Garden Bench: Teak or Stone, Size and Winter Care

Short answer

Hedvig
teak, stainless steel
Wilma garden
sintered stone
Sizes
65, 100, 130 cm

Hedvig is teak on black stainless steel, and the teak weathers to silver-grey. Wilma garden has a sintered stone seat that does not weather at all. Both frames are stainless steel. Both come in 65, 100 and 130 cm at 46 cm, dining-chair height.

Garden Bench Hedvig with a black stainless steel frame and teak slats, seen from the front

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-grey within a season. Teak oil keeps the honey colour, 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 aluminium?

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 aluminium 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 aluminium garden furniture.

Metal frame: stainless steel, cast iron or aluminium?
MetalRustWeightWatch for
Stainless steel, powder-coatedDoes not rust through a chipBetween the twoAsk for stainless under the paint: plain steel rusts
Cast ironRusts where the paint chipsHeavyTouch up chips before winter
AluminiumDoes not rustLightMoves in wind; check the joints

Which size?

All sit at 46 cm, so they work at a garden dining table as well as on their own. Wilma garden in Lunar stone comes in 65 cm 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?
LengthSeatsUse
65 cm1Balcony, beside a door
100 cm2Against a wall, one side of a small garden table
130 cm2 to 3One 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
46 cm
Teak
weathers silver-grey
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. 65, 100 or 130 cm at 46 cm. 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-grey; 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?

65 cm for one, 100 cm for two, 130 cm 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.

Shop the outdoor furniture in this guide

All outdoor furniture
  • Made in Sweden
  • 10-year warranty
  • Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot