Garden Bench: Teak or Sintered Stone

Garden Bench: Teak or Stone, Size and Winter Care

By Alexandra PetterssonReviewed by Alexander TjernströmUpdated 1 November 2026

Short answer

Hedvig: teak, stainless steel
Wilma garden: sintered stone
Sizes: 25.6, 39.5, 51 in

Hedvig is teak on black stainless steel, and the teak weathers to silver-gray. Wilma garden has a sintered stone seat that does not weather at all. Both frames are stainless steel. Both come in 25.6, 39.5 and 51 in at 18 in, dining-chair height.

A garden bench lives outside all season, so the seat and the frame matter more than the shape. Wood weathers, steel can rust, stone stays as it is. This guide is how teak and sintered stone behave outdoors, what size to buy for a table or a wall, and what to do with the bench in winter. Both of our garden benches are welded in Sweden.

Teak or stone seat?

Teak, on Hedvig, is warm to sit on and dries fast after rain. Left untreated it weathers to an even silver-gray within a season. Teak oil keeps the honey color, but then you oil it every year.

Sintered stone, on Wilma garden, does not weather, fade or need oil. It takes sun, frost and spilt wine. It is cooler to sit on in spring and autumn. It is not marble.

Metal frame: stainless steel, cast iron or aluminum?

Stainless steel, on both of ours. Hedvig and Wilma garden are welded from stainless steel and powder-coated black, so a chip in the coat does not rust. We make no cast iron or aluminum benches; this is how they compare.

Whatever the metal, look at the joints: welded ones stay tight, bolted ones loosen as the frame warms and cools. More in steel or aluminum garden furniture.

Metal frame: stainless steel, cast iron or aluminum?
Metal	Rust	Weight	Watch for
Stainless steel, powder-coated	Does not rust through a chip	Between the two	Ask for stainless under the paint: plain steel rusts
Cast iron	Rusts where the paint chips	Heavy	Touch up chips before winter
Aluminum	Does not rust	Light	Moves in wind; check the joints

Which size?

All sit at 18 in, so they work at a garden dining table as well as on their own. Wilma garden in Lunar stone comes in 25.6 in only.

Both are backless benches; there is no version with a backrest. Against a wall, the wall is the backrest. In the open, you can sit facing either way.

Which size?
Length	Seats	Use
25.6 in	1	Balcony, beside a door
39.5 in	2	Against a wall, one side of a small garden table
51 in	2 to 3	One side of a garden dining table

Winter care

Stone Wilma can stay out. Teak Hedvig can stay out too, but lasts longer if you lift it off wet ground or cover it with a breathable cover, never plastic sheeting that traps damp.

In spring, wash teak with water and a soft brush. Wipe the frame with a damp cloth and check the bolts.

Delivery and assembly

Hedvig is flat-pack with the slats already fitted: eight bolts. Wilma garden arrives assembled.

Teak for warmth, stone for no care

Seat height: 18 in
Teak: weathers silver-gray
Stone: no oil, no fading

Hedvig in teak weathers silver and dries fast. Wilma garden in sintered stone never needs oil. Both on stainless steel. 25.6, 39.5 or 51 in at 18 in. Welded in Sweden, 10-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best material for a garden bench?

Teak and sintered stone both last outdoors. Teak weathers silver-gray; stone does not change.

Can a garden bench stay outside in winter?

Ours can. A breathable cover and lifting teak off wet ground make it last longer.

Does the bench need a cushion?

No. Teak is warm to sit on and dries fast after rain, so Hedvig is made to sit on bare. Sintered stone does not absorb water and wipes dry. We sell no cushions for Hedvig or Wilma garden.

How long should a garden bench be?

25.6 in for one, 39.5 in for two, 51 in for two to three.

Is an outdoor bench the same as a garden bench?

Yes. Outdoor or patio bench is the American wording.

Does the garden bench need assembly?

Hedvig is eight bolts, slats already fitted. Wilma garden arrives assembled.