Who do I have to contact to get my bench positioned in a public place?

We recommend that you contact the local council that represents the area in which you would like your bench to be placed. You will need to obtain permission before your bench can be fixed in a public place and the local council will be able to provide you with all the information to do this. You can find the contact details for the appropriate council here,

click to see list of local councils

Who do I have to contact to have my bench positioned in a cemetery or church yard?

We recommend that you contact the grounds manager for the church or cemetery. Very often if you carry out an internet search for the cemetery or church where you would like your bench to be positioned, contact details are readily available.

Can I install my bench myself?

Our bench anchors are easy to install, and there is an instruction video on our website. There is an option on the website to purchase the bench anchors to soft ground with the installation tool. The bench anchors to concrete only require standard tools such as a drill and screwdriver.
We do offer an installation service if you are unable or unsure of installing the bench yourself.

click to see bench anchors

Do I have to treat my bench?

Teak Benches
Our teak benches are made from the highest quality teak which means that they come ready to use. Teak wood does not require treatment, it will grey as it weathers, but this does not damage the bench. Teak is the best wood available for outdoor use as it does not warp, rot or crack.
Some people like the bench to retain its original colour, in which case we suggest the use of a teak protector. The teak oil can be used, but this will turn the wood a dark brown, where as a teak protector will allow the wood to retain its original colour. If you decide to use one of these products, we recommend that you reapply the treatment every year.

Oak
The oak has been treated at source with a sealer and wood preservative. Once outside this will last about 6 months depending on the elements.
It is important that further treatment is applied as soon as you see the colour fading and the wood grain rising. This treatment allows you to maintain the natural look of you bench, whilst extending its longevity so you get maximum use out of your bench.
The recommended maintenance kit for Oxford FSC oak bench comprising of 500ml wood cleaner, 500ml oil, sponge, cotton cloth, paint brush, cleaning brush, sand paper and gloves is supplied with your bench. Additional maintenance kits or Osmo oil can be also purchased.
Treatment should be repeated as and when you experience the same indications in future years. Although this will reduce the amount of cracking that the wood will produce over the years, it will not prevent it totally.
The oak has been constructed in such a way that any cracks will not affect its ability to perform as a piece of furniture. Oak is a wide grained wood and cracks or shakes will open and close depending on the weather. These add to its character and are typical of this well know timber.
If the furniture is not re-treated it will start to weather very quickly and will adopt all the characteristics of oak - i.e. changing to silver in colour and developing shakes, throughout the life of the furniture.

Why do we recommend an inscription of a maximum of 50 letters?

The longer the inscription, the smaller the letters that are inscribed have to be. Clearly the larger the bench, the more flexible the inscription length can be. We set a limit of fifty letters inscription as through experience, we have found that this length of inscription provides the clearest and best letter size for inscription.

What font of inscription is used?

A standardised font of inscription is used, which can be seen on our benches in our portfolio section of our website. What we will ask is whether you would like your inscription in uppercase, or a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters. We recommend uppercase letters throughout the inscription as it adds extra clarity to your inscription, as uppercase letters tend to be slightly larger than lowercase letters.

click to see font

Can I have a logo or small image inscribed?

Yes, please email us a logo or image and we will price this engraving service for you. Please note that we need a vector image (.dxf, .dwg, .eps, .ai, .pdf, .pvc, .v3d, .v3m) to engrave a logo. If you are not able to supply that, please email us a jpeg / gif file which can be converted into a vector image by our graphic designer for an extra charge.

How long will it take from ordering to delivery of my bench?

We have a lead time of two to three weeks for delivery of your bench. It takes time to inscribe your bench and we like to make sure that we get it done accurately and to a high standard.

Is it true that under new health and safety laws benches must be more than 17.75in high?

The myth : "All park benches must be replaced because they are 3 inches too low".
The reality: "When we heard this story it really took us by surprise. How could there be health & safety law on this? The simple answer is, there isn't.
'It seems that the story originated from a decision by a facility manager and has no basis in health and safety law at all. There are no such bench height requirements and HSE will definitely not be sending our inspectors around measuring the benches! Well, it looks like Britain's park benches will survive after all!"
Source: Health and Safety Executive Website click to see source - HSE, accessed on 12/02/2010

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