When choosing wood slats for an indoor or outdoor bench, durability is the first factor to consider. A bench is a special piece of furniture designated for public use and supposed to suffer from intensive wear due to the high traffic every day. In particular, the outdoor bench should be capable of withstanding all harsh elements like rain, moisture, sun heat, UV light, etc. If the wood slats of the bench are brittle and inferior, not only will it waste your time and money for repair, but also cause safety and health problems for the users.
Plastic wood, also called plastic lumber, is a new outdoor furniture material widely used for outdoor benches in recent years. As a professional manufacturer of outdoor furniture materials, we will explain to you why plastic wood is the best wood for bench slats by comparing it with other types of wood slats. Hopefully, this can help you pick the right material for outdoor benches.
Is Plywood Strong Enough For Outdoor Bench Seats?
Plywood is an engineered building material, mostly made in the form of a panel. It is a flat wood sheet mainly made up of piles of wood veneer glued together. Plywood can be used for bench slats but it depends on the type. There are various types of plywood, such as softwood, hardwood, tropical, etc. The plywood slats used for the outdoor bench must be super sturdy to handle heavy traffic. However, plywood panel usually contains urea and phenol-formaldehyde because of the glue, which can lead to a severe health problem like cancer. What’s more, plywood is not as durable as composite wood and plastic wood, without enough resistance to daily wear and weather threats.
Is Composite Wood Good For Outdoor Benches?
Composite wood, as its name suggests, is also manufactured wood made from mixed synthetic material. Generally, composite wood is made from wood fibers and plastics like PVC or PE. Besides, it is a recyclable material for outdoor furniture, with a realistic appearance of real wood. Although composite wood offers greater durability, higher strength, and low maintenance than solid wood and plywood, it is much more expensive. In addition, if the composite wood slats are exposed to sun and moisture for a long time, it may lead to expansion and contraction, and mold growth. For this reason, it might not be a perfect option for outdoor benches.
What Is the Best Wood For Outdoor Bench: Plastic Wood Bench Slats Are the Best Choice
Plastic wood, also known as plastic lumber, is an ecological construction material made from 100% plastic, mostly PS - polystyrene. Unlike composite wood, there is no wood fiber used in the production of plastic wood.There are various types of plastic wood, depending on the applications. For example, some plastic wood is mainly used for outdoor decking, flooring, or wall planks; while some plastic wood is specially used for assembling outdoor furniture, mostly the tabletop, the arm and back of the sofa and chair, and the bench seat slats.
Plastic Wood Slats Are Stronger Than Wood
When used for outdoor bench, plastic wood slats have lots of advantages over wood. They are considered to be stronger than wood on today's material market.
100% Waterproof & Weatherproof
Plastic wood slats used for outdoor furniture is designed to have excellent waterproof and weatherproof performance. First of all, plastic wood slats are 100% waterproof because of their non-porous surface. They can last for a very long time under moist conditions without growing mold and decay. Besides, plastic wood slats are super good at withstanding weather threats because they are also 100% weatherproof. The bench made of plastic wood slats can be left outside all year round without worries as the plastic wood can resist rain, snow, sun heat, and UV light and it won’t easily crack and fade.
High Strength & Wear Resistance
Plastic wood slats are sturdy enough to withstand daily wear. Even if they are hit by some sharp and heavy objects, plastic wood slats are barely breaking off. Unlike natural wood, plastic wood slats won't easily break apart even though they suffer from harsh weather elements. Plastic wood slats have the strong ability to stand moisture and are free of mildew and mold. As the seasons go by, they could hardly weaken or become brittle. In addition, plastic wood slats can be reinforced by inserting aluminum tubes, which can make them have a better bearing capacity.
Low Maintenance & High Cost-effectiveness
What’s more, plastic wood slats require less maintenance and easy cleaning, which can save your cost and time. Compared to solid wood and composite wood, plastic wood is much more inexpensive, which is why it has become one of the most widely-used materials in outdoor furniture in recent years.
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Where to Buy the Best Plastic Wood Slats for Benches?
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