Concrete, most natural stone and the grout between ceramic tiles all take in some water. Water that gets in carries stains with it, and water that freezes inside can crack the top.
What is the best stone for a garden table?
Sintered stone, if the table stays out. Dekton is made from minerals pressed and fired into a dense slab that does not absorb water. That one property is why red wine, oil, bird droppings and frost leave it as it was.
Dekton, concrete, ceramic or natural stone?
Marble is left out on purpose. It is soft and porous, and the acid in wine and lemon etches it. We do not make it.
| Top | Water and frost | Stains | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dekton sintered stone | Does not absorb water, no frost cracking | Wipe off, even after a day | Any household cleaner, never sealed |
| Concrete | Porous; can crack if water freezes inside | Takes up oil and wine unless sealed | Seal, and seal again over the years |
| Ceramic | A ceramic slab holds; grout lines on a tiled top take water | Grout darkens | Clean and reseal the grout |
| Natural stone (granite, slate) | Depends on the stone; most want sealing outside | Oil can mark an unsealed top | Seal as the supplier advises |
Is Dekton the same as ceramic or concrete?
Neither. Dekton is a sintered stone made by Cosentino. Like a ceramic slab it is fired, and its surface does not absorb; unlike a tiled top it has no grout lines. Concrete is cast, not fired, and stays porous unless it is sealed. Many tables sold as concrete-look are a print or a composite: ask what the top actually is.
Dekton is not marble either. If marble is the look you are after, read marble or Dekton first.
Can a stone garden table stay outside in winter?
Dekton, yes: frost has nothing to split, because no water gets in. Lift the table feet off standing water, and use a breathable cover if you want it cleaner in spring. Never plastic sheeting: it traps damp against the frame.
Concrete and natural stone are the ones to watch. A sealer that has worn thin lets water in, and a hard frost can open hairline cracks. If you own one, reseal it before winter. More in garden furniture in winter.
Heat, knocks and cleaning
A hot dish from the grill can go straight on Dekton, though a trivet is still civilised. It takes heat, wet rings and keys better than wood or a painted top. What it does not like is a hard knock on an edge, which can chip it like any stone: lift heavy pots, do not drop them.
To clean it, any household cleaner and a cloth. Wine, oil and bird droppings wipe off even after a day. On concrete or natural stone, use the cleaner the sealer maker recommends: strong cleaners strip the sealer. See how to clean garden furniture.
Which stone garden tables do we make?
Diana garden seats 6, 8 or 10 with one at each end; see the garden dining table guide for sizing. It is rectangular and fixed: we make no round or extendable garden table. Wilma garden in Lunar stone comes in 65 cm only.
| Piece | Use | Sizes | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana garden | Dining table | 160, 240 or 280 x 90 cm | 76 cm |
| Anton outdoor | Coffee tables, nesting | 100 x 75, 70 x 60, 65 x 55 cm | 47.5, 43.5, 41.5 cm |
| Leo outdoor | Round coffee tables, nesting | ø95, ø80, ø70 cm | 52.5, 47.5, 42.5 cm |
| Wilma garden | Bench with a stone seat | 65, 100 or 130 cm long, 39 cm deep | 46 cm seat |
Choose a stone that does not drink
- Diana garden
- 160 to 280 cm
- Lounge tables
- Anton, Leo
- Bench
- Wilma garden
