What is a bench

Among the furniture designed for sitting, you cannot find a more practical option than a bench. Its shape and design allows it to comfortably accommodate one person or a whole company.

What is a bench

In the traditional sense, a bench or stool is a piece of furniture on which several people can sit at the same time. The height of the seat is greater than or equal to its depth. The back is optional, but quite common. The same can be said about the armrests.

Definition of the term

According to D. N. Ushakov, the word “bench” has 2 meanings:

• same as bench;
• seat in parliament.

The second meaning involves the use of a plural form: bench. The word is also used in other contexts, namely:

• school bench (used when they want to talk about events that took place during their studies);
• dock (to be in it means to be put on trial).

Types of available options

By type of base there are:

• steel (often welded, from round or square pipes);
• cast iron;
• concrete;
• plastic;
• made of natural stone (for example, granite);
• aluminum;
• wooden.

Each listed type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Thus, steel is susceptible to corrosion, but the process can be significantly slowed down with the help of specialized products and proper care. Significantly in this context – for 10 years or more.

IMPORTANT! The average service life of a steel bench exceeds 15 years.

Cast iron ones withstand environmental influences, but they weigh a lot (exception: low-quality products with a high content of impurities). Low mobility will not hurt if the bench will definitely not be moved after the initial installation, but for a summer house it is better to purchase less heavy furniture. For example, aluminum or plastic. The first is also good for its variety of forms, and the second is low cost.

However, they also have their downsides. Thieves will definitely not ignore a garden bench made of metal, for the return of which they can get money. Plastic is not very presentable and can only withstand low loads (low compared to steel, concrete and cast iron products). If you need practical and light furniture, which also looks impressive and is not so expensive, then you should take a closer look at wooden benches. And even though such benches do not tolerate precipitation, direct sunlight, sudden temperature changes and high humidity, good impregnation in combination with proper care will reduce the severity of the issue. The product will last for many years.

IMPORTANT! A concrete bench is indispensable in cases where you need something that will last forever, but the budget is very limited.

Benches are classified not only by type of base; the material of the back also matters. Based on this feature, the following types are distinguished:

• wooden;
• plastic;
• made of sheet steel.

The first option is the most common. Municipal benches for courtyards, parks and other recreation areas, as well as furniture for private properties, are produced with wooden backs. The difference between urban and individual property can be seen in the cost of wood.Products from expensive varieties are not purchased by government agencies. They prefer to purchase benches made from cheap but wear-resistant hardwood.

IMPORTANT! If you are interested in a good quality wooden bench, pay attention to the options made from larch. It withstands environmental influences and looks beautiful.

Wooden ones, in turn, also have several subspecies. Among them:

• made from solid logs (sometimes the seat and back are made from 1 log, with only the middle cut out);
• made from beams;
• made from pressed sawdust;
• upholstered with fabric and unupholstered (the former are installed only indoors).

Municipalities are not interested not only in benches made of expensive wood, but also in shaped benches made of sheet steel. Among government agencies, only the most primitive in form varieties are in demand, whose unpretentiousness is combined with excellent anti-vandal qualities. You should look for an example of such a shop in waiting rooms, at bus stops and in hospitals. They are uncomfortable to sit on for a long time, they are hard, but they are easy for cleaners to clean, and hooligans and simply very active children, even with a strong desire, will not be able to cause irreparable damage to the seat or armrest.

You should also distinguish between suspended, floor-mounted mobile and floor-mounted stationary options. The first type is similar in design and appearance to a swing. The second is lightweight benches. An example of a bench from the third category is aluminum. A concrete frame is often created for them. Due to it, stability is increased and risks associated with the actions of looters are reduced.