Hardwood for Garden Bench

[bigalxyz]

I have an old garden bench. I think it's made from mahogany. At any rate, some kind of dark hardwood. Two of the slats (is that the right word) have rotted and I'd like to replace them.

Approx 20mm x 70mm cross section and ~1.4m long.

Should I hunt down mahogany with that cross section, or is there a cheaper/better alternative? It's a tatty old thing so if there's a bit of a colour mismatch or whatever, it doesn't matter too much.

Thank you.

 

[motorbiking]

If you have some wood stain, you'll probably get close enough with standard softwood as long as you give it plenty of coats.

 

[SFK]

standard softwood

... that is also pressure treated and is close enough to matching your size requirements:

Wickes Treated Sawn Timber - 22 x 75 x 2400 mm | Wickes.co.uk

Wickes Treated Sawn Timber - 22 x 75 x 2400 mm

www.wickes.co.uk

 

[^woody^]

Softwood, horizontal on a bench will be prone to bowing, splitting or even cracking on a knot. And I wouldn't give it many summers.

There are sellers on ebay that sell pre formed bench slats of different sizes and species.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

1. Teak
2. Iroko
3. Oak

In all probability your "mahogany" is either teak or iroko because mahogany is not really durable in exterior positions whereas teak was used to build tea clippers and us still used for dhows

 

[foxhole]

Bench Slats - Made in Britain - BenchslatsUK

Replacement Hardwood Garden Bench Slats - Made in Britain - Suitable for all Cast Iron Bench Styles - Kiln Dried Hardwood Garden Bench Slats

benchslatsuk.co.uk