Guide  /  Materials

Outdoor Bench Seats: Timber, Resin or Aluminium

Three materials, three very different maintenance commitments. Here's how to pick.

Outdoor Furniture Ideas  ·  6 min read

A bench seat gets more full-sun exposure than almost any other piece in a dining setting.

A bench seat looks like the simplest decision in an outdoor dining setting, right up until you're standing in front of three near-identical shapes in three completely different materials. Timber, resin and aluminium benches all do the same job on paper: extra seating without extra chairs cluttering the space. In practice, they age completely differently, and the one that photographs best isn't always the one that survives.

No. 01

Timber: The Warmest Look, The Highest Maintenance

Nothing else brings the same warmth to a dining setting as timber, and it's the material most people picture when they first think "garden bench." It's also the one with the honest caveat: any timber left outdoors year-round in full Australian sun will silver and dry out over time unless it's oiled periodically, and it needs a genuinely durable hardwood to handle that exposure without splitting.

Our Australian Made Timber Bench Seat is built specifically for that brief: a hardwood built and finished locally rather than a mass-produced softwood import that won't hold up past a second summer. If you want the timber look, this is the one place we'd point you rather than a generic timber option, because the timber species and finish are exactly what determines whether it lasts.

Hardwood species and finish quality are what actually separate a timber bench that lasts from one that doesn't.

No. 02

Resin: Low Maintenance, A Different Look

UV-stabilised resin is the closest thing to a set-and-forget bench. It won't split, silver, rust or need oiling, and it wipes clean in seconds. What you're trading for that convenience is a more moulded, less textured look than timber or aluminium, which suits a clean, contemporary setting better than a traditional one.

Resin benches also tend to sit lighter and can be moved solo, which matters if you're rearranging a small courtyard or balcony setting seasonally rather than leaving furniture fixed in place year-round.

No. 03

Aluminium: The Middle Ground Most People Should Choose

If you're not strongly drawn to the timber look and don't want to compromise on refinement the way some resin designs ask you to, aluminium is usually the right call. Powder-coated aluminium won't rust, holds its colour under UV exposure, and needs nothing beyond an occasional wipe down, while still giving a slimmer, more considered profile than most resin benches.

• Nardi Rio Aluminium Bench: pairs directly with Nardi's Rio extendable dining tables for a matched setting rather than a mismatched add-on.
• Nardi Net Bench Bundle: the resin-topped alternative within the Nardi range if you want the low-maintenance surface with a bench profile rather than a full seat.

Matching a bench to its table's material and finish reads far more intentional than a mismatched add-on.

“The bench that photographs best in a showroom isn't always the one still holding its colour after two summers outside.”

Buying Once

Matching the Bench to How You'll Use It

The right material depends less on which one looks best in a photo and more on how much upkeep you're genuinely willing to do, and how exposed the bench will be to full sun and rain.

• Want the timber look and are happy to oil it occasionally? Go with a genuine hardwood, not a cheap softwood import.
• Want zero maintenance and don't mind a more moulded finish? Resin is the easiest ownership experience.
• Want low maintenance without sacrificing a refined look? Aluminium, matched to your existing table, is the safest all-round choice.