Description:
The Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood 2-Seater Bench is a very popular bench, no doubt due to its beauty and its affordability. It is quite amazing how cheap it actually is, but luckily its cheapness is only in price and not in quality. This attractive 2-seater bench is all-weather making it ideal for outdoor use, but can also look beautiful as an indoor piece for a sunroom or foyer. It comes with removable cushions which give it a very cozy appearance as well as a comfortable seating experience. The Strathwood Gibranta Bench adds beauty, design and function to any patio, balcony, porch and deck.
What is it made out of?
The Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood 2-Seater Bench is made from FSC-certified Eucalyptus hardwood. This is a dense and very durable wood which has excellent weather resistant properties making it ideal for use in outdoor furniture. Eucalyptus hardwood is comparable to teak with its exceptional durability in outdoor use, but it is a lot more affordable as Eucalyptus trees grow rapidly. (Teak trees take many years to grow making the wood not as readily available, its heavy demand keeps the price of it high). Similar to teak, eucalyptus wood does not need to be treated to prevent damage with outdoor use. Left untreated, the wood will weather naturally into an attractive gray color. You can opt to coat it with an oil however to maintain its honey brown color. Treating can also protect against cracking and splitting.
The Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood 2-Seater Bench comes galvanized and oiled and comes with rust free hardware. The assembly of the piece is relatively easy.
Measurements:
- 47-1/2 inches wide by 28 inches deep by 35 inches tall
Cool Patio Ideas:
It is interesting that many of the owners of the Strathwood Gibranta Hardwood Bench are not only buying the bench, they are also getting the 2 matching arm chairs and coffee table. Because of the amazing low cost of the pieces you could get a whole patio ensemble completing the furnishing of your outdoor space cost effectively. Those looking for an outdoor conversation set may be interested in the arm chairs and coffee table to make a beautiful outdoor socializing area. Added together these pieces will have a striking impact on the beauty of your outdoor space. Check out the Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood Furniture Collection here.
Feedback:
Feedback of the Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood 2-Seater Bench is mostly positive with over 20 reviews from happy owners at Amazon (head over there to have a read of them by following the link below).
Quality and Durability:
People are very happy with the quality of the bench especially when considering the price. Many state that it is better than they expected. The bench is very functional as it is very sturdy and solid. It has good outdoor durability and has held up well through lots of rain as well as very high heat, with the cushions left out (although the instructions advise not to leave the cushions out in bad weather). After 1 season there were no signs of the cushions fading, but it is a good idea to bring the cushions in to ensure they will last. Overall owners are very satisfied and happy with the quality of the product.
Appearance:
This is where this product really shines. People love the look of this bench. It looks great and a lot more expensive than what it is. Many receive compliments about it, and friends are shocked to hear how much it costs. It has a rich finish as seen in the pictures, and looks very beautiful on a patio.
Comfort:
Comfort of the bench is adequate, with the cushions providing some support. The material of the cushions is very comfortable. The cushions are not very thick however, so are not ideal for long periods of sitting.
It is designed to be used with the cushions but is still very functional without. If you wanted to use it without the bottom cushion, keep in mind the seat would be quite low.
Assembly:
Owners comment on the easy assembly of the bench, with the majority of people stating that it was super easy to put together. Timeframes are approximately less than an hour for the 2 arm chairs and the bench, so the bench itself would take around 15 to 30 minutes. Assembly tip: Don’t over tight the screws.
Some issues people had with assembly included that the instructions are in picture format only. There are no words which may be confusing to some people. Issues concerning the quality of the hardware and milling suggested that because this is a low priced item, you get what you pay for. An owner had to drill out the holes themselves as the ones in the bench were not deep enough and had to use their own screws. This would probably not be too much of a hassle for a handy person, but it could be annoying and very frustrating for some. After the assembly however, the quality of the bench feels good and is very sturdy, reaffirming that this piece is still an excellent buy for the price.
Cushions:
The cushions that come with the bench are kind of a mixed bag. It is nice that cushions come with it, but the design of them could be better. The material itself is very comfortable and easy to wipe clean. The bottom cushion is good and attaches easily but the back cushions are a little tricky to install. A friend helping you makes it easier. Once attached the back cushion only covers about four slats. A different design of these would be preferred.
How to attach the back cushions:
“Slide top of cushion between 1st and 2nd rung, then slide bottom of cushion through the 6th and 7th rung. The velcro will stretch to meet at center in back.” (thanks to C. Canfield)
One owner decided to buy their own velcro strips, stick them onto the back of the bench and attach the back cushions that way. Although this is not how it is meant to attach, this quick fix works well and the cushions fit better.
The instructions advise you to bring in the cushions in extreme weather, so it is probably not a good idea to leave them out all the time exposed to outdoor weather. If you can bring them in at night and during bad weather, this will give them a much longer lifespan. The other alternative is to get a good furniture cover or to simply replace the cushions when you need to.
The white color of the cushions can show up dirt easily, but the material is easy to wipe clean and they can be unzipped for washing.
Other Problems:
- Eucalyptus hardwood comes pre oiled. When it gets wet the color can run and stain a patio or deck. This problem can be solved with a coat of wipe on poly or other sealant.
- The measurements in the product description are misleading. The height and length are correct, but the depth is closer to 20 inches. This may be a concern for anyone wanting to add their own thick back cushions to the bench and still have plenty of room. The cushions that come with it or a thin cushion is more suitable.
- A few unlucky customers had their bench arrived damaged and cracked and had to return it.
Price:
The price of the Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood 2-Seater Bench gives it tremendous appeal. It is extremely economical, and it is not uncommon to find similar benches online for 4 times as much. Owners are very happy with the product, stating it was a good buy. Overall it is a great bench at an unbeatable price – (last known price was $129.99).
Conclusion:
The overall consensus is that this is a very nice bench and is much better than expected. It is an attractive and functional bench at an excellent price. It is interesting to note that even those who had a few gripes about it, with for example the cushions or the assembly, still rate it very high and state that overall they are very happy with the purchase. The majority of owners love the bench and are very satisfied with it. Quite a few owners love it so much they ordered a second one, or the matching chairs and the coffee table as it looks very beautiful, and is quite possibly the best price you can find for anything like this.
Where to buy it?
The best place to get the Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood 2-Seater Bench is at Amazon. As you not only get a really good deal, but you get free shipping on top. Click the link below to find over 20 reviews of this very beautiful cushioned wood bench.
Click here to see the Strathwood Gibranta All-Weather Hardwood 2-Seater Bench at Amazon.