How to Select the Correct Kind of Picnic Table
The style of seating you provide is a key site amenity when constructing your outdoor facility. Outdoor recreation is not complete without picnic tables since they make it easier for groups to chat, eat, and play together.
You might be unsure about which sort of picnic table is best for you given the wide range of options. Our guide on how to choose a picnic table will go over the many styles, materials, finishes, and installation options available. We’ll also provide you advice on how to take the requirements of your space into account so you can choose the ideal type of picnic table for your visitors.
Various Benches
The kind of bench you want your picnic table to have should be one of your first considerations when choosing it. According to its purpose and characteristics, benches can be classified according to whether they should be attached to a table or stand alone, as well as whether or not they should be perforated.
Bench Attached
Due to their convenience, picnic tables with linked benches are becoming more and more common today. A bench that is attached to a table reduces the possibility of theft or damage compared to benches that are not attached. Attached benches also have the benefit of having fewer parts to worry about perhaps losing during a windstorm.
Compared to detachable seats, attached benches are less adaptable even if they provide more streamlined seating and dining. For some people, the inability to modify the distance between the bench and the table is a drawback.
Detached Benches
You may position your benches exactly how you want them with detached benches. To accommodate any gathering, patrons are free to rearrange benches exactly where they’re needed. In order to serve a different seating purpose or even to create a new seating arrangement away from the table, guests can freely move the benches to the desired location.
On private properties with little traffic and a little chance of theft or damage, picnic tables with unattached benches are appropriate. Detached seats, on the other hand, would not be ideal in very public areas as individuals might move the benches too far from the table, leaving them vulnerable to misuse or improper placement.
Tables for Picnics With Holes
Mesh picnic tables, often referred to as perforated picnic tables, have a consistent pattern of holes in both the table and the benches. Rainwater runs through through perforated seats and tables rather than gathering on them, making them more enjoyable to use during or shortly after a rainstorm.
The use of picnic tables and benches with perforations is growing immensely in popularity. Perforated picnic tables are popular with many local parks and recreation departments due to its convenience in harsh climates and ability to maintain cleanliness even when heavily used. Spills of food and liquids land on the ground below, where they are easier to clean up.
Picnic table components
Today, a wide range of materials are available for picnic tables. There are several variations available to fit your preferred style and required usefulness, including the traditional wood table, lightweight composites, and recycled plastic pieces.
The best picnic table materials available are:
Wooden Picnic Tables
The traditional, family-oriented design of wooden picnic tables is ideal for integrating in with a natural environment. These days, wooden picnic tables are treated with sealant chemicals to prevent some of the issues that they are prone to owing to exposure to the wind, rain, and sun.
Wooden tables and benches can develop rot, cracking, peeling, and warping if moisture accumulates inside of them. Sealing them prevents this from happening. Similar to the wooden planks, the metal frame and hardware that hold the table and benches together are coated to prevent rust and corrosion.
Iron Picnic Tables
Metal makes an excellent picnic table material for high-traffic locations since it is robust, resilient, and long-lasting. Metal is an excellent choice if you anticipate that adults will use your picnic tables extensively. The substance is capable of supporting large weights without the threat of eventual collapse. Metal picnic tables are a practical choice for public settings since they are simple to maintain and wipe down.
Keep in mind that metal might become uncomfortable to sit on if it is exposed to the sun. In order to keep metal tables cold for people to sit on, the metal can be treated with a protective coating to lower its heat reactivity. A shelter with shade can also be used to keep them.
Recycling Plastic for Picnic Tables
High-density polyethylene, which comes from recycled bottles like milk jugs, is the material used to make recycled plastic picnic tables. Additionally extremely strong and long-lasting, this eco-friendly alternative. Recycling plastic is produced using technology that prevents pressure-related cracking. In order to make plastic picnic tables resemble other materials, such wood, manufacturers can also give them a variety of treatments.
Recycled plastic picnic tables are protected against deterioration by having a sealer applied to them. It’s also simpler to adjust if necessary because it weighs less than metal.
Concrete Picnic Tables
Concrete picnic tables are a robust solution that guarantees dependable sturdiness and stability, offering exceptional durability and endurance. They are resistant to the elements and won’t rot or rust. You can be confident that a concrete picnic table will stay in place forever given its weight.
Additionally, concrete has an industrial look that complements some environments, such as outdoor common areas for workers. However, a concrete picnic table and the benches will be too heavy to move if necessary. If you choose to relocate them, a forklift will be required.
Aluminized picnic tables
The metal aluminum is strong and lightweight. Aluminum benches and tables are lightweight, so you may move them to the right location with ease. Aluminum will sustain frequent use because it doesn’t deform or splinter.
