GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

07-05-2003, 10:20 AM

(Steve Harris) wrote in
:

I'd like a short (about 1m long) wooden bench for my garden. I've seen
very cheap pine offerings and expensive naughty hardwoods. Will money
buy me resistance to rote, mould, etc?

Is there a really good "treatment" that will prevent rot? A lot of these
seem to be for rough sawn timber only.

I'm informed by someone that makes pressure-treated softwood furniture (so
not entirely unbiased! that cheaper tongue and groove hardwood stuff has
a tendency to warp and fall out of true in the wet British winter, which is
why really good hardwood furniture is so expensive.

Plus there is the whole 'really sustainable?' question about most of the
hardwoods you see. It may be badged as from sustainable forests, but you
need to do a lot of research to be sure.

My source claims that properly tanalised softwood stuff held together with
bolts is more durable because if it moves a bit you just tighten the bolts.
Presumably one could also make hardwood stuff this way.

I can't speak from personal experience as mine is all metal.

He also says that because softwood is easier to work, it's easier to make
comfy curves in it.

Victoria