Frequently Asked Questions

Q How are site furnishings fastened to the ground?

Site furnishings are generally fastened to the ground using one of two methods. The first fastening method employs the use of anchor bolts to mount the bench to a concrete slab (often referred to as surface mount). The other method a furnishing can be fastened is by embedding it into the ground. The mounting method should be determined prior to ordering so that the furnishing can be fabricated accordingly.

Q What is the best material for site furnishings?

Site Furnishings are made with an array of materials. Generally, steel and wood are the most popular with stone, concrete, recycled plastic and variations of all materials rounding out what is available on the market. All of these materials have merit for certain applications. Vandal resistance (link to vandal resistance question), ventilation for drying after a rainfall, weather elements, frequency of use, user group, cost, maintenance, mounting, and the use of environmentally-friendly materials, are factors that are often considered when selecting the right site furnishing.

Steel
Steel is the most popular and arguably the most suitable material for outdoor site furnishings. If steel is properly primed and coated, it should last for a long time. Steel mesh and steel bar are excellent choices based on strength and longevity, vandal resistance, and ventilation. Steel can also be bent and shaped to form a vast array of design configurations to suit just about any esthetic.

Wood
No wood type is necessarily superior to another. Selection should be based on the application (location, frequency of use). Wood is often inexpensive, but it not as vandal resistant as steel, does not drain or ventilate well after a rainfall, and must be maintained. Below are a few examples of popular wood choices for site furnishings. For the purpose of this information, the woods below are considered for use as seat and back pan slats.

Yellow Pine is an example of an inexpensive wood. It is fairly durable, but will lose its color quickly if not treated and should be maintained to ensure longevity. Often the cost saved by choosing yellow pin over a more expensive wood is negated due to maintenance or replacement costs.

Ipe is an example of a hardwood that is self-weathering. Ipe is significantly more expensive than yellow pine, but will last longer. Ipe must be imported from Brazil, where it is harvested. This fact may or may not present a political concern to some consumers.

Cedar is popular on the West Coast of North America, because it weathers naturally, is non-toxic, smells great and is native to the area. Cedar is not a hardwood, and is easily carved or chipped. It is not ideal for heavy-use applications.

Concrete
Is extremely durable, and may provide a pleasant esthetic if consistent with adjacent architecture. Concrete amenities often do not need to be mounted due to their weight. Concrete is easily spray painted, but difficult to vandalize otherwise. Concrete does not drain or ventilate well after a rainfall. Many concrete designs available today are considered outdated or lackluster.

Stone
Stone is extremely durable, and presents many of the same attributes and challenges as concrete. It does not require a mounting system, but is easily spray-painted. Stone does not ventilate or dry well after a rainfall. Stone may only fulfill a limited number of esthetic styles.

Q How should site furnishings be coated?

Site furnishings must be well coated to withstand year round outdoor exposure. UV, rain, snow, heat and cold, use, and frequency of use, are all contributing factors to the wear-and-tear of a site furnishing. The following information describes the most popular materials used to make site furnishings and how they are generally coated.

Steel
Generally, industry standards dictate that a steel site furnishing should be zinc primed and then powder coated to withstand outdoor conditions. Furnishings with intricate curves and crevices are at greater risk of developing corrosion if the zinc primer and powder coating do not penetrate all areas. For such situations, it is better to dip the furnishing in a primer bath than to merely spray it. Hardware should be stainless steel or galvanized to protect against corrosion.

Wood
Many different wood types are employed in various aspects of site furnishings. Certain woods are more weather resistant than others. Some hardwoods such as Teak or Ipe are self-weathering and do not require treatment. These woods are good choices for slats for seat and back pans. Other woods such as yellow pine, are inexpensive but should be treated with weather protective stain to ensure longevity.

Recycled Plastic
Does not require any treatment – though it should be UV stabilized to ensure longevity.

Stone and Concrete
Do not require weather treatment, though should be maintained to ensure usability.

Q Site furnishings and vandal resistance?

Site furnishings are often subjected to vandalism and this should be a prime consideration when making a selection. The most common types of site furnishing vandalism are: burning, slashing, carving, and spray painting. Certain materials and styles are more vandal resistant than others.

Wood can be inexpensive and looks nice when it’s new. However, it can easily be carved, burned, and painted. Relative to other materials, wood is not very vandal resistant.

Recycled plastic is another popular choice for site furnishings. However, it is quite susceptible to burns. It can also be carved and painted. UV wear is also a concern with this material, though many variations purport to be UV stable. Recycled plastic may be best suited for indoor applications.

Steel is the most vandal resistant material used to fabricate site furnishings, but is also often the most expensive. Steel mesh is especially vandal resistant as it is not easily spray- painted, and it cannot be easily burned or slashed. Steel bar is also extremely vandal resistant. The advantages of steel bar and steel mesh also include superior ventilation for quick drying after a rainfall.

Q Site furnishings and ventilation?

Ventilation and quick drying are important factors to consider when selecting a site furnishing. If a bench surface is wet, it won’t likely be used, thus defeating its purpose. Also, moisture can contribute to corrosion so ventilation and quick drying are preferred. The best material to achieve superior ventilation is steel in the form of mesh or bar.

Q Where can I find information on site furnishings sold by Urban Green Inc.?

Please visit The Landscape Architect Superstore for information and pricing on the widest offering of site furnishings in the world.