beneath an overhang of some sort have added protection against rain, storms, and other weather, as well as direct sunlight.
#4. Clean Parks Get More Respect
The cleaner and better kept a park is, the less likely it is to become a victim of vandalism. Therefore, make sure your park is clean and well-kept to ensure the longest lasting benches and other site furnishings. One way to ensure a clean park is to make sure there are enough trash cans placed in convenient locations to reduce the risk of littering.
The Longest Lasting Benches on the Market
For the longest lasting outdoor site furnishings, take trust in TerraCast Products. From Armless Roll Fold Diamond Benches to our Diamond Bench Without Back, we have a wide variety of benches for parks, commercial settings, and residential homes. You can find our benches all across the US in a wide variety of settings. Browse our complete line of benches