Recommend a picnic table?
May 20, 2024 7:26 AM Subscribe
We're looking for a picnic table for use around a fire pit. Can anyone recommend one at the sweet spot of easy to build, durable, and not overly pricey?
Ideally, it would be left outdoors year-round. Happy to assemble, but a kit with pre-drilled holes is preferred to a more diy set-up. And happy to spend some $$ for a better product, but prices seem to range from $200 to $1000 or more, so not sure what's worth it. Personal experience with specific products preferred, but I'm also happy to hear more general advice like "cedar is better than pine", etc. Thank you!
Ideally, it would be left outdoors year-round. Happy to assemble, but a kit with pre-drilled holes is preferred to a more diy set-up. And happy to spend some $$ for a better product, but prices seem to range from $200 to $1000 or more, so not sure what's worth it. Personal experience with specific products preferred, but I'm also happy to hear more general advice like "cedar is better than pine", etc. Thank you!
Cedar is naturally more insect and weather resistant than pine, but pine is usually less heavy, if you plan on periodically moving it.
Go with the “rounded” corners on the seat and table top like this, rather than sharp 90 degree corners, especially on the seats. You will have far fewer bloody scrapes to shins and hips over the years. (This is also something you can easily do yourself.)
You’ll want to seal it to prevent wet weather damage and warping: seal each piece on all sides BEFORE you assemble. A lot of the warping I’ve seen over the years originated from moisture getting into the places where the wood pieces joined.
posted by Silvery Fish at 8:39 AM on May 20 [1 favorite]
Go with the “rounded” corners on the seat and table top like this, rather than sharp 90 degree corners, especially on the seats. You will have far fewer bloody scrapes to shins and hips over the years. (This is also something you can easily do yourself.)
You’ll want to seal it to prevent wet weather damage and warping: seal each piece on all sides BEFORE you assemble. A lot of the warping I’ve seen over the years originated from moisture getting into the places where the wood pieces joined.
posted by Silvery Fish at 8:39 AM on May 20 [1 favorite]
I find park-style picnic tables not great to use. My outdoor deck table is a metal frame with glass and a patio umbrella, a popular and not expensive style. The glass broke on a similar table in a fluke storm, new table far easier and cheaper than replacement glass. Really sturdy, nice to use. If I wanted something more rustic, I'd use sawhorses, and a door or other tabletop. You can get hardware to make sawhorses with 2x4s. They fold. or sawhorses. Ikea and many stores have outdoor tables. If a table has wooden legs, the bottoms will rot.
I have director's chairs because they're comfortable and easy to store in winter, which will make them last longer. When we've had parties, the director's chairs are taken 1st, then resin chairs, then the aluminum chairs, which are cold when you sit down, but they last really well. Apparently I collect chairs.
posted by theora55 at 9:43 AM on May 20 [1 favorite]
I have director's chairs because they're comfortable and easy to store in winter, which will make them last longer. When we've had parties, the director's chairs are taken 1st, then resin chairs, then the aluminum chairs, which are cold when you sit down, but they last really well. Apparently I collect chairs.
posted by theora55 at 9:43 AM on May 20 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Sorry, I should have mentioned -- this is for a gift, and they specifically want a picnic table.
posted by cider at 10:23 AM on May 20 [2 favorites]
posted by cider at 10:23 AM on May 20 [2 favorites]
Home improvement warehouses (Home Depot, Lowes etc) will usually carry a picnic table kit that can be assembled. Quality can vary.
posted by walkinginsunshine at 1:23 PM on May 20
posted by walkinginsunshine at 1:23 PM on May 20
Since these are going around a fire pit maybe they want curved benches with some c-curve tables.
posted by brookeb at 3:27 PM on May 20
posted by brookeb at 3:27 PM on May 20
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left outdoors year-round
Wood looks most durable. Aluminum looks least expensive, may be able to assemble from a kit, etc.. Especially if precipitation is a factor, you'll likely want a canopy.
posted by HearHere at 8:35 AM on May 20