What you need to know about cracks and splits in wooden garden furniture

This is the time of year when we sell a lot of wooden garden furniture.

It’s also the time when we get lots of customers asking why they’re seeing cracks and splits in their new wooden garden furniture.

The good news is that you have nothing to worry about.

Let us explain why.

Why you don’t have to worry about cracks and splits

Cracks and splits occur naturally in wood – they’re part of the maturing process. Temperature and humidity levels go up and down and cracking and splitting are a natural, normal reaction to this.

When you buy a piece of wooden garden furniture, the wood needs a little time to adjust to its new surroundings. Cracks and splits, if they appear, are just a sign that your furniture is bedding in.

The important thing to know and remember is that these cracks and splits have no impact on the strength and durability of your wooden garden furniture. They don’t affect the quality of the furniture or how long you can enjoy it for.

Why you don’t have to worry about knots or uneven colouring

We also get asked a lot about knots in wooden garden furniture. As with cracks and splits, knots are nothing to worry about. They are another natural feature and they don’t have any impact on the strength or durability of the furniture.

As for variations in colour that can often be seen in new wooden garden furniture – this is normal as well. Once your piece of furniture has been out in the sun and rain for a few weeks, the colouring will even out.

Pressure treating can also cause temporary discolouration. This treatment protects your garden furniture from rot and, when first done, it can often make the wood look green or cause green spots to occur.

Again, this fades over time. A few weeks outdoors in the great British weather and it’ll be gone, and you’ll have beautiful, naturally coloured garden furniture to enjoy season after season after season.

When to check about cracks and splits in wooden garden furniture

Of course, there are rare occasions when you should do something about cracks and splits in your wooden garden furniture.

How do you know if you should be concerned? We recommend using the 2p test. If you can fit a 2p coin inside the crack or split, take a picture and give us a ring, and we’ll sort it out for you.

We hope this helps you enjoy your wooden garden furniture this summer (and the next one and next one, etc.!). If you have any questions about our wooden garden furniture, we’re happy to answer them for you.

Buy your wooden garden furniture from Knight Fencing today