The timbers used in the making of garden furniture are mostly untreated and depending upon personal taste, you will need to decide whether or not to treat the timber with any kind of wood finish.

To help maintain a more original appearance, the furniture should be treated with a suitable exterior finish (Bridgman Treament or others). Treating the timber will normally help to reduce the amount of end grain cracking and possible warping that can occur over a period of time and also slow down the weathering process, as it limits changes in the moisture of the wood. It is not necessary to treat the wood to 'preserve' it.

If left untreated, the furniture will gradually turn an attractive Silver Grey colour. Small cracks may appear, especially on the end grain, but these are perfectly normal characteristics and will not effect the strength or durability of the furniture. In hot, sunny and dry conditions, some cracks may appear larger, but these will normally reduce in cooler and wetter conditions.