Aluminum can corrode over time even though it doesn’t rust. It is made resistant to corrosion and shielded from harm by using an aluminum oxide covering. In order to maintain a fantastic appearance for use by the public, aluminum picnic tables are simple to wipe down and keep clean.
Shapes Of Picnic Tables
In addition to the typical rectangle table, picnic tables are also available in round or square designs. Consider your space’s general design when picking a picnic table shape, as well as how and by whom the table will typically be used. Given that some shapes require more space than others, you should also consider the available area for your table or tables.
A comparison of the many picnic table shapes may be found here.
Circle of picnic tables
The ability to build additional tables and increase capacity is made possible by how much space-efficient round picnic tables save. Round tables create the impression of a more intimate eating experience and encourage better discussion.
Round picnic tables are attractive from an aesthetic standpoint because the eye is naturally drawn to the flawless symmetry of a circle. Round tables also give the illusion of more space because they don’t have any sharp corners or edges.
Square Picnic Tables
With square picnic tables, each person has a seat or bench and is equally spaced from the others. Four people can usually fit at a square table, which is usually enough. This restricted capacity, however, can be a problem if you intend to host larger families or parties.
Square picnic tables, like round tables, offer symmetry in terms of aesthetics. Your outdoor recreational space will look neat and orderly if you arrange several square tables in rows and columns.
Rectangular Picnic Tables
Depending on the proportions, rectangular picnic tables, which are a classic shape, can seat up to eight people. With rectangular tables, an equal number of people can sit on either side and dine across from one another. Additionally, this makes extra space for food, tableware, games, and other stuff, improving the comfort of the seated.
Rectangular tables require more room than square or round ones due to their bigger proportions. Although this restricts the quantity of units you may place in the same space, it could not be a problem if the tables will primarily be used by larger groups who might appreciate the spaciousness of the rectangle design.
Picnic tables with a special feature
When creating your outdoor seating arrangements, there are a ton of other alternatives to take into account. Take into account elements like the climate and outdoor comfort as well as the ages and abilities of those who will be using the tables most frequently.
Here are a few extras to think about while selecting the ideal picnic table.
Picnic tables with umbrellas
Outdoor dining can be affected by inclement weather, from driving rain to scorching heat. The addition of picnic table umbrellas might help to keep your visitors dry and comfortable. Umbrella picnic tables are a useful amenity in areas without a lot of natural cover or shade.
These picnic tabletops include a hole in the middle to accommodate the umbrella. The umbrella can be left out year-round or added or removed depending on the weather. Additionally, you can pick from a range of umbrella designs, including those that guests can move around or ones that stay put.
Picnic tables for kids
Children’s picnic tables are made with their size and capabilities in mind, as well as safety considerations. Young children cannot sit alone at picnic tables made for adults because of their height. Shorter picnic tables made specifically for kids can be a big advantage if your facility caters to kids.
These unusual and colorful picnic table options come in a variety of forms and styles that are entertaining for kids. Typically, plastic is used to make children’s picnic tables since it is more comfier and easier to clean after usage.
Picnic Tables With ADA Access
It’s crucial to keep in mind the unique requirements of any visitors you may be hosting while learning how to choose a picnic table. Making sure your picnic tables comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a crucial modification you can make for your outdoor seating.
The picnic tables that can accommodate wheelchair users are ones that are ADA compliant. As a result, the table will typically be extended past the point where seating would ordinarily be. It is possible to convert several picnic table designs, such as rectangular, square, or round picnic tables, into ADA-accessible versions.
Having a few picnic tables set aside for visitors in wheelchairs might assist create an inclusive atmosphere for your facility if you intend to add many picnic tables.
Different Finishes
Selecting the ideal finish for your picnic table will improve your guests’ overall outdoor seating experience. The level of comfort and quantity of wear the material can withstand on a picnic table depend on the finish type. Your maintenance expenses can be reduced and the useful life of your tables and benches can be increased with the use of the proper finish.
When choosing picnic tables for your establishment, you can select from a variety of finishes, including:
Powder Coating
Powder coating is frequently used to finish metal picnic tables; it serves as a last cosmetic touch or serves to protect the metal substance. A powder coating might be able to carry out both of these tasks, depending on how the table is made. As a result of the product’s smooth, even appearance and ease of maintenance over time, powder coatings are frequently chosen as a finish option.
Using an electrostatic application technique, powder coatings are placed to metal picnic tables, increasing the material’s density and reinforcing it to make it more durable and less likely to wear through or shatter. Additionally, powder coatings shield the surface against flaws that might otherwise mar the table’s appearance, such as scratches, chips, corrosion, fading, and other problems.
