Wooden garden furniture should do more than just look good on a sunny afternoon. It needs to cope with daily usage and shifting weather (especially in the UK).
In this article, we explain what makes our products here at MG Timber notably sturdy and solid, focusing on our use of Swedish Redwood and a cutting-edge manufacturing process to deliver durable picnic benches and outdoor furniture suitable for all sorts of domestic and commercial settings.
Swedish Redwood for structural strength
The foundation of any durable garden furniture is the timber itself. We use Swedish Redwood, a slow-grown softwood sourced from Scandinavian forests. Its growth condition makes a measurable difference.
Because the trees in colder climates grow more slowly, the annual growth rings are tighter. This results in:
- Greater density
- Improved structural stability
- Enhanced load-bearing performance
- Reduced tendency to warp or twist
Swedish Redwood typically has a higher strength-to-weight ratio compared with faster-grown alternatives. In practical terms, this means it can withstand significant weight and repeated use with deforming. In fact, in a recent series we carried our comparing MG Timber picnic tables against competitors, we were able to demonstrate our improved durability and superior resilience thanks to our usage of thicker, denser timber.
This means you’ll be able to enjoy a bench that feels solid when you sit down and maintains its shape over years of exposure.
Tanalith E pressure treatment
Timber strength alone is not enough for outdoor performance. Protection against rot, fungi and insect attack is essential, particularly in the UK’s damp climate, and this is achieved with the right type of wood treatment.
We treat our wooden furniture with Tanalith E, a water-based preservative applied through a pressure treatment process. Pressure treatment forces preservatives deep into the timber fibres using a vacuum and high-pressure cycle, rather than just coating the surface. This ensures:
- Long-term resistance to fungal decay
- Protection against insect infestation
- Improved service life in ground contact or high-moisture environments (e.g. as pub benches and the like)
The result is furniture that withstands repeated wet-dry cycles, frost and seasonal temperature changes without premature deterioration.
Why heavier picnic benches suit commercial settings
In commercial settings, durability is not optional. Pubs, cafes, outdoor restaurants, holiday parks and public gardens all require furniture that can withstand near-constant use.
Pubs and beer gardens
There’s a lot your pub bench will have to contend with on a busy Friday night (read more in our Friday Night Stress Test article) including:
- High daily footfall
- Concentrated weight loads
- Movement from dragging or repositioning
- Exposure to food and drink spills
A heavier, chunkier picnic bench resists things like sliding or accidental tipping. It also deters theft and vandalism due to its weight and solid construction.
For business owners, this reduces replacement frequency and maintenance costs. It also reduces the chance of any accidents or incidents that could call into question the safety of your premises.
Schools and educational settings
School furniture must cope with energetic use. Children love to climb and lean and, unknowingly, apply uneven loads.
Sturdy Swedish Redwood benches with reinforced frames offer:
- Enhanced safety through stability
- Resistance to joint failure
- Long-term cost efficiency for budget-conscious institutions
Because our timber is pressure treated also, it will also easily tolerate being left outdoors year-round without showing signs of wear or degradation. This is particularly valuable where covered storage is limited.
Parks and public spaces
In publicly accessible areas like parks, furniture must be able to performance safely without supervision. Weight and structural solidity help prevent movement, damage and misuse.
Over time, the reduced need for repair or replacement represents significant savings for councils and site managers.
Strength and stability for domestic gardens
While commercial settings benefit most visibly from heavy-duty construction, domestic customers also gain practical advantages.
In private gardens, sturdier furniture offers:
- A more premium, substantial feel
- Greater resistance to seasonal weather
- Reduced maintenance over time
- Improved longevity (and value for money) compared with lightweight alternatives
Wind is often underestimated in residential areas. A lighter bench can shift during strong gusts, causing surface wear or instability. Heavier furniture remains anchored by its own mass.
Homeowners also appreciate the aesthetic presence of chunkier timber sections. Thicker boards and bold lines create a more established, permanent appearance within landscaped gardens. The chunkiness of our garden benches is praised especially when coupled with our curved edges.
The solidity is felt immediately. When you sit down, there is no creaking or subtle movement. That sense of confidence reflects the underlying structural quality.
Why wooden garden furniture ‘chunkiness’ matters
The term ‘chunky’ is often used casually, yet in structural timber furniture it has precise implications.
Chunkiness refers to:
- Increased cross-sectional dimensions
- Greater material mass
- Enhanced resistance to bending
- A more substantial visual profile
Larger timber sections distribute loads more effectively and resist stress fractures. They also reduce the likelihood of splitting around fixings.
Visually, chunkier furniture signals permanence. In commercial environments this conveys durability and investment in quality. In domestic settings it complements mature planting schemes and established landscapes.
The added weight and dimension are not cosmetic choices. They are deliberate structural decisions that improve performance across a range of real-world conditions.
Conclusion
At MG Timber Products, we combine slow-grown Swedish Redwood, Tanalith E pressure treatment and heavy-duty construction to produce garden furniture that is genuinely built to last. The added weight and chunkier sections are not cosmetic choices; they deliver stability, durability and long-term value across commercial and domestic settings alike.
To learn more or discuss your requirements, get in touch with our team at MG Timber’s team or explore our full range of sturdy wooden garden furniture today.