BENCH MATERIAL CHOICES

[Zoey]

So I'm trying to find a good less expensive wood to build a bench for a playground near my home but our weather is never the same what wood type should i use?

[Von]

Pressure-treated 2"xs from the local home center would seem to be the default answer. Other options would seem be something naturally rot resistant but expensive (e.g. white oak), or something that takes a lot of maintenance (reapplying finish every year).

[Beechwood Chip]

Some parents might freak out about poison-treated wood in a playground.

[Mark J]

1 hour ago, Beechwood Chip said:

Some parents might freak out about poison-treated wood in a playground.

Yeah, that could be an issue.  I don't know where this bench will reside, and material choices will depend on what's locally available.  Cedar and Redwood are generally more rot resistant, but one or both may not be readily availble in your local.  Your local lumber yard can advise you. 

However, any wood is going to require at least annual maintenance.  And then there's splinters...

So maybe consider making the bench out of composite decking material.  Trex & Timber Tech are two brands I know of, but there are others.  I know I've seen some products that utilize recycled plastic.  These materials would be much more durable and lower maintenance for this application.

 

[Beechwood Chip]

On 3/28/2025 at 9:53 AM, Mark J said:

However, any wood is going to require at least annual maintenance.  And then there's splinters...

It's not cheap, but I used ipe for my porch.  The end grain was sealed when it was built, but other than that there's been zero maintenance for 25 years.  And it's very hard and smooth grained, so splinters aren't an issue.

I like Trex (and similar products) whenever water is involved and looks are secondary.  Basically, it's plastic that I can work like wood.

[fcschoenthal]

On 3/28/2025 at 6:34 AM, Von said:

Pressure-treated 2"xs from the local home center would seem to be the default answer.

On 3/28/2025 at 8:53 AM, Mark J said:

So maybe consider making the bench out of composite decking material.

I would consider a combination of the two. Use pressure-treated for the frame and composite for the contact parts. The pressure-treated will hold up better, especially if you treat it with a deck sealer and a lot cheaper than just about anything else. The composite will hold up to the weather and be more comfortable to interact with. Check with some local deck builders to see if you can get scraps or maybe have them add a little bit onto an order for you to get a better price.

[wtnhighlander]

"near my home", will play a key role in determining what is 'inexpensive'. Prices for various species of wood vary wildly, according to how commonly they grow in the region.

In my region (West Tennessee), common species with good outdoor durability include white oak, cypress, and a juniper that is commonly known as 'aromatic' or Eastern Red cedar. Of those, cypress would be my choice, as the oak is more costly and harder to work. The cedar sapwood isn't rot resistant at all, and wide boards of all heartwood are scarce.

A great choice, if you can find it, is black locust. Many places consider it an invasive species, and don't allow it to be grown, because of its thorns. But the old saying is that settler's log cabins used black locust for the ground contact log, because it would last 2 years longer than stone.

You can also char the surface of any wood that contacts the ground (and a few inches up) to enhance its resistance to insect and fungus damage.

[Coop]

Did not know that about the charing. My cousin is also building a mailbox post/holder like mine but is using old decking boards. He power washed them and charred them for the look. He’ll be glad to know the char will give him extra protection. 

[fcschoenthal]

On 3/28/2025 at 8:40 PM, Coop said:

He’ll be glad to know the char will give him extra protection. 

"Shou sugi ban" (焼杉板), also known as "yakisugi" (焼杉), is a traditional Japanese method of wood preservation where wood, often Japanese cedar (sugi), is charred to enhance its durability and resistance to fire, insects, and decay.