Thermoplastic
Polyethylene thermoplastic is another tough finish choice for your metal picnic tables. The picnic table’s steel structure is dipped into a polyethylene mixture, allowed to cure, and then given a thermoplastic finish, which leaves a thick, protective layer on the metal.
Thermoplastics are renowned for having a high level of resistance to both continuous wear from frequent use and harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, they naturally repel liquids, dirt, and films. Thermoplastics are excellent in high-traffic areas where there would be a lot of surface contact from the general public because studies have discovered that they have good antibacterial characteristics.
Table Installation for Picnics
You should take your preferred installation method into account when figuring out how to choose a picnic table. Picnic tables can be left free-floating and moveable so they can be adjusted and repositioned, or they can be erected as a permanent fixture where they are fastened into the ground.
The two kinds of picnic table placements are contrasted here.
Installing in a portable
Portable installation is the most straightforward technique for installing a picnic table. You have the option to assemble your picnic table without using any form of anchoring mechanism. The picnic tables can be moved around and placed in various locations depending on the picnic table material.
Ground-Based Installation
Select an in-ground installation to position and secure your picnic tables and benches over time. When installing a table underground, workers dig holes in the ground to be filled with the table legs. As an alternative, the table legs will be shaped into the ground by a concrete slab that is poured across them.
The tables are less likely to be stolen or damaged by constant movement and repositioning thanks to in-ground installation. Additionally, since there is no chance of the table or bench shifting or sliding during installation, it is a safer option. The downside is that once it’s put, it’s unlikely to be relocated again unless there is a demolition.
Choosing the Best Picnic Table for Your Needs
The next step is choosing the picnic table that is best for you after becoming familiar with the different varieties available as well as the different materials, features, and installation techniques. The functions of your tables, the setting and temperature, as well as the kinds of visitors you host, will determine your needs.
When picking the ideal picnic table for your purposes, take into account the following elements.
How to Select the Best Benches
There are a few things to consider while choosing between picnic table benches that are attached and those that are unattached. Your decision about the sort of bench should be mostly based on functionality and the function that your table fulfills.
When deciding on the best kind of picnic bench, take into account following factors:
What is the largest group size that you anticipate?
- Is the ability to reposition the benches to create a more individualized sitting arrangement crucial?
- Is theft an issue?
- Are the benches substantial enough to withstand a windstorm?
Your responses to the aforementioned query will aid in determining whether you require attached benches for their convenience and security or detached ones for their increased seating capacity and mobility.
How To Pick The Appropriate Material
Your choice of picnic table material will mostly depend on personal preference and aesthetics. Materials, however, also take the climate into account. Consider the following requirements while contrasting picnic table materials:
- Do you favor a more traditional or modern look?
- Is using environmentally friendly materials important?
- Do you anticipate needing a portable picnic table?
Wood has a traditional and organic appeal, but metal and concrete often have a more contemporary appearance. Because recycled plastic can be transformed into a variety of colors or textures, it may be tailored to fit any design aesthetic. While plastic and aluminum are lightweight materials that enable simple repositioning, wood and recycled plastic are also environmentally responsible material choices that place a priority on sustainability.
How to Select the Correct Shape
Your choice of shape will mostly depend on your personal style preferences, similar to material kind. Think about the general design of your space and whether a round, square, or rectangular table will fit the available space.
If you have any space restrictions, think about how to maximize the number of tables you want to have. Due to their smaller size, square tables can fit more of them in a limited space. Round and rectangular tables, on the other hand, frequently accommodate bigger groups of people, making them ideal for campers, parks, and playgrounds.
How to Pick the Correct Finish
Consider the level of wear and tear you anticipate your picnic tables will experience when selecting the best finish. You might opt to have a finish for high-traffic areas where tables will see a lot of use from the general public so that cleaning requirements are kept to a minimum. Thermoplastic coverings are excellent for preventing dings and scrapes that begin to give the tables a worn-out appearance.
In contrast, a powder coating can aid boost the material’s longevity if you reside in an area with severe winter weather patterns, making the tables less prone to splitting, warping, or cracking when exposed to freezing temperatures.
How to Select the Appropriate Installation
Depending on whether your facility is private or public, you should choose the appropriate installation type. In-ground installations are necessary to safeguard your tables and keep them secure in establishments that are accessible to the general public and do not have round-the-clock protection.
As a less secure solution, portable installation is better suited for private spaces where theft is not a concern. A movable installation is a good feature that allows for movement without the significant security risk if you’re thinking about installing picnic tables in a private garden, workplace, or apartment.
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